AI in Everyday Business: What Organisations Need to Get Right

According to a forecast from OpenText, businesses in Australia will be expected to manage their Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems like they would their own employees by 2026. Therefore, businesses will apply similar oversight and security for their digital workers as they do for their employees. In order for AI to transition from pilot projects to a regular part of business operations, organisations will need to impose tighter controls on both machine identities and data risk. 

As George Harb of OpenText warns, “the core risk does not change whether the decision maker is a person or an AI agent. That means companies must extend existing access rules, monitoring and incident-response plans to AI systems from day one. Protectera also emphasises that data quality is crucial: even high-tech AI can fail if you feed it “dirty or poorly governed data, so businesses should treat their AI “fuel” carefully to avoid bad decisions.

Key steps for securing AI adoption

• Manage AI access: Give AI systems (like bots, APIs, and automated tools) proper access controls. Treat them the same way you would treat employee user accounts.
• Keep data clean: Make sure the data used by AI is accurate, trusted, and well managed. Good data rules help stop AI from using risky or unreliable information.
• Stick to security basics: Follow proven security practices such as the ACSC Essential Eight, things like regular updates, multi-factor authentication, and backups. Review and update cyber policies early.
• Train people and get advice: Teach staff good cyber habits, including how to use AI safely. When needed, bring in experts to check risks and spot problems you might miss. 

Small business risk and compliance

OpenText also highlights that small and medium enterprises (SMEs) often lack the security resources of bigger firms, making them one of the most exposed segments. Hackers are likely to move down the chain of command, targeting SME data and systems as larger companies lock down AI systems. As CPA Australia warns, “Cybersecurity isn’t optional – it’s essential. Smaller businesses are especially vulnerable. Even smaller organisations should urgently review their defences and adopt strong basic controls (like ACSC’s Essential Eight). For firms in regulated sectors, preparing for new mandates – such as the Critical Infrastructure Risk Management Program – is also crucial.

How Protectera can help

Protectera’s cybersecurity experts can guide your organisation through this AI transformation. We provide comprehensive cyber risk assessments, data governance and compliance support (including CIRMP readiness), helping you build robust AI controls and policies. Speak with our team today to understand how we can strengthen your AI security and regulatory compliance. Call us on 02 7227 5428 or book a free consultation. And be sure to follow us on LinkedIn for more updates.