Artificial intelligence (AI) is the big buzz of the time, and businesses are using it to automate processes and create innovative solutions. However, no technology is perfect, and the growth of AI also comes with a growing concern: AI data breaches. As AI use increases and AI models become larger, the risks increase, with all the data they collect, analyze, and utilize being a target. A recent study on AI security breaches revealed that in the last year, 77% of businesses have experienced a breach of their AI. Unsecured AI poses a significant threat to organizations, as a breach could expose sensitive data, compromise intellectual property, and disrupt critical operations. So, why are AI data breaches on the rise, and what steps can you take to safeguard your company's valuable information?
Why AI Data Breaches are Growing in Frequency
- The Expanding Attack Surface: AI adoption is occurring quite quickly, and as the number of businesses using it increases, so does the number of potential entry points for attackers. Hackers are targeting vulnerabilities in AI models, their data pipelines, and the underlying infrastructure supporting them.
- Data, the Fuel of AI: Data is the lifeblood of AI, with vast amounts being collected for training and operation, making it a tempting target for hackers. This data could include customer information, business secrets, financial records, and employees' personal details.
- The "Black Box" Problem: Many AI models are complex and opaque, which also means they are difficult to secure. A lack of understanding of an AI model's interworkings also means a lack of understanding of their vulnerabilities and challenges in detecting and preventing security breaches.
- Evolving Attack Techniques: Cybercriminals are constantly developing new methods to exploit security gaps. Techniques like adversarial attacks can manipulate AI models, leading them to produce incorrect outputs or leak sensitive data.
The Potential Impact of AI Data Breaches
- Financial Losses: Data breaches frequently incur hefty fines, lawsuits, and reputational damage that negatively impact your bottom line.
- Disrupted Operations: Any AI integrations into a business's operations mean a breach can disrupt those operations, hindering productivity and customer service.
- Privacy Concerns: AI data breaches can compromise sensitive customer and employee information, raising privacy concerns and potentially leading to regulatory action.
- Intellectual Property Theft: In addition to the data they hold, a breach could expose your proprietary AI models themselves, giving competitors a significant advantage over you.
Protecting Your Company from AI Data Breaches
Thankfully, you can mitigate much of the risk of AI data breaches by taking some proactive security measures to protect yourself.
Data Governance
Put in place robust data governance practices, including:
- Classifying and labeling data based on sensitivity
- Establishing clear access controls
- Monitoring data usage
Secure by Design
Security should be a primary consideration throughout the entire AI development and adoption process. Secure by design development should include:
- Secure coding practices
- Vulnerability assessments
- Penetration testing
Model Explainability
Invest in techniques like explainable AI (XAI) that increase transparency in AI models so that you can understand how the model arrives at its results and identify potential vulnerabilities or biases.
Threat Modeling/Security Testing
Conducting regular threat modeling and security testing exercises helps identify potential weaknesses in your AI systems and data pipelines that you can then work to patch before attackers exploit them.
Employee Training/Staying Informed
Educate your employees about AI security threats, best practices for data handling, and how to identify and report suspicious activity. Additionally, keep yourself updated on the latest AI security threats and best practices.
Security Patch Management
Keep all AI software and hardware components updated with the latest security patches. Outdated systems are vulnerable to known exploits, leaving your data at risk.