Historically, these activities have been sidelined, as they often seem to lack direct value or innovation. However, AI’s growing role has changed the game, creating a compelling reason for IT departments to address risk and compliance with renewed focus and urgency.

Preparing for AI readiness requires a solid framework that can manage data integrity, security, and compliance, ensuring that organisations maintain control and mitigate risks effectively. Here are some critical steps to consider.

Defining your data estate

AI’s effectiveness relies on well-organised, accessible data. The first step toward readiness is defining your data estate, a process that involves cataloguing all data sources, locations, and formats across the organisation.

With AI’s ability to process and analyse large datasets, an incomplete or poorly mapped data landscape could result in inaccurate insights or overlooked assets. Identifying all data points also reveals hidden risks, from compliance liabilities to potential vulnerabilities, allowing organisations to address these proactively.

Completing cloud migration

Cloud environments have become the standard for handling modern AI tools, given their superior data management capabilities compared to traditional on-premises systems.

Migrating to the cloud enables organisations to leverage mature, built-in tools for data governance and policy management, as well as scalable computing power essential for AI applications.

Argantic, a renowned Microsoft Solutions Partner within the Turrito group of companies, recognises this shift in infrastructure as it partners with, a respected Microsoft Solutions Partner, to provide enhanced cloud support.

This partnership helps internal IT teams with the complex task of cloud migration, from design and implementation to ongoing optimisation and support.

Ensuring proper data access controls

One of AI’s unique capabilities is to turn ordinary users into “super searchers,” allowing them to uncover data they may not have previously accessed or known about. Consequently, establishing proper data access controls becomes vital.

By limiting access to only the data each user needs, organisations reduce the risk of sensitive information being inadvertently exposed or misused.

This step not only safeguards proprietary data but also ensures compliance with data protection regulations, such as GDPR, as AI-driven searches can lead to unexpected privacy implications if unmanaged.

Defining data loss, sharing, and retention policies

AI’s integration into day-to-day operations brings increased attention to data handling policies. Data loss prevention, controlled data sharing, and retention policies must be well-defined and directly tied to data files, enabling these policies to persist as data moves within or outside the organisation.

Properly applied data policies help maintain data integrity, reduce the risk of leaks, and ensure that outdated or unnecessary data is systematically purged, avoiding clutter and compliance violations.

Addressing shadow AI usage

As companies test the waters with new AI tools, a common trend has emerged: senior staff experimenting with these tools outside of IT’s oversight. This ‘shadow AI’ activity, while innovative, raises serious concerns over unauthorised access to sensitive data and unmonitored data movement.

Companies are increasingly reaching out to experts like Argantic for assistance in creating safe boundaries for AI tools, ensuring that any exploration remains within compliance guidelines.

Empowering internal IT teams for the AI-driven future

For internal IT teams tasked with managing these changes, the burden can be significant. AI adoption places extra demands on teams that may already be stretched thin, dealing with legacy systems that are costly and rigid.

Offering specialised Microsoft and compliance expertise, Argantic empowers internal IT departments with the agility they need to handle the increasing complexities of AI, cloud migrations, and data governance.

Garry Ackerman, Argantic director, noted the advantage of providing tailored support to mid-market organisations that may lack extensive in-house resources. “Through this partnership, internal IT teams gain access to skills and support only as needed, ensuring they can focus on core activities without being sidetracked by ongoing AI management and compliance projects.”

AI adoption is a powerful tool for innovation, but it introduces risks that business leaders must be prepared to manage. Addressing these risks head-on with a comprehensive compliance and data governance framework will pave the way for successful AI integration.

As the company illustrates, the right partnerships can strengthen IT teams and set a strong foundation for the future, empowering organisations to fully harness AI’s potential within a safe, compliant, and well-managed environment.

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However, recent evidence suggests that the paradigm is shifting, with cloud-based security solutions proving to be more robust and adaptive.

Garry Ackerman, the Argantic’s CEO, warns that maintaining an on-premise infrastructure is increasingly risky, given the growing complexity of security threats. “Many traditional companies remain sceptical about migrating to the cloud, adhering to the belief that on-premise solutions offer superior security.”

“This perception is outdated and potentially dangerous. Traditional on-premise setups, while familiar, lack the agility and comprehensive monitoring capabilities that the cloud provides. It’s only a matter of time before on-premise infrastructure becomes vulnerable to successful cyberattacks, as businesses struggle to maintain the necessary skills and monitoring resources in-house,” he explains.

Contrary to on-premise setups, cloud platforms allow for the simultaneous monitoring of all surface areas.

Telemetry data is fed into a central platform, utilising artificial intelligence (AI) to detect and mitigate even the most sophisticated cyberattacks.

The cloud’s ability to monitor and respond in real-time offers a significant advantage in the ever-evolving landscape of cyber threats.

Ackerman points to real-world success stories to underscore the effectiveness of cloud-based security solutions.

“Argantic has demonstrated seamless failover capabilities to Azure’s disaster recovery environment during ransomware attacks, resulting in zero data loss. These cases highlight the transformative power of the cloud in securing business continuity and mitigating the impact of unforeseen events.”

While alternatives like hosting specific machines locally exist, Ackerman emphasises the compelling offerings from hyper-scalers like Microsoft Azure.

He says these cloud giants have made substantial investments in infrastructure, security, and reliability, making them ideal choices for businesses seeking resilient disaster recovery solutions.

“The effectiveness of Azure’s cloud data centre model, as experienced by one of Argantic’s clients, serves as a testament to the capabilities of leading cloud providers. In a world where data is critical and resilience is paramount, the cloud proves to be an indispensable asset for businesses looking to secure their future,” he concludes.

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