Securely Harnessing the Power of ChatGPT and Generative AI: Netskope Drives Enterprise Adoption

New Netskope Data Protection Solution Enables Safe Usage of Generative AI Applications

Santa Clara, Calif., June 20, 2023

Overview

Netskope, a leader in Secure Access Service Edge (SASE), has announced the general availability of a comprehensive data protection solution designed to help enterprises securely manage employee use of ChatGPT and other generative AI applications. This solution, part of Netskope‘s Intelligent Security Service Edge (SSE) platform, addresses the growing trend of enterprises adopting generative AI applications while prioritizing data security.

Enterprises are currently faced with the challenge of determining whether to block access to generative AI applications to reduce security risks or allow usage to benefit from the efficiencies and other benefits they offer. Netskope‘s data protection solution provides the necessary controls to enable the safe usage of generative AI applications across organizations.

Data Protection Challenges Posed by Generative AI Applications

Generative AI applications, such as ChatGPT, Google Bard, and Jasper, have gained popularity in enterprises due to their ability to generate human-like responses. However, incidents of sensitive data exposure from generative AI have raised concerns about the potential risks associated with their usage.

Netskope research reveals that approximately 10% of enterprise organizations are currently blocking ChatGPT use by teams. However, ChatGPT adoption is growing exponentially, with a month-over-month growth rate of 25%. Furthermore, approximately 1 out of 100 enterprise employees actively uses ChatGPT daily, submitting an average of 8 prompts per day.

Netskope‘s Solution: Secure Enablement of Generative AI Applications

Netskope‘s Intelligent SSE platform combines its industry-recognized data protection features with newly released innovations specific to generative AI applications. This unified solution offers Netskope customers the means to safely use and manage generative AI applications.

Comprehensive Application Usage Visibility

Netskope provides instant access to detailed ChatGPT usage and trends within an organization. This visibility is achieved through the industry’s broadest discovery of Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) applications, utilizing a dynamic database of over 60,000 applications. Advanced analytics dashboards and the Cloud Confidence Index™ (CCI) actively classify new generative AI applications and evaluate their risks accordingly.

Additionally, Netskope‘s patented Cloud XD™ inspection allows granular context and instance awareness by discerning access levels and data flows through application accounts, such as differentiating between corporate and personal accounts. A new web category dedicated to identifying generative AI domains enables teams to configure access control and real-time protection policies, ensuring the safe usage of generative AI applications.

Advanced Application Access Control

Netskope‘s solution enables dynamic and granular access control to generative AI applications. Users are provided with real-time coaching messages that alert them to potential data exposure and other risks associated with using generative AI applications. This promotes responsible use while providing employees with real-time training and guidance, without obstructing harmless queries.

Advanced Data Protection

The solution allows monitoring, allowing, or blocking the posting of enterprise-sensitive data, such as source code, to AI chatbots. Netskope‘s data protection capabilities include support for regulatory compliance needs, such as GDPR, CCPA, and HIPAA, through advanced data classifiers and machine learning-based detection.

The Highest Performing Security Services

Netskope‘s SSE services are powered by NewEdge, the world’s largest security private cloud presence with data centers in 65+ regions globally. This infrastructure provides customers with unparalleled service coverage, performance, and resilience.

Netskope‘s History of AI/ML Innovation in Data Protection

Netskope, founded in 2012, has been recognized for its advanced data protection capabilities and its use of artificial intelligence and machine learning in its platform. The company’s innovations include advancements in data security, embedded UEBA, threat protection, IoT security, Borderless SD-WAN, AIOps, and other critical areas.

Netskope AI Labs, a crucial component of Netskope‘s product and service innovation, is dedicated to solving security and fraud problems through the responsible use of AI and ML in various domains. The team at Netskope AI Labs has developed large-scale AI/ML models for real-time SSE and SASE use cases. Netskope‘s team includes inventors listed on hundreds of patents worldwide.

Editorial and Advice

The safe enablement of generative AI applications presents a complex data protection challenge for enterprises. Blocking access to these applications may mitigate potential risks but can also hinder innovation and productivity. Netskope‘s data protection solution offers a viable middle ground by providing organizations with the necessary controls to safely use generative AI applications.

Enterprises should take advantage of the comprehensive application usage visibility provided by Netskope‘s solution. This visibility allows organizations to understand the extent of generative AI application usage within their environment and evaluate associated risks. It also enables the configuration of access control and protection policies tailored to generative AI applications.

Netskope‘s advanced application access control features, including real-time coaching messages, contribute to creating a culture of responsible and secure AI usage. Organizations can benefit from training employees in real-time to identify potential data exposure risks, promoting security awareness.

Furthermore, advanced data protection capabilities, such as monitoring and blocking the posting of sensitive enterprise data to AI chatbots, ensure compliance with data protection regulations and safeguard valuable information.

Enterprises should consider leveraging the expertise and innovations offered by Netskope to navigate the complexities of AI and ML in data protection. Additionally, collaboration among industry peers, academia, thought leaders, and governments is essential to ensure that AI and ML technologies are developed and deployed responsibly, balancing innovation and security.

Netskope‘s recognition by Gartner as a leader in the 2023 Magic Quadrant for Security Service Edge, with the highest scores in the “Identify and Protect Sensitive Information” category, reaffirms their commitment to providing effective data protection solutions.

Conclusion

Netskope‘s new data protection solution addresses the challenges enterprises face in safely enabling the usage of generative AI applications. By combining advanced data protection features with innovations specific to generative AI applications, Netskope provides comprehensive visibility, application access control, and advanced data protection capabilities.

Enterprises should consider implementing Netskope‘s solution to strike a balance between innovation and security. The responsible use of generative AI applications can be achieved by adopting the right data protection controls, promoting security awareness among employees, and ensuring compliance with relevant regulations.

In the rapidly evolving landscape of AI and ML, it is crucial for organizations to continuously assess and update their data protection strategies to keep pace with emerging technologies and associated risks. Netskope‘s commitment to AI/ML innovation in data protection positions them as a leading provider of solutions in this field.