---
title: AI Governance Checklist
description: "**AI Governance Checklist** Use this checklist to establish strong governance over AI usage in your organization. It is designed to help companies reduce risks related to data security, compliance, ethics, and operational control. ### 1. AI Governance Framework - […"
url: "https://techtron.co.za/docs/ai-governance-checklist/"
updated: "2026-06-02"
category: Security
---

# AI Governance Checklist

**AI Governance Checklist**

Use this checklist to establish strong governance over AI usage in your organization. It is designed to help companies reduce risks related to data security, compliance, ethics, and operational control.

### 1. AI Governance Framework

- [ ] Define and document an official AI usage policy
- [ ] Establish an AI Governance Committee (with Security, Legal, Compliance, and Business representatives)
- [ ] Create a clear approval process for new AI tools
- [ ] Define roles and responsibilities for AI oversight
- [ ] Set acceptable use guidelines for employees

### 2. Risk Assessment & Approval

- [ ] Conduct AI risk assessments before deploying any new tool
- [ ] Evaluate data sensitivity and potential impact of each AI system
- [ ] Maintain an inventory of all AI tools currently in use
- [ ] Classify AI tools by risk level (Low / Medium / High)
- [ ] Require formal approval before employees can use new AI platforms

### 3. Data Protection & Privacy

- [ ] Implement data classification rules for AI usage
- [ ] Enforce data masking or anonymization for sensitive information
- [ ] Prohibit uploading confidential or personal data to public AI tools
- [ ] Ensure AI vendors comply with GDPR, CCPA, or relevant regulations
- [ ] Define data retention and deletion policies for AI interactions

### 4. Security Controls

- [ ] Deploy an AI gateway or proxy to monitor and control AI access
- [ ] Enable logging of all AI prompts and outputs
- [ ] Implement access controls based on job roles
- [ ] Protect against prompt injection and model abuse
- [ ] Use enterprise versions of AI tools instead of consumer accounts

### 5. Monitoring & Auditing

- [ ] Maintain detailed audit logs of AI usage
- [ ] Conduct regular reviews of AI activity and outputs
- [ ] Perform periodic security assessments of approved AI tools
- [ ] Establish a process for detecting shadow AI (unauthorized tools)
- [ ] Review AI decisions that impact customers or employees

### 6. Training & Awareness

- [ ] Provide mandatory AI security and ethics training for all employees
- [ ] Educate staff on the risks of shadow AI and data leakage
- [ ] Include AI governance in onboarding programs
- [ ] Run regular awareness campaigns about safe AI practices

### 7. Vendor & Tool Management

- [ ] Maintain an approved AI tools list
- [ ] Review vendor security certifications (SOC 2, ISO 27001, etc.)
- [ ] Include AI-specific clauses in contracts (data usage, retention, liability)
- [ ] Establish a process for evaluating and onboarding new AI vendors

### 8. Incident Response & Compliance

- [ ] Create an AI-related incident response plan
- [ ] Define escalation procedures for AI misuse or data leaks
- [ ] Ensure AI systems can provide explanations for decisions (explainability)
- [ ] Schedule regular compliance audits focused on AI usage

**Recommendation**: Review this checklist quarterly and update it as new AI technologies and regulations emerge.