Working template

AI connector and data-flow review

A companion to Before an AI assistant can access firm data.

Download the text file to fill it in with your own details, or print a blank copy.

Draw the path below with the actual products and storage locations. Include derived summaries and retained history.

Source → connector → retrieval / index → model processing → retained history → output destination

Use case / owner:  

Roles: data owner for each source / technology reviewer / approver:  

Highest classification of information the assistant can reach, and whether that is intended:  

Tool and provider register

Provider / product Plan or tier in use Inputs used for training or product improvement? Prompt and output retention Processing location Agreement in place (terms, data-processing addendum) Administrative controls available to the firm

Data path

Stage Data present Identity / permissions Retained copy? Retention / deletion behavior Responsible owner
Source
Connector / index
Processing provider
History / logs
Output

Credentials used by the connector (type, scope, storage location, rotation date, what happens on the owner's departure):  

Other routes to the same provider that bypass this review (browser extensions, personal accounts, plugins, mobile apps), and how they are found:  

Bounded checks

  • [ ] An unauthorized test user cannot retrieve restricted content.
  • [ ] Later permission removal is tested, including cache / index behavior.
  • [ ] Source deletion and retained-copy behavior are understood.
  • [ ] Retrieved instructions do not expand the authorized task; at least one test used source material containing planted instructions.
  • [ ] Reading and consequential actions have distinct controls.
  • [ ] Access-denied behavior is visible and appropriate.
  • [ ] Output that flows into another system is validated or reviewed before that system acts on it.
  • [ ] The index or embedding store is scoped to this use case and cannot be queried by other tenants, workspaces, or assistants.
  • [ ] Usage and spending limits exist so a runaway loop or misuse is bounded.
  • [ ] Retrieval and action logs exist, state who can read them, and have a retention period; they do not contain more source content than needed.
  • [ ] People whose work is summarized or acted on know an assistant is involved where that matters.
  • [ ] Connector shutdown and follow-up data handling are documented, including deletion of the index, history, and provider-side copies.

Evidence / unresolved questions:  

Decision

Approved scope / decision owner / date:  

Conditions attached to approval:  

Change triggers requiring another review (new source, broader permissions, new model or provider, new output destination, provider terms change, incident):  

Review cadence when nothing has changed:  

Common failure modes

  • The connector is granted tenant-wide read access because scoping was harder.
  • Permission removal at the source leaves content in the index for days.
  • The provider's consumer terms apply because someone signed up with a personal account.
  • Nobody owns the connector's credential after its creator changes role.

This review covers one assistant's access to firm data. It does not establish the quality of its output; use the AI workflow release review for that.