AI has become the ultimate enabler—reshaping industries, driving efficiencies, and automating workflows at an unprecedented scale. But with this rapid adoption comes a stark reality: data security is often an afterthought.
In 2023, AI-related data leaks skyrocketed, exposing businesses to regulatory scrutiny, financial losses, and reputational damage. From Samsung’s internal data leak via ChatGPT to OpenAI’s data exposure incident, one thing is clear—without a robust Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) strategy, businesses are sleepwalking into risk.
At The Missing Link, we help organisations embrace AI securely, ensuring data visibility, control, and compliance at every stage. Here’s why DSPM must be a top priority in your AI adoption strategy.
AI’s growing data problem: Are you in control?
Generative AI thrives on vast datasets, often drawing from sensitive and proprietary information. If this data isn’t properly classified, monitored, and controlled, it becomes a prime target for cybercriminals and internal misuse.
A strong Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) framework provides:
- Data discovery & classification: AI models are only as good as the data they consume. Without clear oversight, personally identifiable information (PII) and intellectual property could be unintentionally exposed.
- Access controls & monitoring: Not all data should be accessible by all users, or AI models. Role-based access and real-time monitoring prevent unauthorised data exposure.
- Data Loss Prevention (DLP) for AI: AI interactions must be monitored for anomalous behaviour. If an AI system starts returning sensitive business insights or customer data, it’s a red flag.
- Regulatory compliance alignment: AI governance isn’t just good practice—it’s a legal requirement. Whether it’s ISO 27001, GDPR, or the Australian Privacy Act, compliance failures can lead to fines and loss of trust.
- Data flow mapping: Many organisations assume AI tools operate in silos. In reality, AI crosses multiple systems and jurisdictions, requiring strict data sovereignty measures.
- Third-party AI risks: AI vendors often train on customer data. Without clear agreements, sensitive data may be stored or used indefinitely outside your control.
Yet, despite these risks, many businesses haven’t assessed the data security impact of their AI deployments. That’s a gap that attackers will exploit.
AI security: The emerging attack vectors
As AI becomes deeply embedded in business operations, attackers are exploiting its vulnerabilities in new ways. Some of the most pressing AI security threats include:
- Data poisoning attacks: Malicious actors manipulate training data to inject biases or weaken AI decision-making, leading to flawed outputs.
- Model inversion attacks: Attackers extract sensitive training data from AI models, reconstructing private information from patterns.
- Prompt injection exploits: AI-powered chatbots and automation tools can be tricked into revealing sensitive data or performing unintended actions.
- Shadow AI risks: Employees often integrate AI into workflows without security oversight, leading to unmonitored and unprotected AI interactions.
Organisations must proactively defend against these risks by integrating AI security controls into their broader cyber security strategy.
AI data breaches: What happens when security takes a backseat
The consequences of AI security misconfigurations are already playing out in the real world:
- Samsung’s ChatGPT data leak: Engineers used ChatGPT to review internal source code, inadvertently feeding confidential corporate data into OpenAI’s servers.
- Chevrolet’s AI Chatbot disaster: An AI-powered chatbot was manipulated into offering luxury vehicles for $1, highlighting poorly secured AI integrations.
- OpenAI’s ChatGPT breach: A flaw in ChatGPT’s system exposed user chat histories and billing information, proving that even leading AI vendors aren’t immune.
These incidents highlight a dangerous trend—businesses are deploying AI without securing their data. And that’s a risk no security leader can afford to take.
Beyond Microsoft Purview: Why a single-vendor approach falls short
For organisations invested in Microsoft’s security ecosystem, Microsoft Purview is often the first choice for DSPM capabilities. But as businesses scale, they often encounter critical limitations:
- eDiscovery restrictions: File size and case limits restrict large-scale investigations.
- Sensitive Information Type (SIT) constraints: Custom data classification is limited, reducing granular security control.
- Retention policy complexity: Managing multiple policies for long-term data security is cumbersome.
- Integration challenges: Non-Microsoft data sources require additional security layers, adding complexity and cost.
At The Missing Link, we see this challenge first-hand. Many clients outgrow Microsoft Purview’s capabilities and require a broader, more flexible DSPM strategy.
The smarter approach: Vendor-agnostic DSPM
Rather than locking into one ecosystem, businesses should adopt a vendor-agnostic DSPM framework that covers all data environments—on-prem, cloud, and AI-driven platforms.
- Identify & classify sensitive data across all AI workflows
- Enforce access controls to prevent unauthorised AI data interactions
- Deploy AI-specific DLP solutions to monitor for potential leaks
- Ensure AI security meets global compliance standards
We partner with leading security vendors to provide holistic DSPM solutions tailored to each organisation’s needs. Learn more about our approach to AI security here.
The Missing Link’s perspective: Security must evolve with AI
AI’s potential is limitless—but only if it’s secured correctly. At The Missing Link, we believe AI adoption must be paired with a strong security foundation, ensuring organisations can innovate without compromise.
As one of Australia’s most awarded cyber security firms, we help businesses:
- Assess and secure their AI-driven data environments
- Implement best-in-class DSPM solutions that scale
- Reduce AI-related compliance risks
The future of AI is here. Let’s make sure it’s secure.
Ready to assess your AI security posture? Speak to The Missing Link’s cyber security experts today.
