How can investment banks use AI securely?

Investment banks can use artificial intelligence (AI) securely by applying the same principles they already use to protect confidential transaction information: control access, minimize unnecessary data movement, maintain auditability and keep professionals accountable for decisions.

The challenge is that many AI workflows introduce new ways for information to leave controlled environments. Bankers may want to summarize confidential documents, analyze contracts, research targets or accelerate diligence, but downloading deal materials and uploading them into separate AI applications can create additional information-handling risks.

A secure AI strategy should therefore focus on bringing intelligence closer to deal data while maintaining the governance expected in high-stakes transactions. Understanding the limitations of general-purpose AI tools is an important starting point.

Keep confidential deal information controlled

Investment banks regularly handle highly sensitive financial statements, contracts, intellectual property, buyer information and strategic plans. AI should not weaken the controls already protecting that information.

Banks should understand where an AI application processes data, whether information is retained, who can access it and whether customer data is used to train external models. They should also minimize unnecessary downloading and re-uploading of documents between systems.

An architecture that allows AI to work with information where it already resides can reduce these additional exposure points. This approach is particularly relevant for secure deal management platforms, where document controls and AI governance can operate within the same environment.

Make AI permission-aware and auditable

AI should never become a workaround for data room permissions.

If a banker is not authorized to access a particular folder or document, an AI assistant should not be able to retrieve or reveal information from it. User permissions should determine both what the professional can access directly and what AI can analyze on that person's behalf.

Auditability is equally important. Banks should maintain visibility into which approved AI applications can interact with transaction data and how those tools are being used.

This permission-aware model is central to secure AI connectivity for dealmaking, which can allow AI applications to work with live deal information without requiring teams to repeatedly download and upload confidential documents.

Establish governance around how bankers use AI

Secure technology needs to be supported by clear operating policies.

Investment banks should define which AI tools are approved, what categories of information can be analyzed and which workflows require additional controls. Employees should also understand when AI-generated information must be independently verified.

Human oversight remains critical. AI can summarize documents, extract information and accelerate analysis, but bankers and subject matter experts remain responsible for determining whether a finding is accurate, material and relevant to the transaction.

Bring secure AI into the deal workflow

SS&C Intralinks DealCentre AI™ combines AI-enabled deal workflows with a controlled environment for confidential transaction information.

DealCentre AI includes Link, Intralinks' proprietary AI engine for strategic financial transactions. Link can summarize documents, extract critical information and support Q&A and diligence workflows within the deal environment.

DealCentre Connect extends this model to compatible external AI applications through the DealCentre Connect Secure Gateway. Instead of requiring bankers to export sensitive documents, it brings approved AI tools to deal information while maintaining data room permissions, governance and auditability.

For investment banks, secure AI adoption is ultimately about architecture and governance, not simply choosing an AI model. Keeping confidential information controlled, extending existing permissions to AI and maintaining human oversight can help banks capture AI's efficiency benefits without unnecessarily increasing exposure of sensitive deal data.