You can’t get through a day, maybe even an hour, without hearing about artificial intelligence (AI). From built-in features in SaaS applications you already use, to entirely new platforms promising increased efficiency and productivity. AI is quickly becoming a standard part of the business technology landscape.
While AI can help automate tasks and accelerate certain types of work, adopting a new AI tool shouldn’t be treated any differently than adopting other business-critical technology. Organizations are rightfully concerned about how AI solutions handle data, protect sensitive information, and align with security requirements. Before integrating AI into your workflows, it’s important to understand how the technology works, what risks it introduces, and whether the vendor’s controls meet your organization’s standards.
The good news is that evaluating AI doesn’t have to be complicated. By focusing on a few key areas, you can make informed decisions and confidently adopt solutions that support both your business goals and security objectives.
A Security Checklist Before You Implement
1. Start with the Business Need
This category should go without saying. Where does the AI tool you are evaluating fit into your workflow? Does it meet your business needs? If the tool is aligned with your goals, workflows or business needs, then it is time to evaluate the solution. We find it is best to pick the top 2 or 3 tools and evaluate them at once to determine what might best meet your business and security needs.
2. Establish Your AI Governance Framework
Do you have an AI policy or standards required for implementation? If not, create them. Put some time into thinking about what you need and want out of an AI tool. What type of information are you comfortable feeding into the tool. What guardrails have you implemented internally that are required for any new implementation. We recommend reviewing your general internal standards as a baseline for the evaluation. Having an internally vetted AI policy is a key component to ensuring appropriate alignment. Don’t skip this step! Check out the NIST AI Framework to get started.
3. Understand How Your Data Is Accessed and Used
Now you can get into the weeds of the tool(s) you are evaluating. How is the model trained? What data is being used to train it. Will your organization’s data be used to train the AI Model? If so, how will it be used? Who will be able to access your data from the vendor organization and under what conditions will your data be accessed.
4. Verify Data Storage, Retention, and Recovery Practices
Obviously understanding where your data is and how it will be maintained is crucial to proper implementation. How and where is your data stored? How long is it stored? What are the backup policies in place? Does the vendor have disaster recovery and incident response plans in place to address potential outages and recovery efforts? How are logs handled?
5. Validate the Vendor’s Security Posture
Does the organization conduct penetration testing and security assessments/reviews on their tools? How often are they performed? How often are updates made and issues addressed? We recommend you become familiar with the latest testing guide from OWASP to ensure you understand the security controls that must be evaluated.
Conclusion: Balancing AI Innovation with Security
Not all AI tools carry the same level of risk. Some are low-cost, low-integration solutions used primarily for public content creation, while others may process sensitive client information, support critical business operations, or be used in regulated environments. The level of evaluation should reflect the level of risk and business impact.
As AI adoption continues to accelerate, organizations that balance innovation with proper due diligence will be best positioned for long-term success. Taking the time to evaluate governance, data handling practices, security controls, and vendor maturity can help reduce risk and prevent costly surprises down the road.
If an AI solution is expected to become part of your daily operations, don’t hesitate to engage the vendor, ask detailed questions, and verify the controls they have in place. A thorough evaluation today can provide confidence that the technology will support your organization securely and effectively for years to come.
Check out some of our past posts on AI:
AI Under Scrutiny: Evaluating and Mitigating Key Security Risks
3 AI Security Risks to Consider
Cyber Security Trends in AI (as told by AI)
If you have questions about evaluating AI tools or would like assistance assessing the security risks of a potential AI implementation, contact us or schedule a call with our team today.