Shadow AI security

Take control of Shadow AI before it becomes a business risk

Identify unapproved AI use, reduce data exposure and give employees a practical framework for using AI safely at work.

Understand current AI usageReduce unmanaged data exposureCreate practical employee guidance
What is Shadow AI?

Unapproved AI usage is already inside many organisations.

Employees often adopt AI to save time and improve output. Risk appears when the business can't see which tools are being used or what information is being shared.

01

Find current usage

Understand public AI tools, personal accounts, browser extensions and AI-enabled SaaS.

02

Assess data exposure

Identify where confidential, personal or regulated information may be shared.

03

Set practical rules

Give employees clear guidance on approved tools, restricted data and output checking.

04

Provide safer alternatives

Introduce approved platforms and workflows that support useful adoption.

The challenge

Shadow AI creates risk when visibility and governance fall behind use.

Most unmanaged activity starts with good intentions. The business still needs to understand the tools, information and decisions involved.

01

Sensitive data exposure

Client, financial, HR or commercial information is entered into public tools.

02

Personal AI accounts

Employees use services outside approved business identity and access controls.

03

Browser extensions

AI add-ons may access documents, emails, web pages or internal systems.

04

Compliance gaps

AI use is not aligned with GDPR, contracts or sector requirements.

05

Unverified outputs

Teams rely on inaccurate or fabricated information without appropriate review.

06

Loss of visibility

Leadership can't see which tools are used, why they are used or where risk sits.

Shadow AI controls

Visibility, policy, technology and education need to work together.

Blocking tools alone rarely resolves the underlying demand. A stronger approach gives employees useful routes to work safely.

The goal is to reduce unmanaged exposure while preserving the productivity benefits that encouraged employees to use AI in the first place.

01

Discover

Identify tools, accounts, browser features and employee workflows.

Usage view
02

Assess

Review data sharing, compliance, access and third-party platform risk.

Exposure view
03

Control

Introduce policy, approved tools, identity and technical safeguards.

Governance view
04

Enable

Train employees, support useful workflows and review adoption over time.

Adoption view
Shadow AI

Understand where Shadow AI risk appears.

The review considers the tools employees use, the information involved and whether existing policy and controls provide enough direction.

01

Sensitive data exposure

Reduce the risk of confidential information entering unapproved AI tools.

02

Unmanaged accounts

Identify personal accounts and platforms outside business controls.

03

Browser extensions

Review AI plugins that can access documents, email and internal systems.

04

Compliance alignment

Connect AI use with GDPR, contracts and internal data protection policy.

05

Third-party AI features

Assess AI capabilities added to SaaS platforms already used by teams.

06

Policy uncertainty

Give employees clear guidance on approved tools, restricted data and responsibilities.

07

Output validation

Set expectations around checking accuracy, sources and business decisions.

How Fifosys helps

A practical route from unmanaged use to secure adoption.

The work gives leadership visibility, employees clearer guidance and technical teams a defined set of controls.

01

AI usage discovery

Review tools, accounts, browser features, SaaS capabilities and workflows.

02

Risk review

Assess data sharing, third parties, compliance and unmanaged exposure.

03

Acceptable use policy

Define approved tools, restricted data, responsibilities and escalation.

04

Technical controls

Strengthen identity, browser governance, permissions and information protection.

05

Training and monitoring

Build awareness and review how AI usage changes over time.

How we work

Bring AI use into the open before setting the controls.

We first understand why employees use AI and which workflows matter, then shape the policy, technology and approved alternatives around that reality.

Step 01

Discover usage

Build a view of tools, accounts, teams, workflows and information involved.

Step 02

Assess exposure

Prioritise the behaviours and platforms creating the greatest risk.

Step 03

Set governance

Define policy, ownership, approved tools and data-handling rules.

Step 04

Introduce controls

Apply identity, browser, Microsoft 365 and information protection measures.

Step 05

Educate and review

Train employees and update the approach as tools and behaviours change.

Why Fifosys

Security and AI adoption considered together.

Shadow AI crosses security, Microsoft 365, compliance and employee behaviour. Fifosys can connect those areas in one practical programme.

01

Practical discovery

The review focuses on real employee tools and workflows.

02

Security context

Data exposure, identity and access are assessed together.

03

Usable policy

Guidance is clear enough for employees to apply day to day.

04

Safer adoption

Approved alternatives help the business retain useful AI benefits.

Find out where AI is already being used across your organisation.

A readiness and Shadow AI review can establish current activity, exposure and the controls needed next.

Discuss Shadow AI
Frequently asked questions

Clear answers to common Shadow AI questions

Shadow AI is the use of artificial intelligence tools without formal approval, visibility or governance from the business.
Employees may enter confidential, personal or regulated information into tools that have not been assessed or approved.
A blanket ban is difficult to enforce and can push usage further underground. A stronger approach combines visibility, policy, approved tools and training.
Businesses can review browser activity, SaaS use, endpoint signals, procurement requests, user surveys and Microsoft 365 activity.
It should define approved tools, restricted data, output checking, governance ownership and what employees should do when unsure.
Yes. Unapproved processing of personal, confidential or regulated information can create compliance and contractual risk.
Talk to Fifosys

Bring Shadow AI into the open before it exposes the business.

Tell us what you know about current AI use, where visibility is limited and what concerns you about company data. We will help you define the right response.

Understand tools, accounts and employee workflows.

Identify data exposure and governance gaps.

Create practical controls and safer alternatives.