Custom GPTs promised to revolutionize how businesses leverage AI, offering tailored solutions for everything from customer service to data analysis. But beneath the surface of convenience lies a troubling reality. Many of these tools are fundamentally not secure, exposing organizations to data breaches, prompt leaks, and sophisticated phishing attacks that could compromise your entire operation.

If you’re using Custom GPTs in ChatGPT for business purposes, this post will reveal the critical security vulnerabilities you need to understand and what you can do to protect your organization.

The Promise vs. Reality of Custom GPT Security

When OpenAI launched Custom GPTs, the pitch was compelling: create your own specialized AI assistants tailored to your specific needs, all while maintaining privacy and security. Many businesses jumped at the opportunity, building custom bots for internal operations, customer interactions, and sensitive data processing.

The reality, however, tells a different story.

Recent empirical studies from 2025 have uncovered alarming findings. Research published in arXiv reveals that approximately 95% of custom GPTs display inadequate security measures against common threats. These aren’t theoretical vulnerabilities. They’re actively being exploited in the wild, with security researchers demonstrating how easily custom GPT prompts, files, and knowledge bases can be extracted or manipulated, even when creators intended to keep them private.

Understanding the Security Landscape for Custom GPTs

The Foundation is Cracked

Custom GPTs inherit all the vulnerabilities present in their foundational models. Think of it like building a house on unstable ground: no matter how secure your walls and doors are, if the foundation is compromised, the entire structure is at risk.

These inherited weaknesses include susceptibility to prompt leakage attacks, where malicious actors can extract the underlying instructions that power your custom GPT, and roleplay attacks, where the AI can be manipulated into behaving in ways that violate its intended constraints.

The Integration Trap

One of the most attractive features of Custom GPTs is their ability to integrate with external tools and APIs. Need your GPT to check inventory systems? Pull customer data? Execute code? These capabilities sound powerful, but they open dangerous pathways for data exfiltration.

When web access, external APIs, or code execution features are enabled, Custom GPTs become potential data highways leading straight out of your organization. Security analysts at Palo Alto Networks and other firms have documented cases where poorly configured integrations allowed proprietary data to leak to external servers, often without the organization’s knowledge.

The Data Privacy Minefield

What Happens to Your Uploaded Files?

When you upload documents, spreadsheets, or other files to a Custom GPT, where does that data actually go?

The answer is more complicated—and concerning—than most users realize.

Uploaded files and chat history can be exposed if not strictly controlled, particularly when using public or shared GPTs. While OpenAI claims not to use API-passed data for training their models, vulnerabilities persist around conversation data, integrations, and sharing permissions. The fine print matters, and most organizations haven’t read it carefully enough.

The Marketplace Risk

The launch of OpenAI’s GPT marketplace created a new attack vector that many security professionals didn’t anticipate. Malicious actors have created custom bots that appear legitimate, using professional-sounding names and descriptions to lure unsuspecting users.

These fraudulent GPTs can be designed to harvest sensitive information, redirect data to external servers, or even serve as phishing platforms. According to Dark Reading’s analysis, the marketplace has become a hunting ground for cybercriminals looking to exploit organizations that haven’t properly vetted the tools they’re using.

Real-World Attack Scenarios

Prompt Extraction Attacks

Imagine you’ve spent weeks perfecting a Custom GPT for your sales team, encoding your unique methodology, competitive insights, and proprietary approaches into its instructions. A competitor could potentially extract those prompts through carefully crafted queries, essentially stealing your intellectual property with nothing more than clever questioning.

Security researchers at Wired demonstrated this exact vulnerability, showing how custom chatbots could be manipulated to reveal their underlying prompts through prompt injection attacks. The techniques are surprisingly simple, requiring no advanced hacking skills—just an understanding of how large language models process instructions.

Data Exfiltration Through Actions

Custom GPTs with enabled “Actions” (the ability to interact with external APIs) present particularly severe risks. A malicious GPT in the marketplace could be configured to send any data you share with it to an attacker-controlled server. You might think you’re using a helpful productivity tool, but you’re actually feeding sensitive information directly to bad actors.

This isn’t theoretical. The Moonlight research team documented multiple instances of Custom GPTs in the marketplace that were explicitly designed to exfiltrate data, masquerading as legitimate business tools.

The Roleplay Vulnerability

Another attack vector involves manipulating the GPT through roleplay scenarios. By framing requests as hypothetical or game-like situations, attackers can sometimes bypass safety guardrails and extract information or behaviors that should be restricted.
With 95% of Custom GPTs showing inadequate protection against these roleplay attacks, the risk is widespread and systematic, not limited to a few poorly designed implementations.

