AI and Sensitive Data
The Hidden Dangers
69% of companies have no policy governing AI usage by their employees, while Shadow AI exposes sensitive data to external models daily. With GDPR fines reaching up to 4% of global revenue, securing AI is no longer a technical issue but a governance imperative.
AI is a powerful tool. It's also a potential leak.
ChatGPT, Copilot, Claude... These tools are revolutionizing development. But every prompt sent is an open door to the outside. And what goes out never truly comes back.
A too-frequent scenario
A developer is debugging an authentication issue
They copy-paste code containing an API key into ChatGPT
The AI responds with a solution, and the key is now on third-party servers
This key could train future models, be visible to OpenAI employees, or leak in a breach
The company won't know until it's too late
Ce scénario se produit des milliers de fois par jour dans les entreprises.
What you really risk
Unmanaged use of AI tools exposes your company to concrete, documented risks.
Data leaks to AI providers
Every prompt sent to ChatGPT, Copilot, or Claude passes through external servers. Your source code, API keys, tokens, and proprietary business logic leave your security perimeter, and may be used to train future models.
Real case:
Samsung, 2023: employees accidentally shared proprietary source code and confidential meeting notes via ChatGPT. Samsung had to ban all generative AI tools company-wide. (Bloomberg, May 2023)
How to protect yourself:
Clearly identify which data can transit to third-party AIs and which must never leave your perimeter. Set up isolated environments for sensitive data.
Developers without security culture
Most developers have no security training. They don't know how to identify what constitutes sensitive data, and use AI without awareness of the risks: copy-pasting code containing secrets, sharing database structures with real data, sending logs containing personal information.
Real case:
A junior developer asks AI to fix a bug. They paste an entire configuration file containing production credentials. Nobody knows. Nobody checks. (Scenario documented by multiple cybersecurity firms)
How to protect yourself:
Train teams to identify sensitive data. Establish clear AI usage protocols. Implement technical safeguards that detect secrets before sending.
AI-generated vulnerabilities
AI generates code that works, but isn't secure by default. 45% of vibe-coded code contains exploitable flaws, 40% of Copilot suggestions contained known CWE vulnerabilities: SQL injections, XSS flaws, poorly implemented authentication, data exposure in logs.
Real case:
Stanford Study 2023: researchers demonstrated that AI-generated code contained significantly more security flaws than code written manually by experienced developers. (Stanford Security Lab)
How to protect yourself:
Systematic validation with SAST/DAST tools before any deployment. Expert human review of all critical code. Never blindly trust generated code.
Non-compliance risks
Sending personal data to third-party AIs may constitute a GDPR violation (up to 4% of global revenue), HIPAA, or other sector-specific regulation breach. Transfers outside EU, medical confidentiality violations, inability to guarantee the right to erasure: legal risks are real.
Real case:
Banking sector, 2024: a European bank had to declare a breach to the data protection authority after a developer shared customer data in a ChatGPT prompt to generate analysis code. (Anonymized case)
How to protect yourself:
Understand the regulatory constraints of your sector. Adapt AI tool usage accordingly. Document processing and guarantee data subjects' rights.
Shadow AI: the invisible AI
Your employees are already using AI, but you don't know it. 75% of employees use AI without official approval, 69% of companies have no AI usage policy. Without visibility, impossible to assess exposure or have an audit trail in case of incident.
Real case:
A salesperson uses ChatGPT to draft proposals. They paste customer information, confidential pricing, internal strategies. The company has no idea. (Pattern observed in many organizations)
How to protect yourself:
Implement a clear and communicated AI policy. Provide approved tools that meet real needs. Train teams on risks. Monitor usage to detect deviations.
The most commonly exposed data
An analysis of intercepted AI prompts reveals alarming patterns.
Credentials and secrets
- -API keys (AWS, Stripe, OpenAI...)
- -Authentication tokens
- -Hardcoded passwords
- -Certificates and private keys
Proprietary source code
- -Business algorithms
- -Pricing logic
- -Partner integrations
- -System architecture
Personal data
- -Customer names and emails
- -Payment data
- -Health information
- -User histories
Strategic information
- -Product plans
- -Commercial strategies
- -Financial data
- -Ongoing negotiations
Is your company exposed?
Answer these questions honestly.
