Library › Cybersecurity AI › Small business owners

Set conditions on a vendor's remote access request

  • For Small business owners
  • You practice Giving the right context
  • Time about 5 minutes

About this exercise

Your card machine vendor wants 'permanent remote access' to the shop computer. Your IT helper's 3 conditions: sessions only when you start them and watch; a ticket number in each request; a separate vendor login turned off after each session. Reply that you'll allow it only under those conditions, as exactly 3 numbered conditions, polite and firm. Don't agree to permanent access. End with the line 'Thanks, Sofia'. Plain text, under 90 words.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • Saying yes to be nice. The AI mirrors the vendor's framing and approves with a few soft suggestions. Try: Say: "Don't agree to permanent access. Allow it only under my conditions."
  • Vague conditions. The AI writes 'please make sure access is secure'. Try: Ask: "Exactly 3 numbered conditions from my notes."
  • Wrong tone or sign-off. The AI either sounds suspicious or signs off with 'Best regards, [Your Name]'. Try: Add: "Polite and firm. End with the line: Thanks, Sofia."
  • Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting. Ask for "under 90 words" and it often lands well over. Try: Ask for less than the limit and cap each line: "each line under 15 words, under 70 words total."
  • Letting markdown in. AI adds bold and headings by default, and in an email they show up as stray symbols. Try: Add: "Plain text only, no bold, no headings."

What a strong prompt includes

  • Refuses permanent access
  • Lists your conditions
  • Sets the tone
  • Says exactly how many
  • Asks for plain text

Practice this now ↑

Related exercises