What the Varonis Report Means for Your Business
Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing how companies work—but it’s also reshaping how hackers attack.
According to the newly released 2025 Varonis State of Data Security Report, AI is exposing sensitive business data faster and more dangerously than ever before. Based on a review of 1,000 real-world environments, the report makes one thing clear: AI tools are a ticking time bomb when paired with weak security practices.
If you’re using cloud apps, AI copilots, or any form of automation, this affects you.
What the Report Found
Here are just a few alarming stats from the Varonis report:
- 99% of companies have sensitive data exposed to AI tools
- 90% have cloud data open and accessible
- 88% have stale “ghost user” accounts still active
- 98% use unverified apps, including unsanctioned AI tools
- 1 in 7 don’t enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA)
- 66% expose data to anonymous users
In short: if your AI tools can access your data, so can attackers.
What’s Putting Your Data at Risk
Shadow AI and Unsanctioned Apps
Staff often use third-party AI apps without approval. On average, companies have over 1,200 unofficial tools in use. These tools can leak customer data, financial records, and more—without anyone noticing.
Microsoft Copilot and Salesforce Agentforce Risks
Copilots are designed to be helpful, but they access all data by default. If one employee prompts Copilot the wrong way, sensitive info could be exposed instantly. The same goes for Salesforce AI agents, which have broad access across CRM data.
Training Data Exposure
AI models are only as safe as their training data. If that data includes unencrypted files or is stored in poorly secured cloud buckets, it can be leaked or corrupted—compromising the entire model.
Ghost Users and Stale Permissions
Many companies leave accounts from former staff or contractors active. Attackers can use these “ghost users” to sneak in and access systems unnoticed.
Missing MFA
Multi-factor authentication stops most password-based attacks. But 1 in 7 companies still don’t enforce it—leaving the door wide open to hackers.
What You Can Do Right Now
- Reduce Your Blast Radius: Audit all user accounts and remove inactive identities. Limit permissions and revoke stale access—especially for admin accounts.
- Monitor Data Access Continuously: Set up real-time alerts for unusual logins, unsanctioned AI usage, and mass data exports. Don’t wait until a breach happens.
- Use AI Defensively: Deploy AI to help your team label sensitive data, detect anomalies, and flag risky behavior. The same tools that create risk can help mitigate it.
How Constructure Technologies Can Help
At Constructure Technologies, we specialize in defending businesses from evolving cyber threats—including AI-driven risks.
Our cybersecurity experts offer:
- 24/7 network and email security monitoring
- Penetration testing and vulnerability assessments
- Cybersecurity assessments and compliance support
- Support for NIST frameworks and continuous risk management
- Custom security strategies for businesses of all sizes
Whether you’re dealing with unverified apps, cloud vulnerabilities, or internal access issues, we help you identify weaknesses and lock down your data before attackers get in.
And no, you don’t need to be a massive enterprise to be targeted. If you store sensitive data, you’re a target—and we’re here to protect you.
Don’t Wait for a Breach
The numbers don’t lie: most organizations aren’t ready for the AI era. But you can be.
Call 631.396.7777 or email info@constructuretech.com to speak with our cybersecurity team. Let Constructure Technologies be your partner in staying secure, so you can focus on what matters most—running your business.