AI Security Best Practices

Prompt injection occurs when malicious input manipulates AI behavior. Similar to SQL injection but for AI.

Direct injection: malicious prompts in user input. Indirect injection: malicious content in retrieved documents.

Mitigations: input validation, output filtering, and careful prompt design that separates instructions from data.

AI systems often process sensitive data. Ensure compliance with GDPR, CCPA, HIPAA, or industry-specific regulations.

Consider: what data is sent to AI providers? Is it stored? How is it used for training?

Implement data classification and ensure AI access aligns with data sensitivity levels.

Limit who can interact with AI systems and what they can do.

Implement role-based access: different users get different AI capabilities.

Audit AI usage: log all interactions for security review and compliance.

MCP servers extend AI capabilities—each one is a potential attack surface.

Validate all inputs, use least-privilege access, and never expose credentials in tool responses.

Regular security reviews and updates are essential.

Document your AI systems for auditors. Explain what they do, what data they access, and how they're controlled.

Consider AI-specific regulations emerging in EU AI Act and similar frameworks.

Maintain human oversight for high-stakes decisions. Document the review process.