Trust Stack · Layer 02
Security
Stop confidential data leaving the building
What this layer means
Security is about preventing your confidential business data from leaving the building through AI tools. It means using business-grade versions of AI tools where available, having written rules about what staff can and can't paste into public tools, and having a process for spotting potential data leaks before they become incidents.
For Irish SMEs, security starts with a few practical steps: switching from personal ChatGPT accounts to Team or Enterprise plans where data isn't used for training, having a simple acceptable use policy, and knowing what to do if something goes wrong.
Why SMEs should care
- Business-grade AI plans aren't significantly more expensive than personal plans
- A single data leak can damage client trust and trigger GDPR reporting requirements
- Most SMEs have no written rules about what staff can paste into AI tools
- Shadow AI (tools used without IT knowing) is already happening in your business
Common failure patterns
- Staff using personal AI accounts with training data sharing enabled
- No written policy on what is safe to paste into AI tools
- No process for responding to a data incident involving AI
- Client data processed through tools with no data processing agreement
Questions leaders should ask
- Are we using business-grade or personal AI tool accounts?
- Do we have a written acceptable use policy for AI tools?
- What would we do if a staff member accidentally shared client data with an AI tool?
- Have we reviewed the data processing terms of every AI tool in use?
Start here
A practical first action
Switch every AI tool your team uses from personal to business-grade accounts. On ChatGPT, this means Team or Enterprise. On Claude, this means Pro with data retention opt-out. This single change means your data isn't used to train models, and you get a data processing agreement.
How does your business score on Security?
The AI Readiness Scorecard measures your position across all five Trust Stack layers in about ten minutes.
Start with a thirty-minute conversation
Book a free consultation. We map your specific challenges and identify practical next steps. No sales pressure, just useful advice.