The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) presents a lucrative opportunity for MSPs as their clients run into new problems in architecting secure AI ops. That said, concerns around data security and intellectual property (IP) protection are hindering AI adoption.
Many organizations are turning to trusted MSPs for guidance on navigating these challenges. Service providers can differentiate themselves by offering services that directly address client growth initiatives by means of new, innovative solutions.
The Challenge: Data and IP Protection in AI
Developing and deploying AI models requires vast amounts of data. Often, this data is sensitive, containing confidential information or proprietary insights.
Michael Hughes
Sharing this data for model training or customization poses significant risks and costs in doing so. Similarly, AI models themselves contain valuable IP in the form of model weights and architectures. Distributing these models without adequate protection can lead to IP theft.
Traditional software licensing models don’t translate well to AI. Unlike software, AI and ML models cannot be easily compiled and distributed. They require access to data for training and refinement. This creates a dilemma. Model providers need data to improve their models and clients need access to models to gain insights — but sharing either poses significant risks.
The Solution: Data and Model Protection Guardrails via PETs
Privacy-enhancing technologies (PETs) offer a way to break this deadlock between protection and innovation. These technologies enable secure use of data by allowing data and models to be shared without compromising confidentiality or IP. PETs-enabled software solutions can be deployed on existing infrastructure, both on-premises and in the cloud, and provide granular control over data access with technical guarantees that only the data owners have access to the data.
Leverage PETs-enabled Solutions to Drive Revenue Growth
MSPs can use PETs to create new service offerings and drive revenue growth. By understanding the different types of PETs, their applications, and presence in commercial solutions, MSPs can help clients select and implement the right solutions for their needs. This includes:
- Data Security: Helping clients secure their data during AI model training and customization.
- IP Protection: Protecting client IP when sharing AI models with third parties.
- Secure Model Distribution: Enabling clients to distribute AI models to customers without exposing sensitive information.
Secure Model Trials and Proof of Concepts
MSPs can leverage PETs by facilitating secure model trials and proof of concepts. By using PETs to protect model IP and control access, MSPs can enable clients to try out AI models with real enterprise data before committing to a purchase. This can help accelerate AI adoption and drive revenue growth for both the MSP and the client.
Additionally, for clients building models and struggling to acquire data, this solution can streamline and simplify efforts by providing technical guarantees of data protection to potential data partners, as well as a “plug and play” software solution that reduces the overhead costs of participating.
By embracing PETs and offering AI-focused services, MSPs can position themselves as trusted partners in their clients’ AI journeys. This will not only drive revenue growth but also solidify their role as essential enablers of innovation in the age of AI.
Michael Hughes is chief business officer at Duality Technologies.
Featured image: iStock
