SANS Secure AI Blueprint: A Leader’s Guide to Adopting AI Safely
▼ Summary
– The SANS Institute released an AI security blueprint called “Own AI Securely” to help organizations adopt AI securely and responsibly.
– This blueprint addresses the growing need for reliable guidance on AI safety, compliance, and operational control in enterprises.
– The UAE has prioritized AI as key to its governance, growth, and economy, with AI projected to contribute significantly to its GDP by 2030.
– The blueprint introduces a three-track model focusing on protecting AI systems, utilizing AI in cybersecurity, and governing AI with accountability.
– It includes 14 training courses and GIAC certifications to help develop a skilled AI cybersecurity workforce.
The SANS Institute has launched a comprehensive AI security blueprint designed to help organizations adopt artificial intelligence safely and responsibly. This framework addresses the urgent need for structured guidance as enterprises worldwide grapple with the complexities of AI integration, security risks, and regulatory compliance. With AI systems evolving faster than traditional defense mechanisms can keep up, leaders are seeking actionable strategies to protect their operations while harnessing AI’s transformative potential.
The newly released blueprint, titled “Own AI Securely,” offers a practical model built on real-world insights and field-tested expertise. It responds to a clear market demand for reliable, outcome-focused approaches that align security, technical execution, and governance at an enterprise scale. Both public and private sector organizations are increasingly tasked with defending dynamic AI-driven environments, requiring new skills and updated protocols to mitigate emerging threats.
In regions like the UAE, where AI is central to national strategy and economic vision, the need for secure AI adoption is particularly pressing. The UAE National Strategy for AI 2031 emphasizes AI as a catalyst for growth, efficiency, and sustainability. Globally, AI investment is surging, with projections indicating spending will exceed $300 billion by 2026. By 2030, AI is expected to contribute nearly 14% to the UAE’s GDP, underscoring the importance of getting AI implementation right from the start.
According to Rob T. Lee, Chief of Research and Chief AI Officer at SANS Institute, “Roles related to AI are shifting rapidly, and new risks emerge constantly. Organizations must keep pace and respond decisively. This blueprint provides much-needed structure in an environment that has, until now, lacked clear direction.”
The Secure AI Blueprint is organized around a three-track model, each supported by specialized training courses and GIAC certifications. These tracks are designed to develop a skilled, capable AI cybersecurity workforce:
- Protect AI focuses on defending AI systems from threats like data poisoning, prompt injection attacks, and information leakage. It emphasizes strong controls across access management, data integrity, deployment pipelines, and continuous monitoring to ensure AI operates securely and resiliently.
- Utilize AI enables cyber defenders to leverage artificial intelligence within their own operations—such as security operations centers, digital forensics, and red teaming. AI-powered tools can accelerate threat detection, incident triage, and response, helping teams counter machine-speed adversaries effectively.
- Govern AI addresses the leadership dimension, ensuring executives, managers, and board members exercise accountability. This includes establishing clear oversight, compliance frameworks, and AI fluency at the highest levels to align with regulations, design robust policies, and build stakeholder trust.Lee added, “Leaders aren’t looking for more headlines about how fast the threat landscape is changing—they want a way to act. The SANS model provides structure where there has been confusion and alignment where there has been fragmentation.”The full blueprint, along with supporting career frameworks and course catalogs, is available for exploration at sans.org/ai. This resource represents a significant step toward closing the gap between AI innovation and secure, governed implementation.
(Source: MEA Tech Watch)
