October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and the rapid rise of agentic AI carries the potential to unlock immense value and an array of new risks. Agents can introduce vulnerabilities that could disrupt operations or erode customer trust; already, 80 percent of organizations say they have encountered risky behaviors from AI agents, including improper data exposure and access to systems without authorization.
Looking ahead, security is critical to the success—and safety—of agentic AI in the business. “Agents will increasingly initiate actions, collaborate across silos, and make decisions that affect business outcomes,” write McKinsey’s Charlie Lewis, Rich Isenberg, and coauthors. “That’s an exciting development—provided those agents are working not just with your access, but with your intent.” Explore these insights for more on cybersecurity in the AI age.
Deploying agentic AI with safety and security: A playbook for technology leaders
Taking a business-critical approach to supplier nth-party IT risk management
Competitive advantage through cybersecurity: A board-level perspective
Cybersecurity for CFOs: Defending against an accelerating threat
The cybersecurity provider’s next opportunity: Making AI safer
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