Smart Tech. Dumb Mistakes. The Hidden AI Risk in Your Office
Across the city of Albany, Oregon businesses are embracing AI like never before. From Microsoft Copilot to ChatGPT, teams are using these tools to write emails, summarize meetings, build spreadsheets, even draft client communications.
But here’s the problem: most businesses have no clue how much sensitive data their employees are feeding into public AI tools and the exposure is worse than they think.
10D Tech helps businesses get ahead of these risks by establishing smart AI usage policies and securing data before it gets copied into the wrong chat window and in many cases, we can help build and implement a policy in just a single afternoon by establishing smart AI usage policies and securing data before it gets copied into the wrong chat window.
It’s Not the AI’s Fault. It’s How It’s Used.
AI tools like ChatGPT and Google Gemini are powerful. However, they’re also public-facing systems, trained on massive datasets, which include data that users submit voluntarily.
If one of your employees pastes in:
- A client’s financial report
- Passwords or logins to get “help with a tech issue”
- An internal project plan for summarization
…that info may be stored, logged, or used to train future models.
That’s not speculation. In 2023, Samsung engineers leaked internal source code into ChatGPT, sparking a global privacy crisis and a full corporate ban.
You don’t need to be Samsung for this to wreck your business.
The Bigger Threat? Prompt Injection
Hackers have begun embedding malicious instructions within normal-looking documents, including emails, transcripts, PDFs, and even YouTube captions.
If your AI assistant is processing one of these files, it can be tricked into leaking data or executing unintended actions… and it won’t even know it’s being manipulated.
This is called prompt injection, and it's one of the fastest-growing threats in cybersecurity.
Why Albany’s Small Businesses Are Especially Exposed
Small businesses often allow innovation to move faster than policy — and that’s where the real danger is:
- No AI usage policy
- No employee training on what not to share
- No tracking of what tools are even being used
- Assumptions that “AI is just a smarter Google”
That combination is a hacker’s dream.
How to Use AI Without Exposing Your Business
You don’t have to stop using AI. But you do have to use it wisely. Here’s where to start:
✅ Create an AI Usage Policy
Define which tools are allowed, what data is off-limits, and who to ask when unsure.
✅ Educate Your Team
Train staff on prompt injection, public AI risks, and real-world examples like the Samsung breach.
✅ Use Business-Grade AI Only
Stick with tools like Microsoft Copilot that are designed for enterprise security and data control.
✅ Monitor & Audit AI Usage
Know which platforms are being used on company devices. Block risky tools if needed.
Bottom Line: Smart Businesses Use AI. Smarter Ones Use It Safely.
Albany businesses are known for being lean, agile, and fast-moving — but one careless AI interaction can undo years of trust, compliance, and customer confidence.
Let’s take 15 minutes to review your current setup and help you create a smart, secure AI usage policy — before your business ends up training the wrong algorithm.
About 10D Tech
10D Tech provides managed IT and cybersecurity solutions to small and midsized businesses across Oregon. We deliver proactive, practical protections, from EDR to secure AI use to phishing training, with local support and no confusing jargon.
👉 Book your 15-minute cybersecurity assessment and let’s take a Closer Look at how to keep your business safe. https://www.10dtech.com/15min-assessment
Internal Links:
- Managed Cybersecurity - https://www.10dtech.com/services/managed-it-services
- IT Assessments & Strategy Consulting - https://www.10dtech.com/services/it-assessments-consulting
- Co-Managed IT Services - https://www.10dtech.com/services/co-managed-it-services
