Data security in AI-powered ERP: key considerations

In discussions about the adoption of Artificial Intelligence, one question consistently rises, particularly in the minds of C-suite leaders: "Is our data safe?" This is a fundamental question of business risk, client trust, and corporate stewardship. It is paramount for professional services firms, whose entire business model is built on securing sensitive client information.

A responsible approach to AI requires a fundamentally different, security-first mindset. It demands an unequivocal commitment to data privacy and a verifiable and transparent multi-layered security framework. This article will directly address the key considerations for data security in an AI-powered ERP, outlining VOGSY's unwavering policy against using customer data for model training and detailing the comprehensive security architecture that protects your most valuable asset.

The cardinal rule: your data is not our product

VOGSY's policy is unequivocal: Your data will not be used to train, retrain, or fine-tune any AI models outside your organization. This is not a setting you need to configure or a box you need to uncheck; it is a core, unshakeable principle of our AI governance.  

What this means in practice is that there is zero risk of your sensitive project data, financial information, or client communications being leaked or used to inform the AI of another company, even an anonymous competitor. This policy prevents data cross-contamination by design. It ensures that your strategic information remains your strategic advantage.

A strong information security management system (ISMS) is the baseline for any enterprise-grade cloud software. VOGSY is certified to ISO 27001, the internationally recognized gold standard for information security. This certification is not specific to AI; it governs the entire platform and organization. It means that we have a comprehensive, audited system of controls for managing risks related to data security, business continuity, and cybersecurity. This is the bedrock upon which all other security measures are built.

Modern ERP systems do not exist in a vacuum; they are built upon the infrastructure of major cloud providers. Therefore, the security of the underlying infrastructure is just as important as the security of the application itself.

VOGSY is built on Google Cloud, which has also achieved both ISO 27001 and ISO 42001 certifications for its infrastructure and AI development platforms. This creates a seamless, end-to-end chain of trust. From the physical security of the data centers to the application layer you interact with, every ecosystem component is governed by the same rigorous, internationally recognized standards for security and responsible AI management.

One significant security risk of poorly implemented AI is its potential to circumvent existing data access controls. A powerful AI assistant could theoretically become a backdoor for users to access information they are not authorized to see.

A securely designed system prevents this at the application level. The VOGSY AI Assistant is architected to rigorously respect and enforce all existing user permissions you have configured within the VOGSY platform. Suppose a user's role does not grant them access to financial data. In that case, they cannot obtain that information by asking the AI Assistant for it, no matter how clever their query. The certified AI management system acts as a gatekeeper, ensuring that every AI-powered query is subject to the same authorization checks as a manual data request.

The final and most crucial layer is the AI-specific governance provided by the AIMS, which is structured according to the ISO 42001 standard. This top layer adds a set of controls specifically designed to address the unique risks of AI. It includes policies for handling data within AI processes, ensuring it is used responsibly, ethically, and only for its intended purpose within your organization. This governance layer provides the specific oversight needed to manage AI, building upon the broader security foundation of ISO 27001. For a CFO, this combination of certifications provides verifiable, third-party assurance that the system is managed to the highest standards.

For leaders of professional services firms, data security is not just a technical issue but a matter of brand reputation and client trust. In an era where your firm is a custodian of your clients' most sensitive strategic information, the security of your own operational systems directly reflects your professional integrity.

Therefore, a responsible approach to AI must be built on an uncompromising foundation of data security. This requires a clear and absolute policy against the external use of customer data, supported by a multi-layered framework of controls that are independently audited and certified to the highest international standards. By prioritizing this security-first approach, you can confidently embrace the benefits of AI and be secure in the knowledge that your data—and your clients' data—is protected by a comprehensive and verifiable system of governance.