Do you have a written policy governing AI usage by your teams?
69% of companies don't
Do you know which AI tools your developers use daily?
Shadow AI is the norm, not the exception
Have you trained your teams to identify sensitive data?
Most developers have no security training
Does AI-generated code go through systematic security review?
45% of AI code contains vulnerabilities
Can you guarantee that personal data has never been sent to a third-party AI?
If you can't guarantee it, assume it has
If you answered 'no' to one or more questions
Your company is probably already exposed. The good news: it's not too late to act.
Your data stays yours
AI accelerates. Your data stays put.
We've invested hundreds of hours experimenting, failing, correcting. With every new tool version, with every provider policy change, we've adapted our practices. You don't have to go through that journey.
What you get
We know how to interact with LLMs without exposing your data. This expertise is built over time, we've done it for you.
Your data stays within your perimeter
No sensitive data transits to third-party servers. What's confidential stays confidential.
GDPR and regulatory compliance assured
Your legal obligations are met. Documentation, traceability, data subject rights: everything is in place.
Security built-in from day one
Every solution is designed with data protection as a priority. Not added at the end.
What this changes for you
You benefit from AI
Development acceleration, increased productivity, innovation, without the risks that usually come with it.
Your data is protected
Your intellectual property, business secrets, customer data stay exactly where they should be.
Your compliance is assured
GDPR, sector regulations, internal policies: you can demonstrate compliance at any time.
Why not do it yourself?
You could. But building this expertise internally requires an investment few teams can afford.
Expertise adapted to your industry
Some sectors have enhanced security and compliance requirements. We have the experience to meet them.
Healthcare
Enjeux : Protected health data, certified hosting, medical confidentiality
Finance
Enjeux : Payment data, operational resilience, strict regulation
Legal
Enjeux : Attorney-client confidentiality, sensitive case data
Industry
Enjeux : Intellectual property, manufacturing secrets, export control
Expertise built through practice
Daily AI users
We don't theorize about risks, we encounter and solve them every day. Our expertise comes from the field, not PowerPoint presentations.
Proven methodology
Strict processes applied to every project. Security is not an option, it's a fundamental requirement.
Ongoing ecosystem monitoring
The AI ecosystem changes fast. Very fast. We invest the necessary time to stay current, so you don't have to.
Transparency about limits
We don't promise zero risk, it doesn't exist. We clearly tell you what we can guarantee and what remains an accepted risk.
Every day that passes is a day of exposure.
Your developers are probably already using AI. The question isn't 'if' data has leaked, but 'how much'. Act now.
Ready to secure your AI development?
AI accelerates. But without security, it exposes. At MyoApp, we do both: speed and protection. Because your sensitive data deserves better than a copy-paste into ChatGPT.
30 minutes to assess your exposure and define an action plan. No commitment.
What you need to know
Is AI safe for developing sensitive applications?
AI can be safe, but not by default. Consumer tools (ChatGPT, Copilot) are not designed for sensitive data. For secure use, you need isolated environments, sanitized prompts, and systematic validation. That's exactly what we set up at MyoApp.
What data is at risk with AI tools?
Everything pasted into a prompt is potentially exposed: source code, API keys, tokens, personal data, customer information, internal strategies. AI models may use this data for training, and provider employees may have access. In case of a breach at the provider, everything can leak.
How to stay GDPR compliant when using AI?
GDPR requires documenting processing, having a legal basis, guaranteeing people's rights, and securing transfers outside the EU. To use AI in compliance: never send personal data to third-party AIs, use compliant environments, document your processing, and train your teams.
How to fight Shadow AI in my company?
Three levers: 1) Clear policy on what's allowed and what isn't. 2) Approved tools that meet needs (if you forbid without alternative, people will work around it). 3) Training so teams understand the risks. Shadow AI exists because AI is useful: provide secure alternatives.
Can AI be used securely?
Yes, but it requires a deliberate approach. At MyoApp, we use AI daily to accelerate development, while ensuring your sensitive data never leaves your perimeter. The result: you get AI speed without the risks that usually come with it.
How to audit AI usage in my company?
Start with an inventory: which tools are used, by whom, for what. Then analyze risks: what data may have been exposed. Finally, implement controls: policy, training, approved tools, monitoring. We can support you in this process.