What AI usage policies should SMBs implement for AI security for SMBs?

Effective AI usage policies are foundational to AI security for SMBs. Your policy should specify:

1. Approved AI tools—ChatGPT Plus, Microsoft Copilot, Claude Pro (paid versions with commercial data protection), and industry-specific tools with formal approval processes
2. Allowed uses—marketing content, internal documentation, non-confidential data analysis, research, brainstorming
3. Prohibited uses—client confidential information, protected health information, financial records, production code without peer review, legal documents without attorney review
4. Approval authority—business owner for 10-50 employee SMBs, IT Director for 50-200 employee SMBs, Security Committee for 200-500 employee SMBs
5. Validation requirements—all AI-generated code requires peer review before production deployment.

AI security for SMBs requires these policies that cost $0 to implement but prevent shadow AI usage that caused one 75-employee SMB to lose $6.7M.