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ChatGPT is becoming a critical component of shadow IT, introducing unforeseen risks to organizations. IT and cybersecurity leaders must find ways to harness its speed without compromising security. OpenAI reports that enterprise adoption is rapidly increasing, with over 80% of Fortune 500 companies’ employees and departments using it.
A recent Harvard University study found that enterprise workers experience a 40% performance boost thanks to ChatGPT. Another study from MIT revealed that ChatGPT reduces skill gaps, speeds up document creation, and helps workers use their time more efficiently. Despite these benefits, 70% of workers haven’t disclosed their use of ChatGPT to their bosses.
Reducing the risk of intellectual property loss without sacrificing speed is crucial. The main concern with ChatGPT is that employees might inadvertently share sensitive information, such as intellectual property, pricing, financial data, and HR details, with publicly accessible large language models (LLMs). Incidents like Samsung’s accidental data leaks highlight the urgency of addressing this issue.
Many organizations are turning to generative AI-based solutions to tackle security challenges by guiding user behavior. There’s growing interest in technologies like generative AI Isolation to prevent confidential data from being exposed on platforms like ChatGPT and Bard. Businesses aim to balance efficiency and process improvements provided by ChatGPT with robust risk reduction strategies.
Alex Philips, CIO at National Oilwell Varco (NOV), has taken on the role of educating his board about the benefits and risks of generative AI. He regularly updates the board on the current state of gen AI technologies and how NOV can maximize value while minimizing risk. This ongoing education process helps set expectations and establish safeguards to prevent data leaks.
New technologies are emerging to secure ChatGPT sessions without compromising speed. Companies like Cisco, Ericom Security by Cradlepoint, Menlo Security, Nightfall AI, Wiz, and Zscaler are notable for their solutions. Each vendor approaches the challenge differently, with Ericom Security by Cradlepoint’s Generative AI Isolation and Nightfall for ChatGPT gaining the most traction.
Ericom Security by Cradlepoint uses a clientless method where user interactions with generative AI sites occur in a virtual browser within the Ericom Cloud Platform. This system routes all traffic through their cloud platform, preventing sensitive data from being submitted to sites like ChatGPT. Their approach ensures the least privileged access through a secure cloud architecture.
Nightfall AI provides three solutions to protect confidential data from being shared with ChatGPT and similar platforms: Nightfall for ChatGPT, Nightfall for LLMs, and Nightfall for SaaS. Nightfall for ChatGPT is a browser-based tool that scans and redacts sensitive data in real time. Nightfall for LLMs is an API that detects and redacts sensitive data during LLM training. Nightfall for SaaS integrates with popular cloud applications to prevent data exposure.
Gen AI is becoming the engine of knowledge for businesses. Attempts to ban tools like ChatGPT and Bard often backfire, leading to more shadow AI applications. CIOs and CISOs are now piloting and deploying gen AI-based systems to mitigate risks at the browser level. Solutions like Cradlepoint Ericom’s shield organizations from data leaks while offering the scalability needed to protect thousands of employees.
The objective is to transform the rapid innovation in gen AI into a competitive edge. IT and security teams must ensure this happens by staying informed about the latest technologies and techniques for safeguarding data. Maintaining competitiveness as a knowledge-based business requires awareness of evolving data protection options.
“Generative AI websites offer significant productivity enhancements, but organizations must proactively address the associated risks,” said Gerry Grealish, Vice President of Marketing at Ericom Cybersecurity Unit of Cradlepoint. “Our Generative AI Isolation solution helps businesses balance the benefits of generative AI with the need to prevent data loss, malware threats, and compliance issues.”
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