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Shadow AI may already be part of your business. Even if leadership has not approved it. Nor if IT has not reviewed it. Even if there is no formal AI policy in place. Employees may already be using public AI tools to draft emails, summarize notes, write reports, research topics, organize documents, or answer customer questions. That may seem harmless. But without visibility, rules, and review, hidden AI use can quietly become a business risk. Why this matters Your business may be using more AI than you realize. The issue is not always that employees are trying to do something wrong. In many cases, they are trying to save time. The problem is that public AI tools can create risks when employees do not know: Ignoring AI use does not stop it. It only makes it harder to manage. The problem with shadow AI Shadow AI happens when employees use AI tools without company approval, IT oversight, or clear security rules. That can lead to: The danger is not always obvious. The answer may look professional. The report may look finished. The customer reply may sound polished. But if the tool, data, and output were never reviewed, the business may be taking on risk without realizing it. AI use needs visibility Businesses cannot manage what they cannot see. Before creating a larger AI strategy, leaders should first understand how employees are already using AI. Ask: The goal is not to scare employees away from AI. The goal is to bring AI use into a safer, clearer process. Approved tools matter Not every AI tool should be used for business work. Some tools may store prompts. Or use submitted content for training. Some may lack the access controls, privacy settings, or support your business needs. That is why businesses need approved tools. Approved AI tools should be reviewed for: AI should support the workflow without exposing the business. Clear rules protect the team A practical AI policy does not need to be complicated. It should clearly explain: Simple rules make safer AI easier to follow. If the policy is too confusing, employees may ignore it. If there is no policy, they may guess. Neither is good for the business. Employees need guidance AI security is not only a technology issue. It is also a training issue. Employees need to understand that they should not enter: They also need to know that AI output should be reviewed before it is used in customer communication, reports, decisions, or published content. AI can help prepare the work. People still need to protect the result. The better approach Shadow AI should be replaced with clear AI use. Start with visibility. Then build the rules. A safer approach includes: The goal is not to stop useful AI. The goal is to make AI safer, more consistent, and easier to manage. The bottom line Shadow AI is already in many businesses. The question is whether leadership knows where it is being used, what information is being shared, and who is responsible for reviewing the results. Ignoring hidden AI use does not reduce risk. It increases it. Businesses need visibility, approved tools, clear rules, and employee guidance before shadow AI becomes a bigger security problem. Bring AI use into the open Centrend helps businesses review AI tools, security risks, employee usage, data protection, and practical policy needs. Not sure where AI is already being used in your business? Contact Centrend to review your tools, risks, and policies before shadow AI becomes a bigger issue.

As you likely heard, Windows 10 will reach its end of life on October 14, 2025. This means Microsoft will no longer offer free security updates, non-security updates and technical support on this version. That does not mean the PCs will no longer work; it simply means you are on your own to keep your device secure and functioning efficiently. If you’ve already attempted to upgrade to Windows 10 but your PC failed the pesky compatibility checker and received an error message, don’t worry – you still have options. Here are the 5 options available to you: Moving everything over to a new operating system will bring its own set of headaches, so make sure you only take this option if you’re willing to deal with any issues that arise. ZDNET walks you through the process, but, in a nutshell, you can upgrade your PC that was initially designed for Windows 10 by making a minor registry edit and then making sure your PC is configured to use Secure Boot with the Trusted Platform Module (TPM). They go on to suggest that you shouldn’t worry if you receive a message saying, “If you proceed with installing Windows 11, your PC will no longer be supported and won’t be entitled to receive updates. Damages to your PC due to lack of compatibility aren’t covered under the manufacturer warranty.” This doesn’t mean your information will be deleted on the spot; it simply prevents the company from being legally responsible if something happens because the device is no longer supported. If you choose this option, know that it’s not inexpensive. For business owners, the subscription cost for the first year is $61. The price doubles in year two, costing $122, and again in year three, costing $244. This comes out to an outstanding $427, nearly 50% higher than when they offered this solution for Windows 7 in 2020. Educators, fortunately, get a price break. The pricing structure is the same, but the cost for the first year is only $1. It doubles to $2 in the second year and doubles again to $4 in the third year. It’s important to note that these updates are cumulative and do not include technical support. This means you can only get a year-two subscription IF you already purchased year one, and you’re on your own for the technical assistance you need. It is clear the ESUs are not meant to be a long-term solution and are priced to encourage users to upgrade to Windows 11.  Before making a decision, make sure you back up your data thoroughly and regularly. Losing all your information is not a problem you want to take on. Do not wait until the last minute to start thinking about your options. Time will pass quickly, and you want to have this handled before October 2025. If choosing what to do feels daunting, our team of experts can help. We can guide you in making the best decision for your unique situation. If you choose to upgrade, our team will work to create a seamless transition that avoids unnecessary costs or downtime. To get started, give us a call at 774-241-8600 or click here to book now.