How Can Organisations Protect Data While Using AI?

Organisations must have a good AI governance strategy to protect data. Sophisticated cyberattacks aren’t always to blame for costly cyber incidents. Too often, data breaches connected to AI use are the direct result of governance failures that include:

• lack of a policy on AI tool usage
• not classifying or protecting sensitive information
• failing to monitor or detect inappropriate AI use
• not providing training to ensure staff understand AI risks

As such, the new challenge for executive leaders is to determine who owns AI governance in the organisation. Then, start taking proactive steps to keep AI tools and Large Language Models (LLMs) from turning into a silent liability.

What are Best Practices in Data Security?

Effective data security relies on strong policies and direction, priorities, and clear governance. These best practices require consistency and maintenance. They’re not one-off projects.

1. Secure Identities

• Apply Conditional Access policies across cloud and on-prem identities
• Enforce MFA (nonSMS), strong authentication, and strict sign-in monitoring
• Monitor and govern Active Directory and all third-party access pathways

2. Harden and Monitor Devices

• Ensure all managed and unmanaged endpoints are secured
• Deploy endpoint protection and EDR (e.g., Defender for Endpoint)
• Maintain continuous device compliance and threat monitoring

• Allow only approved, compliant applications
• Enforce app governance, access restrictions, and continuous monitoring

4. Protect the Data Layer

• After identity, device, and app layers are in place, define clear data handling policies
• Classify and label data before enabling technical controls
• Use technology to enforce policies after defining standards and ownership

Northwave’s Managed Security & Privacy Office (MSPO) helps organisations embed these best practices into daily operations. MSPO provides 24/7 security monitoring, privacy governance, expert guidance, and data-driven insights for continuous improvement. Security controls remain effective, risks stay visible, and compliance obligations are met as the organisation and the threat landscape changes.

Why Data Privacy Matters

Data privacy matters to European businesses because it protects people, reduces risk, ensures regulatory compliance, strengthens trust, and provides a competitive advantage in an increasingly digital and regulated market.

Effective data privacy controls helps your organisation maintain:

Business Continuity: By proactively identifying and mitigating privacy risks, you can prevent disruptions caused by data breaches, regulatory fines, or reputational damage.

Digital Trust: Strong privacy practices demonstrate your commitment to protecting personal data and maintaining integrity. This reinforces trust with customers, employees, investors, regulators, and other stakeholders.

Growth and Innovation: A privacy-resilient environment powered by privacy by design creates the confidence and stability needed to pursue innovation and expansion. It enables organisations to explore new technologies, enter new markets, and improve services without being held back by privacy concerns.

Regulatory Compliance: Privacy management provides the structure to meet regulatory requirements like GDPR. By implementing standards such as ISO27701, you are able to clearly demonstrate compliance to auditors and stakeholders.

How Can Organisations Assess Privacy Maturity?

A mature privacy program demonstrates strong governance, proactive risk management, and continuous improvement. Organisations can assess privacy maturity by evaluating how well they manage personal data and comply with regulations. Common methods include:

• Using recognised frameworks like the ISO/IEC 27701 to benchmark current practices.
• Data mapping to understand where personal information resides and how it flows.
• Reviewing policies and governance to ensure roles, responsibilities, and procedures are clearly defined. Risk and compliance audits, including Privacy Impact Assessments (PIAs) and Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs).
• Measuring employee awareness through targeted training programs and integrating privacy principles across the organisation.

Northwave offers several ways to help organisations understand their privacy maturity and check if they need additional governance or dedicated support to be safe and compliant.

Privacy Quick Scan
Short, pragmatic report highlighting potential privacy risks, gaps in processes, and overall awareness levels. Ideal for organisations that need fast, high-level insight into their privacy maturity or have limited existing documentation.

GDPR GAP Assessment
n-depth report that maps compliance gaps and helps determine next improvement steps, such as a DPIA. Designed to for organisations that want to validate whether existing documentation and controls are sufficient.

Data Protection Impact
Identify privacy risks in processes in scope and mitigate them, while remaining focused on your core business. Gain control of GDPR compliance for projects or changes in your processes. We blend both EU standards, including the ISO/IEC 27701:2025 norm, and industry best practices in our DPIA approach.

Not sure what your next step should be? Book a free consultation with a Northwave Privacy expert.