ESTEVAN — Estevan business leaders gathered at the chamber of commerce annual general meeting on March 19 to hear from guest speaker Curtis Adair, a partner with MNP, about cybersecurity risks and the role of artificial intelligence in business.
"AI can be a game changer for small businesses, but without a secure and resilient technology ecosystem and well-defined and adhered-to policies, we introduce vulnerabilities that put sensitive business operations at risk," Adair said.
He emphasized that data security, integrity and protection from cyber threats must be priorities when adopting AI-driven technologies.
"Think of AI like somebody in your organization. You don't want to make everything available to them," he said. "It's really thinking about what's pertinent to the cause or the outcome we're trying to get."
Adair noted that cyberattacks on small businesses are more common than many realize.
“According to the Canadian Internet Registration Authority, approximately 44 per cent of small businesses reported a cyberattack within the last 12 months," he said, adding that such attacks can have devastating financial consequences. "According to the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, 41 per cent of small businesses in Canada indicated that the financial impact of an attack was around $100,000. That can be very crippling."
He warned about emerging threats such as AI-generated fraud and deepfakes.
"Think about the ability for hackers to basically impersonate you because they can get an image or a video that you might have posted on a social media platform," he said, noting that AI-generated avatars could convincingly mimic real individuals, posing risks to businesses and personal identities.
To protect their businesses, Adair urged attendees to prioritize cybersecurity training, implement strict data access controls and regularly update security software.
"Zero trust is a starting point," he said. "Take the time to look at your organization. Understand what data you have. Have an inventory of your data, your documents and so forth that you're going to feed or point this to."
He also encouraged businesses to take a cautious approach to AI adoption, focusing on small, manageable projects.
"AI is a co-pilot. It's not the pilot," he said. "Never assume that once you implement these AIs … it's going to manage your business in the most practical and ethical way. You're going to have to carry through this. It’s intended to be an assistant."
Adair shared examples of AI tools that can help businesses, from automating administrative tasks to optimizing supply chains. He highlighted AI-powered scheduling and invoice processing systems as practical applications that can save companies significant time and effort.
Chamber executive director Merissa Scarlett thanked Adair for his insights.
