Whilst AI is widely believed to be in its infancy, and as a term itself can mean many things, there is no doubt it is a prevalent technology that is being introduced into a wide range of digital services. These advances impact on all aspects of IT systems and the policies and standards that have been adopted to manage security and data protection. As with cloud services, system boundaries are far more difficult to define, increasing the need for data centric thinking. In our support of regulated and compliant organisations, we are assessing the ways in which security and resilience can address the threat and potential of AI.
AI Systems Being Adopted by Critical Sectors in the UK:
Here’s a look at the AI systems in use across UK critical sectors, the implications of managing infrastructure, and how Nine23 is positioned to support these industries.
- Law Enforcement: AI is being deployed for predictive policing, facial recognition, and analysing large datasets to assist criminal investigations. AI tools like NEC’s NeoFace Watch are used to match faces from CCTV footage, aiding in real-time monitoring and investigation. These systems require secure, high-performance infrastructure to store, process, and analyse sensitive criminal data, ensuring compliance with GDPR and UK data protection laws.
- Defence Industry: The UK’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) is increasingly incorporating AI systems like machine learning for threat detection, drone automation, and intelligence analysis to enhance national security. Platforms like Palantir are used for processing classified intelligence and supporting decision-making. Managing this sensitive data demands scalable infrastructure with robust cybersecurity to ensure classified information is protected within sovereign systems.
- Legal Sector: AI-powered tools such as LexisNexis and ROSS Intelligence are transforming legal research, case analysis, and contract drafting. Law firms are using AI to sift through vast amounts of legal documentation and perform predictive analysis on case outcomes. These AI systems require infrastructure that can balance the need for compute power with privacy and security to protect client confidentiality under UK law.
- Critical National Infrastructure (CNI): In sectors like energy, utilities, and telecommunications, AI is being used in the UK for predictive maintenance, infrastructure monitoring, and enhancing cybersecurity. AI models help predict faults in critical systems before they occur, but the sensitive data these tools rely on must be processed and stored securely to prevent cyber threats or operational sabotage. The government’s Cyber Assessment Framework (CAF) ensures AI use in CNI is aligned with stringent security standards.
- UK Central Government: AI is increasingly being adopted across various UK government departments to automate public services, enhance cybersecurity, and improve national Defence strategies. Government agencies use AI for decision support, data analytics, and monitoring social trends to better manage governance. These systems require secure, sovereign infrastructure to process sensitive citizen data and ensure it remains protected within UK borders, adhering to the UK’s National Data Strategy.
Nine23 is positioned to address the infrastructure challenges that arise from deploying AI in these high-stakes environments. AI workloads demand robust infrastructure due to the following factors:
- Compute Power and Scalability:
AI, particularly machine learning models, requires immense computational power, especially in tasks like image recognition or real-time threat analysis. For sectors like Defence or law enforcement, where decisions need to be made in real-time, latency is critical. Nine23 can offer tailored private cloud environments that provide the scalability and processing power needed while maintaining control over data locations. - Cost Management:
AI workloads can result in high and unpredictable costs, particularly when using public cloud services. Egress fees and compute costs can spiral as data volumes grow. By offering sovereign infrastructure, Nine23 enables organisations to predict and manage costs more effectively. Hosting AI operations in a controlled, private environment ensures that users aren’t hit with unexpected cloud fees, and they retain control over how and where compute resources are utilised. - Security and Compliance:
As AI systems handle sensitive and regulated data (whether it’s national security data or legal records), ensuring that data is processed in compliance with GDPR, UK-specific regulations, or Defence security protocols is critical. Nine23’s UK-sovereign infrastructure offers a secure, compliant environment that keeps data within national borders, reducing the risk of exposure to foreign legal frameworks or security breaches. - Infrastructure Transparency:
AI systems often need to meet specific transparency requirements, especially in sectors like law enforcement and legal. Organisations must know where their data resides and how it is processed. By providing full visibility and control over the infrastructure, Nine23 ensures that the AI systems operating on their platforms meet these transparency requirements, giving customers confidence in their operations.
AI and Cyber Security: What’s Next for Critical Sectors?
AI is increasingly being adopted to enhance operational efficiency and security. However, with this shift comes the challenge of managing vast computational power, infrastructure complexity, and data security. The questions you should consider:
- Is our data secure and compliant?
How are we ensuring that sensitive data used in AI systems remains protected and complies with regulatory standards, such as GDPR or industry-specific regulations? - Do we have full control over our data and infrastructure?
Where is our data stored, processed, and backed up? Are we relying on third-party cloud providers, and how does that impact our ability to control and secure our data? - What is the cost of scaling AI operations?
As AI models grow in complexity, can we predict and manage the costs associated with data storage, processing power, and egress fees in public cloud environments? - Can our current infrastructure support AI scalability?
Do we have the necessary compute power and resources to support real-time AI workloads without sacrificing performance or security? - How transparent and accountable is our AI infrastructure?
Can we clearly track how our AI systems process data, ensuring transparency and compliance with fairness and accountability principles?
The Future: Balancing Innovation and Control
As AI continues to advance, the need for secure, scalable, and cost-efficient infrastructure grows, particularly for organisations dealing with sensitive data. Nine23 is uniquely positioned to provide the necessary infrastructure for running AI systems in a secure, UK-sovereign environment. By offering a tailored solution that meets the stringent needs of critical sectors, Nine23 allows organisations to innovate with AI while retaining control over their data and ensuring compliance with relevant regulations.
In a world where AI is reshaping how industries operate, it’s crucial to ask: is your infrastructure ready to support the future of AI, securely and efficiently?
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