Artificial Intelligence (AI) has quickly moved from being a futuristic idea to an everyday business tool. From chatbots that handle customer service to Microsoft Copilot drafting emails and reports, AI is changing how organisations operate.

But with opportunity comes risk. While AI can boost productivity and streamline processes, it also introduces a new wave of cyber threats that many businesses are unprepared for. Hackers and cybercriminals are finding ways to turn AI into a weapon, and the risks go far beyond traditional cyberattacks. This is why having the proper IT support and compliance strategy in place has never been more critical.

The New AI Threat Landscape

AI is powerful, but it can also be manipulated. Here are some of the key cyber threats businesses should be aware of:

Smarter Phishing Emails

Gone are the days of clumsy phishing messages full of spelling mistakes. With AI, attackers can now generate compelling emails that mimic your colleagues’ or suppliers’ tone and style. These emails look authentic and are designed to trick employees into clicking links or sharing sensitive information.

Data Poisoning and Manipulated Models

Back in 2023, researchers created what became known as PoisonGPT. It looked like a typical AI model, but it was a hidden model, and false facts were deliberately planted to mislead users. This concept, known as data poisoning, remains a very real risk today. Imagine financial forecasts or compliance checks quietly manipulated without anyone noticing. This attack doesn’t raise alarms; it feeds insufficient data while appearing completely normal.

AI-Driven Misinformation

AI is also making it easier to spread misinformation. Deepfake videos, fake compliance reports, or even forged audit documents can now be created with little effort. We’ve already seen real-world scams where CEO voices were cloned to trick employees into transferring money. The reputational and financial damage of falling for these kinds of attacks can be devastating.

Shadow AI

Your employees may already use free AI tools like ChatGPT without your knowledge or approval. This is known as shadow AI. This means sensitive business information can be uploaded to external systems you cannot control. Once that data is out there, you cannot retrieve it, which could pose significant risks to your compliance and security.

Rising Regulatory Pressure

It’s not just hackers that businesses need to think about. Regulators are paying close attention to how organisations use AI. New legislation, such as the EU AI Act, is being introduced to govern how AI tools are deployed. You risk fines and reputational damage if your business cannot prove that your AI use is secure and compliant.

Why Compliance Matters More Than Ever

The answer is not to avoid AI, far from it. Tools like Microsoft Copilot can save time, improve accuracy, and give your business a competitive edge. The key is how and where you use AI.

Copilot operates inside Microsoft 365, which means your data remains secure within your own environment. But there is a catch: Copilot is only as safe as the systems you put it in. You may still be vulnerable if your business has not already laid the foundations of cyber security and compliance.

This is why frameworks such as Cyber Essentials, Cyber Essentials Plus, and ISO 27001 matter. They prove that your business takes security seriously and that robust processes are in place to protect data. Without them, even the most innovative AI tools could expose your organisation to unnecessary risk.

What Businesses Can Do Now

So how can you take advantage of AI while keeping your business safe? Here are some practical steps:

• Verify the source of any AI models or tools before you deploy them. Please treat them with the same scrutiny as any other piece of software.
• Train your staff on the risks of shadow AI and ensure they understand which AI tools are approved and safe to use.
• Strengthen your compliance framework. Cyber Essentials and ISO 27001 certifications show that security is built into your processes.
• Use AI in secure environments. Microsoft 365 with Copilot is a strong example of how to use AI safely within an established compliance framework.
• Monitor and review your systems regularly. AI evolves quickly, and so do the risks. Staying audit-ready means you won’t be caught off guard.

How Pronetic Can Help

At Pronetic, we provide IT support across Portsmouth, Chichester, and the surrounding areas, focusing on cyber security, compliance, and peace of mind. We understand that businesses need to embrace new technologies like AI, but they also need to do so safely and compliantly. That’s where we come in.

We help businesses to:

• Achieve Cyber Essentials or Cyber Essentials Plus certification
• Implement ISO 27001 processes for stronger information security
• Roll out AI tools such as Microsoft Copilot within secure and compliant environments
• Stay continuously audit-ready with less stress and wasted time

Our goal is simple: to make sure your business gets the benefits of AI without the risks. With the proper protections, you can confidently move forward, knowing that your systems, data, and reputation are safeguarded.

AI is not going away. It will only become more advanced and deeply embedded in our work. The businesses that succeed will embrace AI while putting security and compliance at the centre of their strategy.

Get in touch with us to find out how AI can work for your business – securely and compliantly.