The Enterprise Illusion

Many organizations believe that upgrading to ChatGPT Enterprise or Team plans automatically solves these security concerns. While enterprise plans do offer enhanced features like encryption, compliance controls, and account-level privacy, they don’t eliminate the fundamental vulnerabilities in Custom GPT architecture.

Enterprise features provide a security foundation, but they’re not a complete solution. Organizations still need to implement strict access controls, carefully vet any Custom GPTs before deployment, and maintain ongoing security monitoring. The encryption and compliance certifications matter, but they won’t protect you from prompt leaks or malicious marketplace GPTs.

Why Built-In Security Is Not Enough

OpenAI and other platforms have implemented various security features, from content filtering to abuse detection systems. However, relying solely on these built-in protections is a dangerous strategy.

Security analysts consistently emphasize that not all threats are automatically detected or blocked by platform-level controls. The adversarial landscape evolves rapidly, with new attack techniques emerging faster than defensive measures can be deployed. What worked to protect against last month’s threats may be ineffective against today’s.

Moreover, the platform providers themselves face a fundamental tension: they want their tools to be powerful and flexible (which increases utility but also risk), while also being secure (which often requires restrictions that limit functionality). This tension inevitably results in compromises that favor usability over security.

Best Practices for Securing Custom GPT Deployments

Implement Strict Access Controls

The first line of defense is limiting who can create, modify, and use Custom GPTs within your organization. Establish clear policies about:

• Who can build Custom GPTs
• What data can be incorporated into GPT knowledge bases
• Which external integrations are permitted
• How GPTs should be tested before deployment

Adopt a Zero-Trust Approach to Data Sharing

Assume that anything you share with a Custom GPT could potentially be exposed. This means:

• Never including sensitive customer data, passwords, or confidential business information in GPT interactions
• Sanitizing or anonymizing data before using it with Custom GPTs
• Treating Custom GPTs as you would any external third-party service

Disable Risky Features

Not every Custom GPT needs web access, API integrations, or code execution capabilities. Disable these features unless absolutely necessary and when they are needed, implement additional monitoring and logging.

Vet Marketplace GPTs Thoroughly

Before using any Custom GPT from the marketplace:

• Research the creator’s reputation and track record
• Review the GPT’s requested permissions and capabilities
• Test it with non-sensitive data first
• Monitor its behavior for unexpected actions

Consider Enterprise Alternatives

For organizations with significant security requirements, consumer-grade Custom GPTs may simply be too risky. Enterprise platforms with stronger compliance guarantees, isolated environments, and robust API restrictions offer better protection for sensitive use cases.

The AskELIE Approach: Security Without Compromise

At AskELIE, we’ve built our platform specifically to address the security shortcomings inherent in consumer AI tools. We understand that organizations can’t afford to choose between innovation and security. They need both.

Enterprise-Grade Governance and Compliance

Unlike Custom GPTs that inherit foundational model vulnerabilities, askelie® provides enterprise-grade governance from the ground up. Our platform includes:

• Comprehensive audit trails for all AI interactions
• Role-based access controls that integrate with your existing identity management systems
• Compliance frameworks designed for regulated industries
• Data privacy controls that give you complete visibility and control over how information is processed

Workflows Configured to Your Business Logic

Security isn’t just about technology. It’s about ensuring AI tools align with your organization’s specific compliance rules and operational requirements. AskELIE allows you to configure workflows that enforce your business logic, ensuring AI assistants operate within the guardrails you define, not the defaults chosen by a consumer platform.

Deployment Flexibility for Maximum Control

Perhaps most importantly, askelie® offers deployment options that address the fundamental trust problem with cloud-based AI tools. You can:

• Deploy from our secure Azure cloud environment with enterprise-level security certifications
• Install AskELIE in your own controlled environment, keeping all data and processing within your infrastructure
• Implement hybrid approaches that balance convenience with security based on your specific needs

This flexibility means you’re never forced to send sensitive data to external servers or trust a third-party’s security promises. You maintain control.

The Bottom Line: Custom GPTs Require Serious Security Consideration

Custom GPTs represent a powerful tool for businesses looking to leverage AI, but they come with significant security risks that many organizations have underestimated. With 95% of Custom GPTs showing inadequate security protections, prompt leakage vulnerabilities affecting many implementations, and an active marketplace where malicious actors distribute compromised tools, the risk profile is simply too high for many business use cases.

The fundamental issue isn’t that Custom GPTs can never be secure. It’s that securing them requires careful management, strict controls, and often more effort than organizations are prepared to invest. For businesses handling sensitive data, serving regulated industries, or simply unwilling to accept the risks inherent in consumer AI platforms, purpose-built enterprise solutions offer a more viable path forward.

