“Everybody’s under pressure to do more with less” – Why Okta says you need an AI agent governance strategy, and sooner rather than later

TITLE: AI Agent Security Demands Immediate Governance Strategy

The Rising Tide of AI Agent Adoption

Artificial intelligence agents are rapidly becoming essential tools for businesses seeking efficiency gains. Recent research indicates that 96% of European organizations are either currently using or planning to implement AI agents by 2026. These autonomous systems leverage generative AI models to process various types of information—including voice, text, video, and code—while performing tasks on behalf of users.

The Permission Paradox: Necessary Access Creates Significant Risk

To function effectively, AI agents require extensive permissions across multiple systems. They typically need access to calendars, email accounts, payment information, loyalty programs, and potentially sensitive corporate data. This broad access creates substantial security vulnerabilities if not properly managed.

The risks manifest in several concerning ways:

Unauthorized access falling into malicious hands
AI agents executing unapproved tasks or “going rogue”
Sensitive data exposure across legal, financial, and regulatory dimensions
Manipulation of gullible AI systems by cybercriminals

Real-World Consequences of Inadequate Security

The dangers aren’t merely theoretical. A recent incident involving McDonald‘s AI recruiting platform demonstrates how vulnerable these systems can be. Although the breach resulted from a basic security failure—using “123456” as a password—the AI agent had access to 64 million records containing personal information. This case highlights the critical importance of securing AI systems that handle sensitive data.

The Governance Challenge in a Fast-Moving Landscape

Security experts emphasize that securing non-human identities presents unique challenges. As one industry professional noted in a recent analysis, AI technology evolves so rapidly that traditional governance frameworks struggle to keep pace. The pressure to implement AI solutions quickly often leads organizations to deploy these systems before establishing proper security controls.

“Everybody’s under pressure to do more with less—AI offers a quick path to efficiency, but it also opens significant security risks if not properly managed from the start,” explains one cybersecurity leader. “The reality is people will experiment with AI to drive innovation, which makes establishing security foundations before deployment absolutely critical.”

Building a Proactive Security Framework

Organizations need to approach AI agent security with several key principles:

Implement identity security measures that include AI agents within the security fabric
Establish permission management systems that grant minimal necessary access
Deploy continuous monitoring to detect anomalous behavior
Develop response protocols for high-risk activities
Create governance strategies that evolve with AI advancements

The consensus among security professionals is clear: organizations must establish comprehensive AI agent governance strategies now rather than waiting until after deployment. As the technology becomes more integrated into business operations, the window for proactive security implementation continues to narrow.