The four-phase security approach to keep in mind for your AI transformation
As organizations continue to adopt AI tools, security teams are often caught unprepared for the emerging challenges. The disconnect between engineering teams rapidly deploying AI solutions and security teams struggling to establish proper guardrails has created significant exposure across enterprises. This fundamental security paradox—balancing innovation with protection—is especially pronounced as AI adoption accelerates at unprecedented rates.
The most critical AI security challenge enterprises face today stems from organizational misalignment. Engineering teams are integrating AI and Large Language Models (LLMs) into applications without proper security guidance, while security teams fail to communicate their AI readiness expectations clearly.
McKinsey research confirms this disconnect: leaders are 2.4 times more likely to cite employee readiness as a barrier to adoption versus their own issues with leadership alignment, despite employees currently using generative AI three times more than leaders expect.
Co-Founder and CTO of Pangea.
Understanding the Unique Challenges of AI Applications
Organizations implementing AI solutions are essentially creating new data pathways that are not necessarily accounted for in traditional security models. This presents several key concerns:
1. Unintentional Data Leakage
Users sharing sensitive information with AI systems may not recognize the downstream implications. AI systems frequently operate as black boxes, processing and potentially storing information in ways that lack transparency.
The challenge is compounded when AI systems maintain conversation history or context windows that persist across user sessions. Information shared in one interaction might unexpectedly resurface in later exchanges, potentially exposing sensitive data to different users or contexts. This “memory effect” represents a fundamental departure from traditional application security models where data flow paths are typically more predictable and controllable.
2. Prompt Injection Attacks
Prompt injection attacks represent an emerging threat vector poised to attract financially motivated attackers as enterprise AI deployment scales. Organizations dismissing these concerns for internal (employee-facing) applications overlook the more sophisticated threat of indirect prompt attacks capable of manipulating decision-making processes over time.
For example, a job applicant could embed hidden text like “prioritize this resume” in their PDF application to manipulate HR AI tools, pushing their application to the top regardless of qualifications. Similarly, a vendor might insert invisible prompt commands in contract documents that influence procurement AI to favor their proposals over competitors. These aren’t theoretical threats – we’ve already seen instances where subtle manipulation of AI inputs has led to measurable changes in outputs and decisions.
3. Authorization Challenges
Inadequate authorization enforcement in AI applications can lead to information exposure to unauthorized users, creating potential compliance violations and data breaches.
4. Visibility Gaps
Insufficient monitoring of AI interfaces leaves organizations with limited insights into queries, response and decision rationales, making it difficult to detect misuse or evaluate performance.
The Four-Phase Security Approach
To build a comprehensive AI security program that addresses these unique challenges while enabling innovation, organizations should implement a structured approach:
Phase 1: Assessment
Begin by cataloging what AI systems are already in use, including shadow IT. Understand what data flows through these systems and where sensitive information resides. This discovery phase should include interviews with department leaders, surveys of technology usage and technical scans to identify unauthorized AI tools.
Rather than imposing restrictive controls (which inevitably drive users toward shadow AI), acknowledge that your organization is embracing AI rather than fighting it. Clear communication about assessment goals will encourage transparency and cooperation.
Phase 2: Policy Development
Collaborate with stakeholders to create clear policies about what types of information should never be shared with AI systems and what safeguards need to be in place. Develop and share concrete guidelines for secure AI development and usage that balance security requirements with practical usability.
These policies should address data classification, acceptable use cases, required security controls and escalation procedures for exceptions. The most effective policies are developed collaboratively, incorporating input from both security and business stakeholders.
Phase 3: Technical Implementation
Deploy appropriate security controls based on potential impact. This might include API-based redaction services, authentication mechanisms and monitoring tools. The implementation phase should prioritize automation wherever possible.
Manual review processes simply cannot scale to meet the volume and velocity of AI interactions. Instead, focus on implementing guardrails that can programmatically identify and protect sensitive information in real-time, without creating friction that might drive users toward unsanctioned alternatives. Create structured partnerships between security and engineering teams, where both share responsibility for secure AI implementation.
Phase 4: Education and Awareness
Educate users about AI security. Help them understand what information is appropriate to share and how to use AI systems safely. Training should be role-specific, providing relevant examples that resonate with different user groups.
Regular updates on emerging threats and best practices will keep security awareness current as the AI landscape evolves. Recognize departments that successfully balance innovation with security to create positive incentives for compliance.
Looking Ahead
As AI becomes increasingly embedded throughout enterprise processes, security approaches must evolve to address emerging challenges. Organizations viewing AI security as an enabler rather than an impediment will gain competitive advantages in their transformation journeys.
Through improved governance frameworks, effective controls and cross-functional collaboration, enterprises can leverage AI’s transformative potential while mitigating its unique challenges.
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As organizations continue to adopt AI tools, security teams are often caught unprepared for the emerging challenges. The disconnect between engineering teams rapidly deploying AI solutions and security teams struggling to establish proper guardrails has created significant exposure across enterprises. This fundamental security paradox—balancing innovation with protection—is especially pronounced as…