Take Action: Secure Your AI Strategy Today

If you’re currently using Custom GPTs in your organization:

1. Audit your current implementations – Identify which Custom GPTs are in use, what data they access, and what features they have enabled
2. Assess your risk exposure – Determine whether any sensitive information has been shared with Custom GPTs
3. Implement security best practices outlined in this article
4. Evaluate enterprise alternatives that provide the security guarantees your business requires

Don’t wait for a security incident to take AI security seriously. The vulnerabilities are well-documented, the attack techniques are proven, and the risks are real.

Ready to explore a more secure approach to enterprise AI? Learn how askelie® delivers the power of custom AI assistants with enterprise-grade security, governance, and deployment flexibility. Schedule a demo and see how we’re helping organizations innovate with AI without compromising on security.

<p>The post The Hidden Security Risks Lurking in Custom GPTs: What You Need to Know in 2025 first appeared on askelie® Hyperautomation AI platform.</p>

Compliance automation is fast becoming essential for modern organisations. Regulations keep expanding, audits demand detail, and customers expect proof that data and processes are secure. Yet for many teams, compliance is still handled manually.

Staff spend weeks pulling reports, chasing documents, and checking records. Errors are common, stress levels rise, and audits become a painful distraction from core business. The irony is that compliance exists to build trust, but when it consumes too much time, it creates frustration instead.

AI-driven automation changes this story. Platforms like intELIEdocs make compliance a seamless part of daily operations rather than a once-a-year scramble. This blog explores why compliance has become such a headache and sets out 5 ways automation removes the pain.

Why Manual Compliance Work Drains Resources

Traditional compliance processes rely on manual record-keeping. A file is created, saved in a shared folder, and updated by staff. When auditors request evidence, teams have to search across emails, drives, and systems.

The risks are clear:

• Incomplete records where documents are missing or unsigned
• Inconsistent formats that make data hard to compare
• Delayed responses that frustrate regulators and customers
• High costs as staff spend days preparing audit packs

This manual approach is slow, error-prone, and expensive. Worse still, it diverts skilled people from higher-value work.

What Compliance Automation Means

Compliance automation uses artificial intelligence to capture, store, and validate records automatically. Instead of relying on human memory or last-minute searches, every document is logged with metadata, approvals are tracked, and data is validated against business rules.

With compliance built into workflows, organisations are audit-ready every day, not just once a year.

5 Ways Compliance Automation Removes the Headache

1. Automatic Record Capture

AI tools capture documents as soon as they arrive. Whether it is an invoice, contract, or HR form, it is automatically stored with metadata such as date, source, and document type. Nothing is lost or overlooked.

2. Real-Time Validation

Data is checked instantly against rules. Missing signatures, incorrect codes, or incomplete fields are flagged right away rather than discovered months later during an audit.

3. Audit-Ready Trails

Every action is logged. Who approved a document, when it was processed, and how it was validated are all visible. This provides the transparency auditors demand without staff needing to rebuild the story afterwards.

4. Faster Reporting

Automated reporting tools pull data directly from validated records. Instead of spending weeks creating audit packs, compliance teams can generate reports in hours.

5. Reduced Risk and Stress

By making compliance a built-in process rather than an afterthought, organisations reduce the risk of fines, reputational damage, and employee burnout. Compliance becomes a routine part of operations.

Real-World Compliance Example

A healthcare provider faced quarterly audits that used to take three weeks of staff effort.

• Manual approach
  • Staff chased records across departments
  • Data often incomplete
  • Audit prep consumed 120 hours per quarter
• With compliance automation
  • Records captured automatically
  • Metadata stored for every document
  • Audit pack generated in less than 6 hours

The result was a saving of more than 100 staff hours per quarter, along with reduced stress and improved confidence.

Why Compliance Matters Beyond Regulation

Compliance is not only about avoiding fines. It is about trust. Customers, partners, and regulators want assurance that data is handled securely and consistently.

When compliance automation ensures accuracy and transparency, it builds credibility. Organisations that are confident in their compliance posture can win contracts, attract investment, and strengthen customer loyalty.

How intELIEdocs Delivers Compliance Automation

intELIEdocs integrates compliance into every stage of document processing. Features include:

• Capture of documents from multiple sources
• AI-driven validation to check accuracy and completeness
• Automated audit trails with full metadata
• Integration with finance, HR, and legal systems
• Reporting tools that generate evidence instantly

This means compliance is no longer a special project. It is part of everyday work, delivered seamlessly at scale.

Conclusion: Compliance Without the Headache

Compliance has long been a source of stress and cost. Manual record-keeping is slow, error-prone, and disruptive. With AI-driven automation, compliance becomes a routine, efficient, and reliable process.

With intELIEdocs, compliance is built into daily workflows. Documents are captured, validated, and logged automatically. Reports and audits are generated quickly, and risk is reduced.

