Know what actually leaves your walls
The first question in any AI integration is: what data gets sent to the provider, and what do they do with it? Many business API tiers state your inputs aren't used to train their models and are retained only briefly — but this varies by provider and plan.
So it has to be checked in writing, not assumed. We map exactly which fields go out on each request and confirm the terms that apply to them.
- Map exactly which fields get sent on each request
- Confirm the provider's retention and training-use terms in writing
- Prefer API tiers that don't train on your data
- Know the gap between consumer apps and business API terms
- Keep an inventory of every AI vendor and what it touches
Reduce what you send in the first place
The safest data is the data you never transmit. We minimize, mask, or redact sensitive fields before anything reaches an external model, and process on-device or in your own environment where it makes sense.
For data that legally can't leave your walls, self-hosted open models keep processing entirely inside your environment.
- Redact or tokenize PII before sending (names, SSNs, card numbers)
- Send only the fields the task genuinely needs
- Self-hosted or open models for data that can't leave your environment
- Encryption in transit and at rest around the pipeline
- Access controls and audit logs on who queried what
Governance that holds up
Beyond the technical controls you need a defensible story — a data-processing agreement with each provider, a record of your data flows, and alignment with the regulations that apply to you.
We help you stand that up, not just wire the API.
- Data Processing Agreements (DPAs) with each AI provider
- A documented data-flow diagram for audits
- Alignment with GDPR, CCPA, and any sector requirements
- A retention and deletion policy for prompts and outputs
- A human review path for high-stakes outputs
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Frequently asked questions
Will the AI provider train on our data?
On business API tiers, major providers generally state they don't train on your inputs and retain them only briefly — but terms differ and change, so we verify the specific provider and plan in writing rather than assume.
What if our data legally can't leave our servers?
Then we use self-hosted open models or an in-tenant deployment, so processing happens entirely inside your environment and nothing sensitive is sent to a third party.
Is this the same as HIPAA compliance?
Related but not identical. HIPAA adds specific requirements for health data — see our HIPAA-aware page. This page covers privacy and security for AI integrations generally.