---
title: "Cisco AI Access: How to Securely Adopt AI | IPTel"
description: How Cisco AI Access helps businesses adopt AI tools securely — uncovering shadow AI applications and controlling data loss.
---

[Blog](https://blog.iptel.com.au)

# [Cisco AI Access: How to Securely Adopt AI | IPTel](https://blog.iptel.com.au/cisco-ai-access-how-to-securely-adopt-ai)

 Written by [Mark McSherry](https://blog.iptel.com.au/author/mark-mcsherry) | 19 December 2025, 1:42:36 am Z

 

Many businesses are deploying a wealth of AI tools and reaping the productivity gains. One key question for any network administrator is: how do you deploy AI security?

In this blog, we'll take a look at this important question - and how Cisco AI Access can help secure your network.

As the AI tools race to become integral to business operations, they also introduce new security challenges.

IPTel work with leaders across a wide range of industries who are looking to more broadly adopt and experiment with generative language models, but are struck with the challenge of how to implement them securely.

The concerns anchor primarily on:

- Visibility
- Access control
- Protection of customer data
- Retention of intellectual property.

Related reading

- [Cisco Secure Access](https://blog.iptel.com.au/managed-services-cisco-campus-access)
- [Managed Network Services: 5 Benefits for Your Business](https://blog.iptel.com.au/managed-services-top-5-benefits)
- [Top 8 Secrets to Great Wi-Fi](https://info.iptel.com.au/top-8-wi-fi-secrets)
- [Wi-Fi Design: Business Requirements](https://blog.iptel.com.au/wi-fi-design-business-requirements)
- [Wi-Fi Design: Technical Requirements](https://blog.iptel.com.au/wi-fi-design-technical-requirements)
- [Managed Services](https://iptel.com.au/managed-services-enquiry)

## The AI Deployment Security Problem

For many organisations today, AI tools are being used by staff long before IT or security teams are even aware of it!

From developers experimenting with AI code assistants to marketing teams testing generative content tools, these tools are being adopted without oversight.

The real concern? No one knows exactly what data is being shared with these applications. For some CIOs the response has been to simply block access to AI applications altogether, however this approach can stifle innovation and frustrate teams who are trying to work smarter.

To address these concerns, IPTel have recently been deploying Cisco’s AI Access, a component of the[Secure Access SSE platform](https://blog.iptel.com.au/managed-services-cisco-campus-access).

The AI Access capability provides comprehensive visibility and control over AI application usage within organisations.

Related reading

- [Catalyst Center Enablement](https://blog.iptel.com.au/cisco-catalyst-center-enablement)
- [Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) Introduction](https://blog.iptel.com.au/zero-trust-architecture)
- [Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) Deployment](https://blog.iptel.com.au/zero-trust-deployment)

## Cisco AI Access: Uncover the Shadow Applications

By integrating AI Access into their security infrastructure, organisations can rapidly:

- **Discover Shadow AI Application Usage:** Identify all AI tools used across the organisation by inspecting web traffic and detecting specific API calls to AI models.

- **Generate Automated Risk Assessment:** AI Access evaluates the context of AI application usage and considers factors like user behaviour, device, location, and network data to assign risk scores and provide actionable recommendations.

- **Access Control and Data Protection:** Administrators can enforce granular policies to block or redirect access to certain AI applications. AI Access also implements data loss prevention measures by blocking prompts containing sensitive information and intercepting malicious responses.
- **Align with Security Standards:** The solution helps organisations comply with AI security standards, including the OWASP Top 10 for Large Language Model (LLM) Applications and maps risks to frameworks such as NIST and MITRE.

## Cisco AI Access: FAQs

### What Is Cisco AI Access?

A capability of Cisco Secure Access that gives visibility and control over the generative AI applications users access.

### What Is Shadow AI?

AI tools that staff use without IT's knowledge or approval, which can expose sensitive data.

### How Does AI Access Protect Data?

It can apply data loss prevention to AI prompts and uploads, and allow, restrict or block specific AI applications.

### Do I Need to Block AI Tools?

Not necessarily. The aim is safe adoption — allowing approved tools with guardrails rather than banning AI outright.

## Cisco AI Access - How to Securely Adopt AI: Summary

With AI Access now included in the Secure Access Advantage Package, organisations that already hold the licence can begin exploring how to enable and adopt this powerful new capability. Reach out to our team to better understand your options, assess your requirements, and learn how to get the most from your investment.

Alternatively, ready to discover how AI Access can fit into your enterprise security strategy? Get in touch with our team to schedule a demo or learn more about Cisco Secure Access.

Related reading

- [Cisco SD-Access Lab](https://blog.iptel.com.au/cisco-sd-access-lab)
- [Software Defined Networking Explained](https://blog.iptel.com.au/software-defined-networking)

### Need Help With Network Security?

IPTel's [Cisco security](https://iptel.com.au/technologies/security-and-cisco-ise) engineers can review your environment, or start with our [free Security Assessment](https://score.iptel.com.au/security-assessment). If that would be useful, [get in touch with the IPTel team](https://iptel.com.au/contact-us) or email [sales@iptel.com.au](mailto:sales@iptel.com.au).

[View full post](https://blog.iptel.com.au/cisco-ai-access-how-to-securely-adopt-ai)

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