Shawn Surber — Director of Solutions Engineering, Island
Published:
The solution for that is simple, but operationally difficult using traditional data control tools. Those tools require you to define what your important data looks like, which is nearly impossible in almost all contexts. It is much easier to define where your critical data lives and ensure it can only be used within company-sanctioned tools.
What does Shawn Surber say?
Shawn Surber, Director of Solutions Engineering, Island, says: Shawn Surber, Director of Solutions Engineering at Island, argues that blanket bans on AI don't eliminate risk — they drive workarounds that expose data and create unmanaged vulnerabilities. He recommends prioritizing visibility, defining where critical data can live and be used, and applying consistent, organization-wide governance. Surber also warns that agentic AI increases brand blast radius and that accountability and richer logging are essential to manage those risks.
Cite as: Shawn Surber. (2026). Retrieved from https://research.agilebrandguide.com/insights/shawn-surber-the-solution-for-that-is-simple-but-operationally-difficult