How do we make sure our AI systems are secure and don’t expose sensitive information?

Part 1 of 10 in our You ask, We Answer: Cyber Resilience series

Why Everyone's Suddenly Worried



ChatGPT hit 100 million users faster than any app in history. Your team's already using AI tools - whether that's ChatGPT for writing, GitHub Copilot for coding, or Microsoft Copilot for pretty much everything. Your competitors are using it too. And your board's started asking awkward questions like "What's our AI strategy?" and "Are we exposed?"

Meanwhile, the ICO's ramping up enforcement around data protection, GDPR fines are hitting the headlines, and everyone's seen at least one story about a company accidentally leaking sensitive data through an AI tool.

Nearly 70% of organisations cite the complexity of the generative AI ecosystem as their top security concern. That's not surprising when you consider how quickly these tools have appeared.



So yeah, it's a legitimate concern. The good news? It's not as scary as you might think.

The Bottom Line Up Front



AI tools like ChatGPT are brilliant for boosting productivity and let's be honest, your team's probably already using them. But here's the thing: without proper guardrails, you could accidentally leak client data, breach GDPR, or expose your intellectual property to the world.

The productivity gains are real, we're not here to stop that, but 'shadow AI' (when people use tools without telling IT) is creating some proper headaches for business leaders like you.



Read on for practical advice on securing your AI systems and where to get help to securely integrate AI technologies into your business. 

What Could Actually Go Wrong?



Let's talk about the real risks, without the scare tactics:

You accidentally share secrets

Someone pastes client data, financial info, or your secret sauce into ChatGPT. Oops - it might now be in the training data, or worse, accessible to other users.

GDPR and compliance nightmares

Breaking data protection rules, breaching client NDAs, storing EU data in the wrong country, or processing personal data without proper basis. The ICO takes this stuff seriously.

Model manipulation and dodgy outputs

Bad actors can trick AI systems through prompt injection. Or your AI might produce biased, incorrect, or downright inappropriate content with your company's name on it.

Looking unprofessional

AI-generated mistakes, misinformation, or that slightly odd tone that screams "a robot wrote this" - all brilliant ways to damage your reputation.



Vendor dependency chaos

Relying on third-party AI services without understanding how they handle your data, where it's stored, or what happens if they change their terms tomorrow.

The Six-Layer Control Framework (Simpler Than It Sounds)

Here's a practical model to secure your AI deployments. You don't need to implement everything at once - start where it makes sense for your business.

1. Governance

Define what's allowed and who's responsible. Create an AI Use Policy and appoint someone to own AI risk. This doesn't need to be complicated - just clear boundaries.

2. Data Protection

Stop sensitive stuff leaking out. Use DLP (Data Loss Prevention) tools, redact data before it goes into AI systems, and run Data Privacy Impact Assessments (DPIA) for new AI integrations.

3. Technical Security

Lock down access properly. Think encryption, API gateways, and role-based access controls. Make sure only the right people can use the right tools.

4. Model Security

Prevent manipulation. Test for prompt injection attacks, keep version control on your AI implementations, and validate outputs before they go anywhere important.

5. Human Factors

Get people on board. Train staff on safe AI use, make it easy for them to do the right thing, and review vendors together so everyone understands the risks.



6. Assurance

Maintain trust over time. Regular audits, keep an AI register of what tools you're using and why, and continuous reviews to catch problems early.

Where to Start (It's Easier Than You Think)



Right, let's make this practical. Here's your action plan:

Find out what's already happening

Have a snoop around - where's your team already using AI? Marketing copy? Code generation? Customer service? Admin tasks? You can't secure what you don't know about.

Write a simple AI policy

Doesn't need to be War and Peace. Just set out:

• Which tools are approved (and which aren't)
• What data can and can't be shared
• Who to ask if someone's unsure
• What happens if things go wrong
• 
  

Stop sensitive data going walkabout

Set up DLP tools and content filters. Block uploads of things like:

• Client personal data
• Financial information
• Proprietary code or IP
• Anything marked confidential

Get your vendors to sign proper agreements

If you're using third-party AI services, make sure you've got data processing agreements in place. You need to know:

• Where your data's stored
• Whether it's used for training
• How it's protected
• How to get it back or deleted
• Check in regularly

Set a reminder for quarterly AI reviews. What's working? What's not? Any new tools people are using? Any close calls or incidents?

Update your incident response plan

Make sure your "what to do when things go wrong" plan covers AI-related incidents. Who gets notified? How do you contain it? What's the comms plan?

Quick Health Check - How Are You Doing?



Tick these off honestly (no one's watching):

• We've got an AI policy that your staff know about. 



• Staff are trained on what's safe and what's not
  
  
• Confidential data can't accidentally be uploaded to public AI tools
  
  
• We've done privacy impact assessments for our AI integrations
  
  
• AI interactions are logged and someone's keeping an eye on them
  
  
• Third-party AI vendors are vetted and under proper contracts
  
  
• We review AI use at least quarterly (and have done something with the findings)
  
  

How did you do?  If you ticked fewer than five, we should probably have a chat.

Real Talk: This Doesn't Need to Be Painful



Look, we get it. You're running a business, not a security consultancy. The last thing you need is more compliance overhead. But here's the thing - getting AI security right now is way easier than fixing a data breach later.

Start small. Pick one or two controls that make sense for your business. Get people involved rather than just mandating from on high. Make it about enabling productivity safely, not about saying "no" to everything.



Most breaches happen because of simple stuff - people not knowing the rules, or the rules being so complicated nobody follows them. Keep it simple, keep it practical, and keep talking to your team.

What About Compliance?



You'll need to think about GDPR and other data protection requirements. The key questions:

• Does the AI tool process personal data?
  
  
• What is the impact of the AI tool to your data subjects?
  
  
• Where is that data stored and processed?
  
  
• Can you demonstrate appropriate safeguards?
  
  

We'll cover AI governance and GDPR compliance in more detail in part 5 of this series, but the short version is: treat AI tools like any other third-party service that handles your data.

How We Can Help



At KH InfoSec, we help SMEs like yours make sense of this stuff without the headache. Our Fractional CISO service means you get expert guidance without hiring a full-time security chief.

We'll help you:

• Set up sensible guardrails that don't slow people down
  
  
• Vet your AI vendors and negotiate proper contracts
  
  
• Build an AI governance framework that works for your business
  
  
• Managed Information security awareness training and phishing simulation programme
  
  
• Keep you compliant without drowning in paperwork
  
  
• Stay ahead of the curve whilst everyone else is still figuring it out
  
  

Whether you need a one-off review to see where you stand, or ongoing support to keep things on track, we're here to help you innovate with confidence. 

Because securing AI shouldn't be rocket science. Just good common sense applied consistently.

Want to chat about your AI security?

Get in touch with us. We promise to keep the jargon to a minimum.

What's Next in This Series?



In part 2, we'll tackle the UK's Cyber Security and Resilience Bill and what it means for your business. 

Subscribe to our updates so you don't miss it!