Leverage Zero Data Retention for AI

As companies adopt AI at scale, one question matters more than ever: what happens to your data once you send it to an AI system? That’s where Zero Data Retention (ZDR) comes in.

Zero Data Retention (ZDR) is an enterprise-grade privacy control offered by select AI vendors that prevents prompts, outputs, and content from being stored, retained, reviewed, or used for model training. With ZDR enabled, your data exists only long enough to generate a response. Then it’s gone.

Under ZDR:

• Prompts and responses aren't stored by the AI provider
• Data is never used for training
• No human reviewers can access your content
• Abuse-monitoring logs are minimized or disabled after approval
• Only limited safety-classifier metadata may remain

This represents the highest level of privacy and confidentiality available in commercial AI today.

ZDR Critical for Regulated Fields

ZDR is essential for companies handling sensitive or regulated data, including:

• Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)
• Government, defense, and export-controlled data
• Proprietary intellectual property (IP) and internal business processes
• Client data in finance, health care, and legal sectors

For STACK Cybersecurity and our clients, ZDR enables:

• Compliance-aligned AI usage (CMMC, NIST 800-171, ITAR)
• No vendor retention of customer or manufacturing data
• Reduced risk of data leakage or model contamination
• Confident AI adoption in high-risk environments

What ZDR Doesn’t Mean

ZDR doesn't apply to consumer AI tools like ChatGPT Free/Plus or Claude Pro. It also doesn’t override legal obligations such as court-ordered data preservation or regulatory retention requirements. In short: enterprise AI and consumer AI are not the same thing.

STACK’s Recommendation

If your company is using—or considering—AI:

1. Document and socialize your AI Acceptable Use Policy
2. Use enterprise AI platforms that explicitly support ZDR
3. Confirm retention settings before sending any data
4. Train employees on AI acceptable use and data classification
5. Document vendor controls for compliance and audits

ZDR is the safest way to use AI with sensitive data. When in doubt, don’t upload it. And when AI is mission-critical, make Zero Data Retention part of your security strategy.

Related Content

• AI Basics
• AI State Laws
• Cybersecurity ROI
• AI Best Practices

Questions about AI and zero data retention? Contact Us