How Businesses Use AI Today

AI is now an essential part of modern business operations, transforming the way companies work across various industries. From marketing and sales to finance and customer service, businesses are leveraging AI-powered tools to automate tasks, improve efficiency, and enhance decision-making.

One of the most common applications of AI is through external AI tools such as ChatGPT and MidJourney, which assist with content generation, summarising reports, and handling repetitive administrative tasks. These tools allow employees to work faster and more effectively, reducing time spent on manual processes and increasing overall productivity.

At the same time, businesses are investing in custom AI models tailored to their specific needs. Platforms like Microsoft’s CoPilot and other enterprise-grade GenAI models are being trained on company-specific data, allowing organisations to develop proprietary AI solutions that integrate seamlessly into their workflows. These internal AI models provide businesses with a more secure way to utilise AI, as they offer greater control over data governance and compliance.

Beyond standalone AI platforms, AI is becoming an embedded feature within widely used business applications. Microsoft 365, Salesforce, Google Workspace, and other cloud-based tools now include AI-driven automation, helping employees streamline workflows, analyse data, and generate reports without needing to switch between platforms. AI-powered assistants can predict customer preferences, suggest optimised sales strategies, and automate customer support interactions, making these applications even more valuable.

The Hidden Risk: How AI Can Expose Your Data

The primary challenge of adopting AI lies in how employees interact with it. Many workers, eager to leverage AI’s capabilities, unknowingly input sensitive company data into AI-powered tools, assuming their information is secure and private.

However, many AI models retain and process user inputs, sometimes indefinitely. Without proper oversight, businesses may inadvertently expose confidential customer information, trade secrets, financial records, or proprietary research, increasing the risk of data breaches and compliance violations.

A key issue is the lack of visibility and control over AI usage. Employees may use unauthorised AI tools without IT approval, often referred to as shadow AI. Without monitoring, organisations can’t track what AI applications are in use, where company data is being stored, or whether it’s being shared externally. This lack of oversight creates significant security blind spots, making businesses vulnerable to accidental data leaks, insider threats, and regulatory non-compliance.

For industries with strict data protection laws, such as finance, healthcare, and government, AI-related security risks are even more concerning. Regulatory frameworks like the Australian Privacy Act and APRA CPS 234 mandate that businesses must have robust data governance policies in place. If sensitive information is mishandled through AI applications, organisations could face severe financial penalties, legal consequences, and reputational damage.

Beyond compliance, businesses must also consider customer trust. In an era where consumers are increasingly aware of data privacy rights, companies are expected to demonstrate transparency and accountability in how they handle data. Failing to secure AI usage not only exposes businesses to regulatory risks but also erodes trust with customers, partners, and stakeholders.

The reality is that AI adoption is inevitable, but businesses cannot afford to overlook the security implications. Without proper safeguards and governance frameworks, organisations risk losing control over their most valuable digital assets—leading to costly breaches, lost revenue, and lasting reputational damage.

How SASE Protects Your Business from AI Data Risks

As AI becomes more embedded in daily business operations, organisations face a difficult challenge—how to embrace AI’s benefits while preventing data security risks. Simply restricting AI usage isn’t a practical solution, as employees will continue to seek out AI tools to boost productivity. Instead, businesses need a structured, secure framework that enables responsible AI usage while ensuring sensitive data remains protected.

Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) provides a cloud-based cybersecurity model designed to monitor, manage, and safeguard AI interactions across an organisation. Rather than relying on restrictive policies that may hinder productivity, SASE allows businesses to intelligently control how AI is used, ensuring that employees can access AI tools without compromising data security.

SASE helps businesses identify, control, and regulate AI interactions in three key ways:

• Discovery & Visibility: Many organisations lack insight into which AI tools their employees are using. SASE enables IT and security teams to identify unauthorised AI applications and track AI usage across cloud environments. This ensures that businesses have full visibility over AI adoption and can take action before data exposure occurs.

• Data Flow Control: AI tools require access to data to function effectively, but not all data should be shared. SASE allows businesses to define data-sharing policies, determining what information can be used by AI applications and what must be blocked. This approach enables AI-driven productivity while minimising the risk of sensitive data being leaked or stored externally.

• Employee Education & Guidance: AI security isn’t just about blocking access—it’s about helping employees use AI tools responsibly. Instead of outright preventing access to AI, SASE solutions can coach employees on secure AI usage, providing real-time prompts and guidance when potentially sensitive data is about to be shared.

Key Components of SASE in AI Security

At the core of SASE’s AI protection capabilities are two critical components:

• Secure Web Gateway (SWG): This function monitors, filters, and controls all internet traffic, ensuring that employees do not accidentally upload sensitive company information into public AI models like ChatGPT or DeepSeek. By enforcing policy-based web filtering, SWG helps prevent accidental data leaks while allowing secure AI interactions.

• Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB): CASB provides deep visibility and control over AI-driven applications and data, helping businesses enforce Data Loss Prevention (DLP) policies. It prevents sensitive business data from being shared with external AI platforms and ensures that AI integrations within enterprise software—such as Microsoft 365 and Salesforce—adhere to strict security policies.

By integrating SASE, businesses can confidently adopt AI without increasing cybersecurity risks. This proactive approach ensures that AI remains a valuable asset rather than a liability, allowing organisations to embrace innovation while safeguarding sensitive business data.

Why Choose Vocus for AI Security?

As AI adoption accelerates, businesses need a trusted partner that can help them embrace innovation without compromising security. At Vocus, we provide comprehensive cyber security solutions that enable organisations to leverage AI safely while minimising risks to data privacy, compliance, and operational security, including managed detection and response, managed SD-WANs and SASE

With years of expertise in cyber security and data protection, we help navigate the complexities and reduce the risk of integrating AI into our customers’ environments. Our nationwide presence and dedicated cybersecurity expert and partner ecosystem means that organisations receive tailored support and proactive risk management, ensuring their AI security policies align with regulatory requirements and industry best practices. Whether your business is deploying AI-driven applications, custom AI models, or embedded AI within SaaS platforms, Vocus provides the security foundation needed to protect sensitive business data while enabling AI-driven growth.

AI presents an enormous opportunity for businesses to enhance efficiency, improve decision-making, and drive innovation, but it must be implemented with the right security framework. With Vocus SASE solutions, your organisation can harness the full potential of AI while maintaining strict cybersecurity standards, protecting critical data assets, and staying ahead of emerging threats.

Get in touch with Vocus today and secure your AI-driven future.

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Stephen Mullaney, SASE Security Specialist • Enterprise & Government