UK managers prioritise local data storage amid AI concerns

A recent survey of 1,000 senior UK managers has revealed that 85% consider it important for their data to be stored within the UK, amid heightened concerns over AI data security and privacy.

The poll found that nearly two-thirds (64%) of UK workers are using artificial intelligence tools at work without any restrictions, yet data security was identified as the biggest concern by business leaders. One in three respondents reported issues related to AI data security and privacy. Worryingly, 26% of businesses indicated they have no means of tracking how AI is being used by employees in the workplace.

Despite these concerns, the increasing integration of AI into the workplace is evident: only 14% of survey participants said they do not use AI at all during their day-to-day work. The prevalence of AI use highlights the gap between the widespread adoption of such technologies in UK businesses and the controls in place to manage associated risks.

The findings come as OneAdvanced has launched what it describes as the world's first fully private AI platform. Unlike many other AI tools that may process or store data externally, this platform claims to be 100% private, aiming to address industry concerns around confidential company data. By storing data exclusively in the UK, the service is intended to offer companies greater confidence when using AI for tasks such as financial forecasting, supply chain analysis, and productivity evaluation.

Data hosting remains a key priority for UK businesses. The survey results showed 85% of managers rate the hosting of company and personal data in the UK as highly important. This sentiment is particularly strong among younger leaders, with 94% of those aged 25–34 expressing the same preference. Additionally, this age group was the most concerned about AI-related data security and privacy, as 47% identified these as their main concerns regarding business use of AI.

Of those surveyed, 85% reported that their employees are using AI in some form at work, while 74% said they are aware of their company's specific AI usage policy. These figures point to a rapid adoption of AI technology across sectors, even as monitoring tools and data privacy solutions strive to catch up.

The survey also found that over half (53%) of UK business leaders cited worries about data privacy, security risks, or a lack of trust in AI output as reasons preventing them from increasing the use of AI in their organisations.

Amanda Grant, Chief Product Officer at OneAdvanced, commented: "AI has huge potential for business, but its use needs to be carefully managed. Without policies or tools that protect data, there is a risk that staff could put confidential information into an AI service.

"We've launched OneAdvanced AI in response to the needs of our clients who operate in mission-critical sectors such as healthcare, legal, education and government. With the vast majority of workers now using AI tools in their daily work, business leaders need safe, secure and trusted AI to not only protect their work, but to provide them with the reassurance and confidence needed to fully embrace its potential for transforming the way they operate."

The launch of OneAdvanced's new AI platform aims to address industry demand for privacy and security. With more companies moving towards using AI to assist in complex operational and financial tasks, the emphasis on secure, UK-based data hosting is expected to continue as a central theme for businesses operating in sectors with high confidentiality requirements.