4 Critical Security Considerations for AI in Higher Education

You’ve probably heard of the saying, “With great power comes great responsibility.” Well, that also holds true when it comes to data security and AI. Generative AI is revolutionizing how colleges and universities operate. Tools such as Google Gemini streamline workflows, support research and enhance learning, but as adoption grows, so do the risks.

Higher education institutions manage sensitive student data, proprietary research and intellectual property. Without the right guardrails in place, AI systems can expose this information or violate compliance standards, putting institutions at risk for reputational damage.

For CISOs and CIOs, securing AI environments must be a strategic priority. Here are four key security considerations when implementing AI.

There’s an old security saying: “Things that make it easier for the good guys also make it easier for the bad guys.” Malware can penetrate networks and immediately search for AI to see what information AI will just hand them. So, when deploying AI in education technology, you must consider which systems you are going to allow AI to access. This is where data governance comes in play. It serves as the cornerstone for responsible, ethical, secure and effective data utilization within AI systems like Gemini. Systems are only as safe as the data they’re allowed to access. In higher education, that means carefully controlling which systems — student records, faculty data, research sources — AI tools like Gemini can query.

The principle of least privilege applies here. AI should only access the data necessary for its intended use. For example, a student querying Gemini should only receive information they’re authorized to see, not faculty schedules or sensitive research data.

When you implement AI your system should be configured to limit information that would not typically be accessible without AI support.

Think of AI as a superuser on your network. It can query multiple systems, correlate data and deliver insights faster than any human. But that also means it must be governed like any other administrator.

Strong identity and access management (IAM) ensures users are who they say they are and only access what they’re entitled to. AI should follow the same rules. Without IAM, institutions risk unauthorized access, data exfiltration and compliance violations.

AI is an automated admin, and it should be under the same constraints as a human administrator.

AI doesn’t know the difference between current and outdated data unless you tell it. Without strong data lifecycle management, AI tools may surface irrelevant or even harmful information, posing a serious threat to your data integrity.

Institutions must enforce policies for sunsetting old data, especially in systems connected to AI. This includes student records, research files and administrative documents. Otherwise, AI may pull up data that should no longer be accessible.

Artificial intelligence is so good at searching that it may expose data you thought was dead and buried. Implementing lifecycle management policies becomes even more important for data protection in AI-enabled environments.

AI tools must be configured with compliance in mind. In higher education, regulations like the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) govern how student data is handled. Misconfigured AI environments can lead to unauthorized access and legal consequences.

Improper configuration also risks exposing institutional IP. For example, allowing personal use of AI tools outside the institutional domain could result in proprietary data being used to train external models.

This poses a legal risk and a reputation risk. That’s why it’s crucial to be cognizant of how you're deploying this technology.

CDW offers a full suite of services to help higher education institutions secure their AI environments and strengthen domain security:

• Domain Kickstart and Audit Services
  Whether you're new to Google Workspace for Education or have an established domain, CDW evaluates hundreds of settings against the latest education industry best practices, including AI-specific configurations.
• User-Specific Configuration Support
  CDW helps institutions tailor AI access by user role, enabling or restricting features for faculty, staff or students.
• Unlimited Support Subscription
  CDW provides ongoing assistance as institutions implement recommendations, acting as an extension of your team with Google-specific expertise.
• Governance and Lifecycle Consulting
  CDW helps institutions enforce data lifecycle policies to prevent AI from surfacing outdated or irrelevant information.

AI is changing the way higher education works, but it’s also changing how institutions must think about security. CDW understands the unique challenges facing CISOs and CIOs and offers tailored solutions to help you deploy AI securely and confidently. We’re not just here to sell a product. We here to be your long-term technology partner, helping you meet your specific requirements.

From configuration to compliance, CDW helps you build a secure, scalable AI environment that protects your data and empowers your institution to innovate.