{"id":119777,"date":"2025-01-09T11:50:09","date_gmt":"2025-01-09T16:50:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jumpcloud.com\/?p=119777"},"modified":"2025-01-09T11:50:24","modified_gmt":"2025-01-09T16:50:24","slug":"how-to-conduct-an-ai-risk-assessment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jumpcloud.com\/blog\/how-to-conduct-an-ai-risk-assessment","title":{"rendered":"AI in The Workplace: How to Conduct an AI Risk Assessment"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Artificial intelligence is reshaping how we work and it\u2019s doing so at an incredible pace. In fact, 72%<\/a> of businesses use AI for at least one business function. From writing tools to data analysis, AI is woven into daily tasks without a second thought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For many organizations the rapid adoption of AI presents both an advantage and a challenge, especially for IT and security teams. It\u2019s no longer a question of whether AI tools are used, but how employees are using them\u2013and more importantly, how you assess and manage the risks that come with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019ve put together a comprehensive guide to help you conduct an AI risk assessment for your organization by simply following 4 foundational steps and knowing what to consider when adopting AI applications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p><\/div> 75%<\/a> of generative AI users aim to automate workplace tasks and utilize generative AI for work-related communications.<\/p>\n <\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n Take a typical day at the office: A marketing team might use an AI-driven tool to draft social media posts, a sales rep might rely on AI to prioritize leads, and a product team might run data analysis through machine learning. <\/p>\n\n\n\n These tools are empowering teams, but as employees freely choose and start using AI applications to streamline their work, they may inadvertently introduce risks by sidestepping IT. And with new AI tools springing up nearly every day, it\u2019s a steep climb for IT and security teams to control which applications are in use, let alone which ones are secure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When asked about the speed of AI, fear dominates. According to survey data from JumpCloud\u2019s Q3 SME IT Trends<\/a>, 61%<\/strong> of organizations agreed that AI is outpacing their organization\u2019s ability to protect against threats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first step in conducting an AI risk assessment is understanding what AI tools are in use across your organization. This requires a comprehensive inventory of all AI-related accounts and applications employees might be using\u2013whether they are IT-approved or not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Without this visibility, businesses risk unapproved SaaS applications slipping into daily workflows, leading to security and compliance gaps. There are a few ways for IT teams to approach SaaS discovery and find AI tools. These include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n After identifying which AI tools are in use across your organization, the next step is to evaluate each vendor\u2019s approach to security and privacy. AI applications often handle sensitive data, making it critical to understand the practices of each vendor to prevent potential breaches and data misuse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When evaluating AI vendors and SaaS applications that use third-party GenAI for their services, IT and security leaders should consider the following key factors:<\/p>\n\n\n\n These core questions give you a structured way to evaluate the security and privacy practices of each vendor, helping you ensure that only trustworthy tools are adopted within your organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Splunk\u2019s latest security report, 91%<\/a> of security teams are utilizing generative AI, yet 65% admit they lack a full understanding of the implications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After identifying and evaluating the AI tools in use, the next step is mapping out which tools interact with your organization\u2019s core business applications. This helps reveal any data-sharing pathways and security implications involved in these integrations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Key areas to consider include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mapping these connections can uncover vulnerabilities, such as overly broad access scopes or unencrypted data exchange, and helps you ensure that only vetted, secure pathways are used for AI integrations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The final step into assessing AI risks in your organization is to look at how employees interact with AI tools daily. Clear communication and education are vital to making sure they understand the acceptable use of these tools, including which AI applications are approved and how to use them safely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Without a clear communication, employees may unknowingly bypass IT guidelines or engage in risky AI usage, potentially exposing your organization to security risks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To improve communication around AI use, consider the following factors:<\/p>\n\n\n\nIt Might Not Steal Your Job, But It\u2019s Here to Stay<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How to Assess The Risk of AI Tools Employees Use<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Identification: What AI Tools Are Being Used in Your Company?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
2. Evaluation: How Do AI Vendors\u2019 Approach Security & Privacy?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
3. Tracing: What AI Tools Connect to Core Business Applications?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
4. Communication: How Are Employees Using AI Tools?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
How JumpCloud Simplifies Finding & Managing AI Tools<\/h2>\n\n\n\n