Custom GenAI: Balancing Innovation and Security

This IDC Perspective highlights the growing adoption of custom-built generative AI (GenAI) applications and the associated security challenges. It emphasizes the need for robust governance frameworks and transparency and provides recommendations for scalable solutions like CNAPPs, employing DevSecOps practices, adopting zero trust, implementing AI-driven threat intelligence, and investigating managed security services to mitigate risks and enhance security. "Custom-built GenAI apps unlock transformative potential but demand transparency, robust security, and adaptability to navigate risks in an evolving AI-driven threat landscape," says Philip Bues, senior research manager, Cloud Security and Confidential Computing, IDC. "Ultimately, technology buyers should have a vendor assessment checklist of capabilities and road map demonstrating collaborative, actionable, achievable outcomes maximizing the benefits of secure custom GenAI applications."