Takeaway: Compliance automation is not about ticking boxes. It is about building trust, reducing risk, and freeing teams to focus on growth.

<p>The post Compliance Automation: 5 Ways AI Removes the Headache first appeared on askelie® Hyperautomation AI platform.</p>

Conversational AI in the Public Sector is no longer optional, it’s the practical solution helping councils and NHS trusts escape legacy tech. For years, “digital transformation” in government often meant swapping one outdated system for a slightly newer one. The result? Expensive upgrades that did little to solve the bigger issues. Across councils, NHS trusts, housing providers and central departments, legacy platforms still dominate. They are costly to maintain, hard to integrate, and frustrating for staff and citizens alike.

Now, the tide is turning. The UK Government has launched a major partnership with Google Cloud to accelerate cloud adoption and modernisation. At the same time, conversational AI in the public sector is emerging as a practical, affordable way to cut reliance on legacy tech and improve frontline services. Platforms like AskElie are already helping public bodies reduce workload, automate routine tasks, and improve accessibility.

Legacy Tech: More Than Just Old Systems

Legacy platforms do more than keep the lights on. They:

• Create data silos
• Force reliance on email chains and spreadsheets
• Slow down service delivery
• Increase risk of error

The Cabinet Office reports that some departments spend up to 70 percent of IT budgets just maintaining old infrastructure. That’s not digital transformation. That’s survival.

Why Conversational AI in the Public Sector Matters Now

Modernisation in government has always been tough due to limited budgets, risk aversion, and complex procurement. But three shifts are changing the game:

• Mandate: Policy now prioritises cloud, interoperability, and open data.
• Workforce Pressure: Hybrid working and rising service demand require better tools.
• Technology Maturity: AI and no-code platforms are proven and affordable.

This is why Conversational AI in the Public Sector has become a safe, practical upgrade. It doesn’t replace core systems but adds a smart, safe, and incremental upgrade.

What Conversational AI Means for Government

Unlike basic chatbots, platforms like AskElie understand and respond in natural language while aligning with your rules and policies.

Examples include:

• A council worker asking, “What’s the process for a housing referral?” and receiving the exact guidance instantly.
• A finance officer checking overdue invoices and escalating without logging into three systems.
• A citizen services team answering queries like “How do I report antisocial behaviour?” directly through Teams or web chat.

Conversational AI in government connects knowledge, action, and outcomes in one place.

Four Areas Where AI Is Already Delivering

1. FOI and Subject Access Requests
   AskElie helps staff find, redact, and compile responses quickly while staying compliant.
2. Procurement and Supplier Management
   AI assistants guide staff through compliant purchasing, flag risks, and automate due-diligence reminders.
3. Policy Guidance and Training
   Staff receive plain-English answers linked to official documents on safeguarding, GDPR, or casework.
4. Accessibility for Citizens
   With AskVERA, policies and forms can be converted into Easy Read format to support those with learning difficulties or low literacy.

Why Human-in-the-Loop Matters

Government services involve nuance. Conversational AI in the public sector is designed with human oversight. Sensitive decisions can be paused, routed for review, or flagged for approval. This ensures staff stay in control while reducing manual work.

Local Government Use Case

A Midlands council trialled AskElie in their housing and complaints team. Previously, complaints were tracked in spreadsheets with inconsistent timelines. After deployment:

• Staff asked, “What’s the timeline for a stage 2 complaint response?” and received tailored checklists.
• Alerts flagged missed deadlines or incomplete documentation.
• Resolution times dropped by 46 percent and resident satisfaction rose sharply.

This Midlands council shows how Conversational AI in the Public Sector reduces complaints handling times.

Breaking Down Barriers

Public sector leaders often worry about budget or integration. AskElie is built to slot into existing tools:

• Works with Microsoft 365, Teams, SharePoint, and case systems
• Requires no new hardware
• Provides full audit trails
• Priced to suit councils and charities

You don’t need to rip and replace everything. You just need to add smart layers on top.

Accessibility as Law and Duty

Under the Equality Act 2010, public organisations must provide accessible information. AskElie’s Easy Read platform, AskVERA, translates complex documents into inclusive formats with images. This is not just best practice. It is legal compliance.

Final Word: From Struggling to Serving

Too many public servants work harder than ever with tools that slow them down. Too many citizens wait longer than they should for answers or services.

Replacing every legacy system will take years. But deploying conversational AI in the public sector can deliver impact today. AskElie provides clarity, speeds up processes, and improves service outcomes — while keeping staff in control.

It’s time to reboot public service. One conversation at a time. Replacing every system takes years, but Conversational AI in the Public Sector delivers results today.

<p>The post How Conversational AI In The Public Sector Is Replacing Legacy Tech first appeared on askelie® Hyperautomation AI platform.</p>