A third-party integration shouldn’t be a backdoor. But for Workday customers, that’s exactly what happened.
Following a string of attacks targeting Salesforce’s cloud ecosystem, HR tech giant Workday has now confirmed a data breach. The exposure reportedly stems from a malicious actor abusing authorized third-party access — a sharp reminder that shadow AI, over-permissioned APIs, and ungoverned data flows create ideal conditions for breaches.
In today’s hybrid, AI-driven enterprise, security doesn’t stop at your perimeter. You need visibility, governance, and control over every system touching your sensitive data.
The risk of third-party access and shadow AI
According to Bleeping Computer, attackers accessed Workday customer data using legitimate credentials from a third-party system connected to Salesforce. While Workday’s internal systems weren’t breached, sensitive employee and recruiting data were compromised—likely including PII and employment history.
What this breach highlights:
- Third-party apps can be your weakest link
- Shadow AI and unregistered integrations increase exposure
- Unauthorized access to sensitive data (even via “authorized” apps) is still a violation of trust—and often compliance
Why it matters for the EU AI Act & global compliance
Under laws like the EU AI Act and emerging U.S. AI and data transfer regulations, organizations must demonstrate full control over the data their systems (and vendors) process. BigID empowers legal, privacy, and security teams to reduce this risk—before it becomes front-page news. The EU AI Act in particular raises the bar on AI accountability, requiring enterprises to classify risk levels, trace data lineage, enforce purpose limitation, and document system behavior throughout the AI lifecycle. Without the ability to automatically discover, govern, and report on the data powering AI, organizations face regulatory penalties, reputational damage, and stalled innovation.
How BigID helps close the gaps
BigID helps enterprises govern the ungovernable — with visibility and automated control across both internal and third-party AI systems.
Here’s how BigID addresses risks like those in the Workday breach:
- Discover & Classify Sensitive Data Across Integrations: Automatically identify PII, HR data, and regulated information across Salesforce, Workday, and connected apps — including AI-driven copilots and plugins.
- Detect Shadow AI & Third-Party Tools: Surface unsanctioned AI tools, model integrations, and vector databases — including those that quietly siphon or process sensitive data.
- Enforce Purpose-Based Access & Usage Controls: Apply dynamic policies to ensure only authorized apps and users can access specific data—reducing over-permissioning and downstream misuse.
- Monitor Risky Data Flows: Track how sensitive data moves through connected systems—flagging suspicious transfers, excessive access, or anomalous API behavior.
- Document AI System Behavior for Compliance: Automatically generate audit-ready documentation of what data AI systems access, how they use it, and how policy violations are addressed.
To see how BigID can help your organization govern AI risk, secure sensitive data, and gain visibility— book a 1:1 demo today.
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