Webinar: How to Govern AI Agents, Reduce Excessive Access, and Control Shadow AI
What happened
AI agents are expanding into live business environments faster than security teams can govern them. These AI-driven programs connect to applications, access data, invoke APIs, and operate across internal systems often without the same scrutiny imposed on human users. Okta’s Global CISO Insights 2026 report reveals that only 47 percent of chief information security officers (CISOs) are confident they can identify every AI agent active in their environments. This growing blind spot means AI agents are slipping through traditional security controls, creating significant governance challenges.
Why it matters
Security teams are losing visibility and control over AI agents, which increases the risk of data leaks, unauthorized access, and compliance violations. AI agents inherently blur audit trails because they act autonomously and often have broad permissions. If security tools treat AI agents like just another user or application without special checks, attackers could exploit these gaps, mimicking AI behavior to evade detection. This situation weakens standard zero-trust models by adding untracked, programmatic users that can escalate privileges or move laterally inside networks without triggering alerts. Companies must rethink identity governance, enforce stricter access controls, and monitor AI agent activity to avoid shadow AI risks undermining internal security postures.
What to watch next
Operators should track developments in AI agent visibility and governance tooling. Look for identity providers, security platforms, and cloud services enhancing their ability to detect, profile, and monitor autonomous agents separately from human accounts. Regulatory pressure may also start explicitly addressing AI agent accountability and access controls as their use proliferates. The market will reward solutions that reduce AI agent sprawl, provide audit trails specific to AI behaviors, and enforce granular permissions tailored to autonomous code. CISOs and security teams need to prioritize mapping all AI access points and integrating those into existing security fabric before these agents become untouchable shadows in the environment.
AI Quick Briefs Editorial Desk