Employee Acceptable Use Policy for using AI at Work

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Purpose: This Acceptable Use Policy outlines the guidelines and expectations for employees using Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies in the workplace. The policy is designed to ensure responsible and ethical use of AI tools, promoting a secure and productive work environment while safeguarding the privacy and sensitive information of both the organization and its stakeholders.

Scope: This policy applies to all employees, contractors, and third-party collaborators who utilize AI technologies in the course of their work for the organization.

Policy:

1. Authorized Use: Employees are permitted to use AI technologies provided or approved by the organization for work-related tasks, as outlined by their job responsibilities and tasks designated by their supervisors.

2. Data Privacy and Security: a. All AI activities involving sensitive information, confidential data, and personally identifiable information (PII) must be carried out following the organization’s data protection and privacy policies. b. Employees must not use AI technologies to access, collect, or manipulate data that they are not authorized to access.

3. Responsible AI Usage: a. Employees must ensure that AI tools are used ethically, avoiding any actions that could cause harm or discriminate against individuals or groups based on race, gender, age, religion, or any other protected characteristics. b. The use of AI for fraudulent, malicious, or deceptive activities is strictly prohibited.

4. Compliance with Laws and Regulations: Employees must adhere to all applicable laws, regulations, and industry standards related to AI usage, data protection, privacy, and intellectual property.

5. Intellectual Property: a. When utilizing AI tools to develop new software, applications, algorithms, or processes, employees must follow the organization’s intellectual property policies. b. Employees must respect third-party intellectual property rights when using AI tools.

6. Transparency and Accountability: a. If an employee’s role involves AI-generated content or interactions with stakeholders, they must disclose when AI is being used to ensure transparency. b. Employees are accountable for the outcomes of AI-generated actions performed under their supervision.

7. Avoiding Bias: a. When utilizing AI technologies that involve data processing, employees must make efforts to identify and mitigate biases that could lead to unfair or discriminatory outcomes. b. If an employee suspects bias in AI-generated outputs, they should promptly report the issue to their supervisor or the designated contact.

8. Reporting Misuse or Concerns: a. Employees should promptly report any misuse or concerns related to AI technologies to their supervisor, IT department, or the designated contact. b. Reports of possible AI-related security breaches or vulnerabilities must be submitted as per the organization’s security incident reporting procedures.

9. Training and Education: The organization will provide training and educational resources to employees to enhance their understanding of AI technologies, ethics, and best practices.

10. Consequences of Violations: Failure to adhere to this policy may result in disciplinary actions, up to and including termination of employment or legal action, depending on the severity and impact of the violation.

Conclusion: By following this Acceptable Use Policy for Employees Using AI at Work, employees contribute to a responsible, ethical, and secure use of AI technologies. Adherence to these guidelines ensures that AI tools contribute positively to the organization’s objectives while maintaining a safe and respectful work environment.

Your secret weapon in the war against cyber extortion.

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What is Ransomware?

Malicious software that locks your files and demands payment to access them.

Ransomware is a term for the many variations of malware that infect computer systems, typically by social engineering schemes.

A cryptovirology attack encrypts critical files and systems and renders them inaccessible to the owner.

Ransomware sometimes marks the files for permanent deletion or publication on the internet. The perpetrators then demand a payment (usually in untraceable cryptocurrency like Bitcoin) for the private key required to decrypt and access the files. Infamous ransomware examples include CryptoLocker, CryptoWall, Locky, Cerber, KeyRanger, SamSam, TeslaCrypt, TorrentLocker, and Reveton.

Who are Ransomware Perpetrators?

Cybercriminals who profit greatly by violating businesses that rely on data as a lifeblood.

Ransomware cybercriminals are organized and profitable. It is estimated that this type of attack earns criminals $10 million to $50 million per month.

There are entire ransomware outfits working out of office buildings, making the stealthy and disruptive pieces of malicious software, and designing deceptively simple schemes to infiltrate small to medium sized businesses.

The criminals are business-minded innovators. Recently, a Ransomware-as-a-Service organized cybercrime ring was discovered, which infected around 150,000 victims in 201 countries in July 2016; splitting profits 40% to malware authors and 60% to those who discover new targets.

The overhead is low, the profits are high, the Bitcoin is anonymous, the list of targets is endless, the technology is not overly complicated, and the odds of getting caught are low. Ransomware perpetrators are sophisticated, profit-hungry, cybercriminals on the lookout for unsuspecting SMBs to violate.

Could my business be a Ransomware victim?

In a word: Yes.

Ransomware perpetrators cast a wide net. They target small to medium sized businesses with IT security loopholes, valuable data, and a modest budget to pay the ransom.

If data is important to your business, you are a target.

To get in to your systems, they may send a phishing email to your staff. Because 94% of people can’t distinguish between a real email and a phishing email 100% of the time, they get in. And if they don’t, they try again until someone somewhere clicks the link.

Want to learn more? Contact us today for a free assessment.