Instead, governance and IM set rules and guidelines for how data is collected, stored, and used by members of an organization, reducing the risk of data breaches and misuse. This is the part that an organization has control over. Automating governance and data archiving and deletion processes eliminates manual intervention, significantly reducing the risk of human error and empowering organizations to protect their data.
- Risk Assessment and Data Backup
The rise in stored data due to increased use of AI can increase risk for organizations. According to the AI and Information Management Report, 64% of organizations already manage more than 1 petabyte (PB) of data, and 41% have more than 500 PB of data. But this amount is only growing. According to Gartner, AI tools such as Copilot could usher in a new era of AI-generated content and app sprawl. IDC agrees, predicting that the world will reach 163 zettabytes (ZB) of data by 2025, with analytic data passing through AI and other cognitive systems reaching 1.4 ZB in the same year.
While an IM strategy helps with data archiving and record-keeping, regular data backups also help address growing data volumes by enabling critical information to be restored in the event of a system failure, cyberattack, or other unexpected circumstances. AI cannot function properly without critical organizational data. Therefore, a robust data backup strategy protects organizations from data loss and ensures that their AI investments are not wasted.
- Employee training
AI is not a standalone solution; it requires human intervention to function optimally. Identifying potential risks associated with planned AI implementations can help organizations make informed decisions about the specific approaches and supporting tools needed to strengthen security posture while using AI, and educate employees about these risks. However, 53% of organizations are using public AI tools without acceptable use policies. Not only that, but only 46% of organizations currently provide AI-specific training to their employees.
Ensuring that employees are well informed about new tools is part of a thoughtful, cautious approach to AI implementation. Employees need to understand how to safely interact with AI tools, especially public AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, etc.
Ultimately, as AI continues to transform business, it is important that organizations prioritize data security and governance. By implementing automated governance and information management practices, conducting thorough risk assessments, maintaining a robust data backup strategy, and providing comprehensive employee education, companies can mitigate potential risks while harnessing the power of AI.
