As colleges accelerate AI adoption for learning, research, and operations, higher ed leaders are being urged to treat AI security as a core risk-management function. A new briefing identifies what CISOs and CIOs should prioritize to protect sensitive student data, proprietary research, and intellectual property from exposure or compliance failures. The focus is on guardrails that can prevent AI systems from violating privacy and institutional obligations, particularly as generative tools expand across campuses. The guidance aligns with a broader shift from ad hoc AI experimentation to managed deployment, with governance and technical controls built into how AI is procured and monitored. For institutional leaders, the central development is the reframing of AI readiness as a security and compliance roadmap—rather than a purely instructional or productivity initiative.