Recent innovations in generative artificial intelligence (gen AI) are moving the goalposts pretty dramatically. Enterprises are currently in the process of developing new strategies to manage AI tools within their organizations. Shadow AI encompasses the invisible dangers associated with unauthorized deployment of AI tools. Businesses can’t afford to stick their heads in the sand. By tackling the risks of Shadow AI head on, companies have the chance to shift these expected liabilities into high value opportunities.
Just recently, in March 2023, a multinational electronics manufacturer was hit with a major crisis when their employees started submitting sensitive information into ChatGPT. Alarmingly, this data contained highly sensitive information like product source code. These situations underscore the desperate need for organizations to better understand AI tools and how to control their use by employees and contractors. Without organization-wide oversight, organizations are at constant risk of exposing themselves to security breaches and compliance violations.
Understanding Shadow AI
Shadow AI is the unwarranted or unauthorized use of generative AI tools in an organization. As employees turn to new technologies to complete more of their work, the ease of hiding these behaviors grows. This influential blind spot is rapidly growing. It clutters data governance efforts, increases the likelihood that sensitive information is mismanaged or accidentally exposed.
Longstanding approaches to regulating AI use have failed to stop the export of sensitive information into unauthorized tools. This increases the potential for risky behaviors to go underground and keeps driving the rise of Shadow AI. Organizations need to be aware of this phenomenon and do their part to prevent it from happening.
To effectively address Shadow AI, enterprises need to obtain a comprehensive understanding of how AI tools are being utilized across their operations. This means doing rigorous evaluations on employees’ interactions with any generative AI tools and developing effective mitigations for emerging risks. By creating an accurate map of the AI usage landscape, organizations can arm themselves with more focused strategies to combat risks.
The Imperative for Comprehensive Awareness
Enterprises require an overarching view of AI tool adoption. This awareness is key to reducing the risks Shadow AI presents. By tracking how employees interact with these new technologies, organizations can identify where sensitive data could be compromised. This newfound awareness across enterprises enables them to set up the right safeguards and use-case guidelines, thus ensuring responsible AI usage.
Additionally, organizations need to be constantly aware that AI tools should be closely monitored after their use. New apps are always appearing on the scene, and workers are fully embracing a wide range of productivity-enabling platforms. It’s extremely important to maintain a current inventory of these approved and sanctioned devices. Neglecting to do so can put your employees at risk of inadvertently leaking sensitive information onto unapproved channels.
Companies can greatly mitigate the chance of Shadow AI incidents by cultivating a culture that encourages transparency. They should aim to design accountability into how they’re using AI. Encouraging employees to report on their use of generative AI tools can help illuminate areas that need attention and improvement.
Transforming Risks into Opportunities
While Shadow AI does pose significant challenges to enterprises, companies now have an unprecedented opportunity to capitalize on generative AI safely and productively. Fortunately, businesses can take concrete steps to address the risks at stake. In taking these actions, they set themselves up to reap all of the benefits that AI technologies can provide. That sort of forward-looking mentality will be essential to future-proofing success in a landscape that’s growing more competitive by the day.
Our integrated security, networking, and experience solutions from Zscaler can help organizations address the new complexities generative AI tools create. Their resources, found at zscaler.com/security, provide valuable information and proven approaches to tackle Shadow AI head on. When supported properly, enterprises are able to foster a productive environment where new ideas blossom while protecting the company’s sensitive data.
