A practical, organisation‑ready framework for safe, responsible, and secure use of Artificial Intelligence.
To ensure staff understand:
How AI systems work
The security risks associated with AI
How to use AI tools safely and responsibly
How to protect organisational data, systems, and people
AI introduces:
New attack surfaces
New data‑exposure risks
New social‑engineering threats
New compliance and governance challenges
AI security is now part of core cyber hygiene.
Generative AI (text, images, code)
Predictive AI (analytics, forecasting)
Decision‑support AI (risk scoring, automation)
Embedded AI (chatbots, CRM assistants, HR tools)
Email writing
Data analysis
Customer service
Coding and automation
Research and summarisation
Accidentally sharing:
Sensitive data
Personal information
Internal documents
Client details
Attackers may try to:
Trick AI into revealing information
Inject harmful prompts
Influence outputs
AI can be used to create:
Convincing phishing emails
Fake voices
Deepfake videos
Impersonation attacks
AI misuse can violate:
GDPR
Data‑protection laws
Contractual obligations
Confidentiality agreements
AI may unintentionally:
Discriminate
Misclassify
Produce unfair outcomes
Do NOT enter:
Personal data
Client information
Financial details
Internal documents
Passwords or credentials
AI can:
Make mistakes
Invent facts
Misinterpret instructions
Always check accuracy.
Organisations must:
Approve tools
Set policies
Control access
AI supports decisions — it does not replace judgement.
Examples:
Unexpected outputs
Attempts to extract data
Strange requests
Restrict who can use AI tools
Use role‑based access
Enable MFA
Classify data
Define what can/cannot be shared
Use secure storage
Track AI usage
Monitor for misuse
Detect anomalies
Create policies for:
Acceptable use
Data handling
Model governance
Third‑party AI tools
Network controls
API security
Encryption
Secure endpoints
Risk: Data leakage
Correct action: Summarise manually or use an approved internal tool.
Risk: Operational harm
Correct action: Verify with a qualified human expert.
Risk: Social engineering
Correct action: Report to IT/security team.
Risk: Credential theft
Correct action: Never provide credentials; report immediately.
Think before you type
Treat AI like a public platform
Use anonymised or synthetic data
Keep conversations high‑level
Follow organisational policies
Ask if unsure
Create an AI oversight committee
Define roles and responsibilities
Maintain an AI risk register
Mandatory AI security training
Annual refreshers
Role‑specific modules
Use enterprise‑grade AI tools
Apply data‑loss prevention (DLP)
Integrate with SIEM/SOC
Update IR plans for AI misuse
Include AI‑related threat scenarios
Train staff on reporting procedures
[ ] I do not enter sensitive data into AI tools
[ ] I verify all AI outputs
[ ] I use only approved AI systems
[ ] I follow data‑classification rules
[ ] I report suspicious activity
[ ] AI acceptable‑use policy in place
[ ] Data‑governance rules defined
[ ] Monitoring and logging enabled
[ ] Staff trained annually
[ ] AI risks included in governance
AI is powerful — but only when used safely.
This guide ensures your organisation:
Protects data
Reduces risk
Builds trust
Uses AI responsibly
Strengthens cyber resilience