AI has embedded itself across departments, accelerating business operations and reshaping workflows at a staggering pace. While AI technologies continue to deliver measurable gains in productivity, they are also creating critical blind spots in enterprise security. We’re seeing a rapidly growing list of AI-related breaches plaguing organizations and they are happening cross-vertical.
So what’s a CISO to do?
Here’s a checklist to counter the emerging AI threats of today:
Identify Shadow AI Across Your Environment
AI-powered tools often enter your environment without formal vetting. Meeting assistants, content generators, and summarizers may request access to emails, documents, and chats. Discovering these tools is the first step. You need a clear, complete picture of every AI-powered app, whether it was deployed through IT or adopted independently by teams.
Evaluate and Monitor Access Permissions
Many AI tools ask for excessive access like admin privileges, broad API permissions, or persistent OAuth tokens. These privileges can be difficult to track or revoke. If compromised, attackers can exploit them to move laterally across your SaaS ecosystem. Monitor all permissions and enforce least-privilege access consistently.
Assess Vendor Data Handling and Privacy Practices
In the absence of mature AI privacy regulations, vendors may store, repurpose, or even train on your internal data. Proprietary communications, financial data, or product strategies could be retained indefinitely or exposed through shared models. Evaluate every vendor’s data policies and ensure they align with your governance standards.
Anticipate AI-Enhanced Attacks
Attackers are using AI to craft phishing emails, automate credential stuffing, and mimic employee behavior at scale. These techniques are harder to detect and faster to deploy. Your defenses must evolve to detect not just known threats, but sophisticated, AI-generated anomalies.
Deploy Tools That Provide Visibility and Control
You can’t protect what you can’t see. Use a SaaS Security Posture Management (SSPM) solution to uncover hidden tools and embedded AI features. This helps you understand what AI applications are active, where they live, and how they interact with your critical systems.
Build Practical AI Usage Policies
Employees aren’t intentionally trying to create risk—they often just don’t know where the boundaries are. Develop clear, practical guidelines for using AI tools. Reinforce these policies through engaging training and ongoing communication. Make compliance easy to understand and even easier to follow.
Treat AI Tools as Supply Chain Vendors
Any application that processes your company’s data should be assessed like a third-party vendor. That includes reviewing their security practices, compliance posture, and contractual obligations. Formalize AI vendor vetting as part of your broader supply chain risk strategy.
CISOs, AI is not an upcoming risk — it has already reshaped your threat landscape. You need full visibility into your AI tools, clear usage policies, and strong access controls. Most of all, treat every AI integration like a supply chain risk and prioritize oversight now.
Ready to see what’s hiding in your stack? Wing’s got you covered.