Zyxel Networks enables SMBs and MSPs to take control of shadow AI

• AI-powered protection that safeguards against unauthorised use of AI
• Helps organizations strengthen AI governance while reducing operational risk
• Protects customers from the risks and enables safe adoption of GenAI
• Access licenses currently available from Zyxel Networks at 40% off

Organizations are enthusiastically embracing generative AI (GenAI) as a tool to enhance productivity and efficiency, and many are already seeing the benefits. But embracing new technology always brings new challenges and with AI one of the major issues is the use of unauthorised applications and cloud-based services. A 2025 survey found that 44% of employees have used AI in ways that contravene company policies, and 46% also admitted to uploading sensitive company information and intellectual property to public AI platforms.

Unauthorised use of GenAI tools can cause serious problems. Without knowing exactly what is being accessed and used, IT departments can’t ensure that sufficient protection is in place and that corporate governance and compliance requirements are being met. As a result, sensitive information could be exposed and back doors left open that cybercriminals could exploit. Potentially, identities and company privacy could be compromised, leaving the organization vulnerable and exposed.

Security bypass

This is not just a problem for large enterprises. SMBs also need to be wary of shadow AI. Smaller businesses often find it harder to monitor users and don’t always have usage policies in place. But they could suffer just as much damage as larger firms if their data and identities are exposed. Similarly, MSPs need to be aware of the dangers of shadow IT, as its use could by-pass security measures and lead to problems that could have been picked up through monitoring.

To help end user customers and MSPs address the growing threat of shadow AI, in May 2026, Zyxel Networks announced that it was adding enhanced protection against shadow AI use to its firewalls. In addition, the company has formed an alliance with the innovative AI security specialist, Heartbot AI, that provides firewall customers with the option to access AnyInsight.ai – Heartbot AI’s secure, zero trust aggregation platform for multiple GenAI models.

This means that, as well as keeping organizations safe from the risks of shadow AI, Zyxel Networks is also providing a totally safe way for them to access multiple GenAI services that will enable them to accelerate AI adoption to enhance productivity and competitiveness.

Visibility and control

All Zyxel Networks firewalls now come with application awareness and control that enables admins or MSPs to monitor and manage the use of GenAI. Key features that now come as standard on the full range of Zyxel Networks USG FLEX H series of firewall appliances include GenAI content filtering, application monitoring and real-time reporting.

The new reporting capabilities provide immediate visibility into traffic and bandwidth usage; this helps admins to identify any unusual activity, such as spikes in data flows that may indicate a potential leak. They can select the GenAI services users are allowed to access and block others. If necessary, they can also completely block access to all GenAI applications with a single click. Further controls can be applied to prioritize approved GenAI applications, and users can also be redirected to secure alternatives, such as AnyInsight.ai.

Unified & secure access

AnyInsight.ai provides a unified and secure gateway to multiple GenAI applications and can be a real game changer for organizations that have been struggling with shadow AI. Through AnyInsight.ai, they can securely access more than 20 leading Gen AI large language models (LLMs), and over 350 AI agents designed for real-world workflows in different industries. The platform also has more than 500 connectors to popular business applications, which means customers can use it to AI-enable and enhance functionality of the software they already use.

Users can seamlessly switch between different LLMs and agents within AnyInsight.ai, with access governed by roles and permissions defined by the user organization. This maximizes productivity while ensuring governance and compliance requirements are always met. AI agents can also be customised and tailored to specific tasks or workflows.

In addition, end-to-end contextual inspection enables admins to monitor all interactions between users, LLMs, agents and AI-connected applications. All user activity, data usage and AI interactions are logged, and the platform will enforce access policies and security rules to prevent sensitive data being exposed or compromised.

A powerful combination

The combination of the awareness and control features that are now provided with the Zyxel Networks USG FLEX H series firewalls and access to AnyInsight.ai is a powerful one. It gives organizations of all sizes the power to keep shadow AI under control while embracing GenAI effectively to enable greater productivity. It’s another great example of how Zyxel Networks is listening to customers and working to meet their needs.

AI has the potential to make all organizations more efficient, responsive and competitive – but it can only be effective and risk-free if its use can be controlled. With these new capabilities, Zyxel Networks is giving admins and MSPs everything they need to eliminate shadow AI and take advantage of the exceptional options available through the AnyInsight.ai platform. To encourage organizations to try the platform for themselves, for a limited time, Zyxel Networks firewall customers can take advantage of free trials and a 40% discount on subscriptions to AnyInsight.ai.

Learn more and claim your exclusive offer: https://community.zyxel.com/en/discussion/32566