New AI Security Solution for SMBs by Zyxel

HSINCHU, Taiwan — A Taiwanese cloud networking company has launched a new security solution designed to protect small and medium-sized businesses from the security risks associated with unauthorized employee use of generative artificial intelligence.

Zyxel Networks announced Tuesday its GenAI Protection solution, which combines updated firewall controls with software from artificial intelligence startup HEARTBOT AI Inc. to monitor and restrict workplace AI application usage.

The initiative targets the growing trend of shadow AI, where workers use unauthorized intelligence tools, after a recent survey revealed nearly half of all employees have utilized the technology in violation of corporate policies.

Unregulated usage of these programs creates serious organizational vulnerabilities, including corporate data leaks, network security breaches, and regulatory compliance violations.

Network administrators can use the company’s USG FLEX H series firewalls to completely block generative artificial intelligence platforms with one click or selectively approve specific services.

The updated hardware system features granular application management to prioritize or throttle specific artificial intelligence traffic across the corporate network.

The cybersecurity platform also provides real-time traffic monitoring to help information technology teams quickly detect unusual bandwidth spikes that might signal data theft or leaks.

To give employees a secure alternative, the networking firm paired its firewalls with Heartbot’s AnyInsight.ai, a cloud-based platform that acts as a controlled gateway to hundreds of digital assistants and more than 20 large language models.

This centralized platform allows corporate staff to switch between different language models based on specific roles and permissions defined by management.

Organizations can also build customized digital assistants inside the program to safely handle specific business workflows.

An integrated application firewall performs contextual inspections of all user interactions with the artificial intelligence to log activity and enforce data security rules.

Company executives stated that the defensive tool gives small businesses and managed service providers the necessary visibility to safely adopt automation without risking data loss.

The newly introduced software is being sold as an independent licensed service that can operate alongside the standard firewall hardware.