Using Cerbera
Cerbera helps organizations use AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini safely. If Cerbera is installed on your computer, this page explains what it does, what it can and cannot see, and what the options in the Cerbera menu mean.
Cerbera is a safety net for AI tools. It helps make sure confidential information doesn't end up somewhere it shouldn't. It isn't there to watch what you do, and Private Mode lets you pause the sharing of your conversations for 10 minutes.
What Is Cerbera?
When you type something into an AI tool, it's sent over the internet to the company that runs the tool. Cerbera is a small program on your computer that looks at those messages on their way out, only for AI tools, and checks them against your organization's rules.
Think of it as a security guard at the door of AI services:
- Most of the time, it just lets you through. You won't notice it.
- It can hide sensitive details like passwords, keys or customer data before they leave your computer.
- It can block a service your organization hasn't approved. You'll see a "Request Blocked" page that says who to contact if you need access.
Cerbera runs on your own computer, so it protects you wherever you are, whether at the office, at home or travelling.
Why is it called a "proxy"?
A proxy is a go-between. Your AI requests pass through Cerbera before they reach the AI provider, much like a letter going through a mail room before it leaves the building. That's also why Cerbera needs a security certificate on your computer: without one, it couldn't read the encrypted messages sent to AI tools.
What Can Your Organization See?
Cerbera is built to protect you, not to spy on you.
| What happens | |
|---|---|
| Websites that aren't AI tools | Cerbera doesn't look at them. Your email, banking and other browsing are untouched. |
| Which AI tools you use | Your organization can see usage figures, for example "this person used ChatGPT today". |
| What you type into AI tools | By default, not sent to your organization. Your organization has to deliberately turn this on, and only for specific rules. |
| When a rule is triggered | Your organization gets an alert that a rule matched (for example "a password was detected"). |
| Reading your actual messages | Even when message saving is turned on, an administrator has to file a formal, time-limited request that names you and gives a reason. Every request is permanently recorded. |
For the full details, see Privacy.
The Menu Bar Icon
On a Mac, Cerbera shows an icon in the menu bar at the top of your screen. Click it to see its status and options:
| Menu item | What it means |
|---|---|
| Certificate Installed / Certificate Not Installed | Whether the security certificate Cerbera needs is set up. If it isn't, click Install Certificate and enter your Mac password when asked. |
| Protected by Cerbera | Everything is working. |
| Cerbera: Sign in required | Click Sign in to activate and sign in with your work account. |
| Cerbera: Setting up... | Cerbera is starting. Wait a moment, or restart your Mac if it stays this way. |
| Private Mode | Pause the sharing of your AI conversations for 10 minutes. See below. |
Private Mode
Private Mode is for moments when you want to use an AI tool for something personal, or anything you'd rather not share with your organization, such as a health question or a personal letter.
How to turn it on
Open the Cerbera menu
Click the Cerbera icon in the menu bar.
Choose Private Mode → On for 10 minutes
The menu now shows Private Mode — 9:59 left, counting down.
Use your AI tool as usual
30 seconds before the end you'll get a notification: "Private mode ends in 30 seconds." After that, Cerbera goes back to normal on its own.
To end it early, choose Private Mode → Off.
What changes during Private Mode
- Your conversations stay on your computer. Whatever your AI requests contain, and any alerts they trigger, aren't sent to your organization.
- Your organization still sees that you used an AI tool, just not what you said.
What does not change
- Protection stays on. If your organization blocks a service or hides sensitive data such as passwords, that still happens in Private Mode. Private Mode is about privacy, not a way around the rules.
- It always lasts 10 minutes. Choosing it again while it's on doesn't add time. When it ends, turn it on again if you need more.
- Time spent asleep counts. If your Mac goes to sleep, the 10 minutes keep running.
Private Mode only works when the menu shows Protected by Cerbera. If you're not signed in or Cerbera is still starting, the option is greyed out. Your organization may also have set up Cerbera without the menu bar icon, in which case Private Mode isn't available.
Common Questions
Will Cerbera slow down my computer or my internet?
No. It only looks at traffic to AI tools, and the check takes a tiny fraction of a second.
A website or AI tool says "Request Blocked". What do I do?
Your organization hasn't approved that AI service. The block page says who to contact. Ask them if you need access for your work.
I keep getting a notification about a security certificate.
Cerbera needs its certificate to work. Click the notification, or open the Cerbera menu and choose Install Certificate, then enter your Mac password. You may be asked to restart your Mac afterwards.
Does Cerbera see my passwords, bank or email?
No. Cerbera only looks at traffic to AI tools. Other websites and apps go through untouched.
Something isn't working. Who can help?
Contact your organization's IT team first. They can also reach Cerbera support at support@cerbera.ai.