Advisor360 Automates Shadow AI Detection, Reducing Risk Assessment Time from Days to Seconds

Advisor360 Gets a Handle on Shadow AI via Automation

Fintech company Advisor360 addressed the growing issue of employees using unsanctioned AI tools (“shadow AI”) by implementing automated detection and control measures. The company, with nearly 700 employees globally, faced challenges in manually vetting the security of rapidly adopted AI tools.

The ideal model of AI adoption involves controlled integration with enterprise-approved tools, but the reality is employees often seek out free, readily available options, creating security vulnerabilities and potential data leakage. Manual vetting of these tools by Advisor360’s small security operations center (SOC) took days, a pace unsustainable given the speed of AI innovation and the potential cost of a data breach in the financial sector.

Key Insights

• 75% coverage: Harmonic Protect currently covers 75% of the AI tools employees are likely to use, with ongoing expansion of coverage.
• Shadow AI Prevalence: Advisor360 discovered employees were actively using unapproved AI tools on corporate laptops, creating blind spots for security teams.
• Harmonic Security Launch: Harmonic Security, a Bay Area startup, launched in August 2023 to address the emerging challenges of shadow AI.

Practical Applications

• Use Case: Advisor360 leverages Harmonic Protect to identify and enforce safe AI practices, reducing risk assessment time from days to seconds.
• Pitfall: Relying on manual vetting of AI tools leads to slow response times and increased risk of data leakage, especially with the rapid proliferation of new AI platforms.

References:

• https://www.darkreading.com/remote-workforce/advisor360-gets-handle-on-shadow-ai-via-automation