[EDRM’s Editor’s Note: This article was first published here on September 7, 2024, and EDRM is grateful to Rob Robinson, editor and managing director of Trusted Partner ComplexDiscovery, for permission to republish.]
ComplexDiscovery’s Editor’s Note: Prompt Security’s new solution addresses an urgent need in today’s AI-driven enterprise environments. With tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot being rapidly adopted, the risks to data privacy and security are growing just as fast. This solution ensures companies can confidently harness the power of AI without exposing themselves to significant compliance or data protection risks—a critical development for professionals in cybersecurity, information governance, and eDiscovery.
First Complete Security Platform for Microsoft 365 Copilot Unveiled by Prompt
In a landscape where artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly essential for enterprise productivity, Prompt Security, a cybersecurity startup, has introduced the industry’s first security and governance solution tailored for Microsoft 365 Copilot. Announced on September 4, 2024, this release marks a step forward in managing the risks associated with generative AI (GenAI) tools, which have rapidly become fixtures in corporate environments.
The Microsoft 365 Copilot, a tool that integrates AI into widely used applications like Word, Excel, and Outlook, has been widely adopted due to its ability to streamline tasks, summarize content, and boost productivity. However, as with all AI advancements, introducing such tools has also raised red flags about data privacy and security risks. Prompt Security’s latest solution directly addresses these concerns by safeguarding sensitive information and ensuring organizations remain in control of AI tools used within their infrastructure.
“We are thrilled to be the first GenAI security vendor to offer comprehensive protection for Microsoft 365 Copilot,” said Itamar Golan, CEO and Co-founder of Prompt Security. “Our solution represents a new paradigm in GenAI security, enabling enterprises to embrace the productivity gains brought about by Copilot for Microsoft 365 while maintaining full control over the organization’s use of the tool and keeping the highest level of data protection and governance.”
A New AI-Driven Risk Landscape
Generative AI tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot revolutionize how employees create, manage, and interact with content. Users can ask Copilot to write reports, summarize emails, or even draft complex data analyses, all through simple natural language queries. These capabilities come with enormous potential but also introduce unique security challenges.
Our solution represents a new paradigm in GenAI security, enabling enterprises to embrace the productivity gains brought about by Copilot for Microsoft 365 while maintaining full control over the organization’s use of the tool and keeping the highest level of data protection and governance.
Itamar Golan, CEO and Co-founder, Prompt Security.
For example, employees might unknowingly prompt Copilot to access or share confidential information, such as financial data, intellectual property, or sensitive internal documents. According to cybersecurity experts, this presents a clear data leakage or misuse risk, which could lead to regulatory penalties, legal complications, and reputational damage for organizations.
Recognizing these risks, Prompt Security has developed a solution that not only monitors but actively prevents data exfiltration and inappropriate content sharing via Microsoft 365 Copilot. Through real-time detection, the system ensures that sensitive information remains within the organization, both in internal communications and external interactions.
Features Tailored for Enterprise Needs
Prompt Security’s solution stands out for its seamless integration into existing security frameworks, offering enterprises a robust defense without the need for major infrastructure changes. One of the platform’s key strengths is its ability to protect sensitive data in real time. By continuously monitoring interactions with Microsoft 365 Copilot, the system ensures that confidential information isn’t accidentally shared internally or externally.
Our agent-based solution ensures that organizations can maintain visibility and control over GenAI interactions across their entire Microsoft 365 environment.
Lior Drihem, CTO and Co-founder, Prompt Security.
The platform also recognizes the varied access needs across different organizational departments. For instance, a marketing team may need more flexibility in accessing external data, while the finance department would require stricter controls. Prompt Security’s solution allows companies to implement customized security policies for each department, providing a tailored approach to data governance and risk management.
Another standout feature is its simplicity of deployment. The platform is equipped with a lightweight agent that integrates quickly—often within minutes—into an organization’s existing security infrastructure, minimizing disruption to ongoing operations.
With global data privacy regulations becoming increasingly stringent, auditing and compliance are top concerns for many enterprises. Prompt Security addresses this by tracking every interaction with Copilot, creating a comprehensive audit trail that helps organizations remain compliant with regulatory standards.
Moreover, the platform includes a real-time content moderation feature that reviews AI-generated responses. This ensures that inappropriate or potentially harmful content is flagged or blocked before it can cause any damage, protecting the organization from unintended security breaches or legal issues.
Prompt Security’s approach aims to offer more than just data protection—it also ensures organizations can fully embrace the productivity benefits of Microsoft 365 Copilot without worrying about inadvertent security lapses.
“As desktop applications with GenAI features become central to day-to-day operations, it’s crucial that we deliver complete security regardless of where employees use these tools,” said Lior Drihem, CTO and Co-founder of Prompt Security. “Our agent-based solution ensures that organizations can maintain visibility and control over GenAI interactions across their entire Microsoft 365 environment.”
Addressing a Growing Need for AI Security
The introduction of Prompt Security’s solution comes at an opportune time for enterprises, many of which are rushing to implement AI-driven tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot. While these tools promise to enhance productivity and streamline workflows, they also create new avenues for potential data breaches, intellectual property misuse, and compliance violations.
A recent report from Gartner emphasized the risks inherent in GenAI tools, particularly noting that tools like Copilot can expose sensitive data to both internal and external threats. The report highlighted the “hallucination” problem, where AI models generate fictional responses, which can lead to faulty decision-making and unintended legal risks.
For instance, an employee using Copilot to draft an email might accidentally expose confidential information that could later be retrieved by unauthorized users. Or, in another scenario, Copilot might be asked to access and summarize sensitive financial records, creating the potential for data leaks.
Microsoft 365 Copilot itself does not provide enterprise-specific controls for AI security and data protection, making third-party solutions like Prompt Security’s platform essential for safeguarding sensitive information. Without these added layers of protection, companies could inadvertently expose themselves to significant security and regulatory risks.
The Road Ahead for AI in the Workplace
As organizations across the globe increasingly integrate GenAI tools into their workflows, the importance of securing AI interactions cannot be overstated. Tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot are quickly becoming indispensable in sectors ranging from finance to healthcare to legal services, all of which deal with sensitive information on a daily basis.
Prompt Security’s new offering ensures that businesses can leverage the power of AI without compromising their security posture. As companies continue to adopt AI, solutions like these will become critical for ensuring that AI-generated productivity gains do not come at the cost of data breaches, regulatory fines, or reputational damage.
Prompt Security’s Microsoft 365 Copilot protection solution is available immediately and marks a significant step forward in the security of generative AI tools. As AI continues to transform the workplace, it’s clear that security will remain at the forefront of its adoption.
Read the original release here.
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News Sources
- Prompt Security Launches First Comprehensive Security and Governance Solution for Microsoft 365 Copilot
- Prompt Security: The Platform for GenAI Security
Additional Reading
- OpenAI and Anthropic Collaborate with U.S. AI Safety Institute
- 56% of Security Professionals Concerned About AI-Powered Threats, Pluralsight Reports
Source: ComplexDiscovery OÜ
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