Generative AI (GenAI) applications like ChatGPT, Bard, and Claude have emerged as powerful tools, revolutionizing the way we interact with technology. However, with great innovation comes great responsibility, especially when it comes to handling sensitive data.
In this blog post, we delve into the main pain points associated with GenAI apps and introduce a new feature from Perception Point’s “Advanced Browser Security” offering that addresses these concerns for safe GenAI.
Challenges with Employee GenAI Adoption
1. Security and Privacy Concerns
Recent incidents involving OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Bard have brought to light the potential risks associated with sharing sensitive data with GenAI chatbots. These risks arise from both security bugs in GenAI vendors’ systems, inevitable due to the fast-paced nature of the AI race, and by-design conversation sharing features.
Additionally, some GenAI vendors openly admit to using inputs to re-train their models, potentially exposing sensitive data in future outputs. The involvement of human staff in reviewing user inputs further raises privacy concerns.
Sharing personally identifiable information (PII) with GenAI apps can lead to compliance and privacy issues, especially if vendors experience breaches or data leaks. Regulations such as GDPR and HIPAA must be considered to avoid legal ramifications.
2. Trustworthiness of Output
The generated content from these AI applications cannot be blindly trusted, as it may be entirely fabricated. Employees are advised to exercise caution when using such content to safeguard their organization’s reputation.
Moreover, the output of these GenAI apps may be subject to copyright, adding a layer of legal complexity that users need to be aware of.
Safe GenAI Usage with Perception Point
Despite these concerns, when used safely with the browser security risks in mind, GenAI apps hold the potential for significant productivity benefits.
Companies can leverage Perception Point’s Advanced Browser Security offering to address the security challenges posed by GenAI web apps. The solution is a lightweight browser extension that safeguards against advanced phishing attacks, malware, and unintentional data loss. It also provides essential browser governance controls, offering visibility into browser extensions and limiting access to specific website categories.
Protecting Against GenAI Risks with Advanced Browser Security
In response to the developments of GenAI, Perception Point has introduced a new feature designed to protect organizations against the associated web security risks. This feature empowers security teams to set warnings and restrictions on the use of GenAI apps, tailored to all employees or specific departments/individuals.
Key Features:
- Warning Messages: Admins can mandate users to acknowledge a warning message, including the company’s “accepted use policy,” before accessing GenAI web apps.
- Blocking Access: Admins can prevent certain users/departments from accessing GenAI web apps altogether, with an appropriate block page. Note that admins can exclude specific sanctioned GenAI services and allow access only to these approved apps.
- Upload Restrictions: Admins have the capability to prevent users from uploading sensitive data to GenAI web apps.
- Download Restrictions: To discourage use of generated content, admins can restrict users from downloading content from GenAI web apps (e.g. restrict all downloads or the download of certain file types).
- Watermark: Add a custom watermark to GenAI web apps to discourage users from sharing sensitive data with such apps and to remind them of the risks of that generated content.
- Automated Category Updates: In the ever-changing landscape of Generative AI solutions, admins can rest easy knowing they don’t have to keep track of the myriad GenAI web apps manually. Perception Point’s built-in managed service automatically updates the list of supported GenAI web apps, ensuring continuous protection.
Conclusion
As we embrace the transformative potential of Generative AI, it is imperative to strike a balance between productivity and security. Perception Point’s Advanced Browser Security provides a comprehensive solution to mitigate the risks associated with GenAI web apps. By empowering organizations with the tools to enforce security policies, we can harness the full potential of these innovative technologies while safeguarding sensitive information and maintaining compliance with data protection regulations for safe GenAI usage.
