From Haunted Clouds to Deepfakes: How to Strengthen Your Digital Defenses Against AI Threats

This blog was created with AI assistance and carefully reviewed by human editors to ensure clarity, accuracy, and insight.

P.S. Even this Halloween-themed discussion on AI security had a little help from the machines. 

As autumn settles in and the nights grow longer, a different kind of unease lingers in the digital world. 

Today’s most concerning “monsters” aren’t the ones found in folklore—they’re invisible, intelligent, and powered by artificial intelligence. Hidden behind chatbots, cloned voices, and well-intentioned digital assistants, these systems can turn a moment of convenience into a significant security risk. 

This season offers an opportunity to look beyond the surface, examine the unseen vulnerabilities within AI, and strengthen your organization’s defenses before small oversights become costly incidents. 

The Rise of the Bring-Your-Own-AI Trend 

It often begins with good intentions. An employee downloads a new AI writing assistant or signs up for a free summarization tool to save time and boost productivity. The results are impressive, adoption spreads, and soon the organization is relying on a variety of unvetted tools. 

According to Google’s 2024 survey of over 1,000 U.S.-based knowledge workers: 

• 93% of Gen Z employees and 79% of Millennials use two or more AI tools at work. 

• 78% of those users bring their own AI tools—without IT’s approval. 

While these tools can enhance efficiency, each unapproved platform introduces potential security risks. Unmonitored applications may collect, store, or share sensitive data, exposing an organization’s proprietary information beyond its intended boundaries. 

The Hidden Risks of Unsecured AI Data 

A 2025 Elon University study found that 58% of AI users rely on multiple AI models, each capable of storing, sharing, or training on the data it receives. In many cases, users remain unaware of where their information goes once it’s entered. 

Further data from Harmonic shows that 45.4% of sensitive prompts are submitted through personal accounts, well outside the visibility and control of corporate IT teams. 

This creates a significant risk: confidential strategies, client information, and product plans may be transmitted or stored in environments that lack enterprise-level protection. Even a single AI query made through an unsecured channel can compromise sensitive data and expose the organization to long-term vulnerabilities. 

Spotting Deepfakes: When the Voices Aren’t Real 

As technology advances, it’s becoming harder to know what’s real. Deepfakes have quickly become one of the most deceptive and growing threats to organizational security. 

Hackers can now replicate a leader’s voice to authorize fraudulent transactions or fabricate realistic videos of trusted partners to manipulate employees and stakeholders. 

To mitigate these risks: 

• Verify the source. Always confirm sensitive or urgent requests through secure, known channels. 

• Pause before responding. Emotional or time-sensitive appeals can indicate social engineering. 

• Educate employees. Provide ongoing training to help teams recognize audio and visual inconsistencies. 

Deepfakes can erode trust within seconds. Awareness, vigilance, and education remain the most effective safeguards against this modern form of digital deception.  

Zero Trust: Strengthening Defenses from Within 

The greatest risks often come from inside the walls, not outside them. That’s why modern organizations are adopting the Zero Trust model—an approach where no user, device, or application is trusted by default, even within the network perimeter. 

A Zero Trust framework focuses on: 

• Verifying every connection, both internal and external. 

• Segmenting access, ensuring users can only reach the data and systems they need. 

• Continuously monitoring for unusual or unauthorized activity. 

Zero Trust isn’t about paranoia; it’s about protection. Even trusted tools or familiar systems can become risky without proper oversight. 

Define an Acceptable Use Policy for AI: Establish Clear Boundaries 

A well-defined Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) serves as a foundation for safe and responsible AI adoption. It establishes clear expectations for how AI tools are selected, used, and governed across the organization. 

An effective AUP should: 

• Identify approved and prohibited AI tools. 

• Clarify what types of data can be shared or processed. 

• Outline consequences for policy violations. 

• Encourage innovation within secure, defined parameters. 

Think of it as your organization’s protective boundary—a framework that allows creativity and efficiency to thrive without compromising security. 

The BrainStorm AI Security Pack: Empowering Safe and Responsible AI Use 

AI itself isn’t the threat, it’s how it’s implemented, managed, and governed that determines its impact. The most effective way to protect against AI-related risks is through knowledge, awareness, and the right tools. 

That’s why BrainStorm created the AI Security Pack - a comprehensive suite of resources designed to help organizations strengthen their security posture and promote responsible AI use.  

• Build AI readiness by helping employees understand what AI is, how it works, and how to use it effectively in their daily workflows. 

• Enhance AI security awareness by training users to recognize potential risks such as data exposure, social engineering, or phishing attempts. 

• Reinforce AI literacy through regular refreshers and continuous learning that keep security practices current and effective. 

• Encourage responsible adoption by guiding employees to use approved tools and uphold ethical standards in their AI interactions. 

• Safeguard sensitive data by teaching teams to distinguish between public and enterprise-grade AI tools and to avoid sharing confidential information on unsecured platforms. 

The AI Security Pack helps organizations balance innovation and protection, empowering teams to embrace AI confidently while maintaining compliance and control. 

The Final Word: Don’t Fear AI—Train It 

Every organization faces a choice: allow AI-driven risks to emerge unchecked or take proactive steps to manage them through education and sound governance. The real challenge isn’t the technology itself, it’s the absence of awareness about how to use it safely. 

This season, take a moment to strengthen your defenses, educate your teams, and ensure your AI tools serve your organization—not the other way around. 

After all, it’s far better to train your AI than to be haunted by it later. 

About BrainStorm

When organizations are looking to drive digital adoption, they turn to BrainStorm to help make it happen. For over 25 years, BrainStorm has been obsessed with helping teams and organizations communicate and collaborate better. Rather than focusing on application-based training, the BrainStorm platform helps users understand how their technologies work together for maximum impact and unparalleled productivity.