Dive Brief:
- Most information technology professionals (96%) view artificial intelligence agents as an escalating cybersecurity threat, according to a recent survey conducted by cybersecurity firm SailPoint.
- About two-thirds of IT executives see the technology posing an immediate risk, while 30% anticipate hazards in the near future. Nearly one in four respondents (23%) said deployed AI agents have inappropriately revealed access credentials.
- “These autonomous agents are transforming how work gets done, but they also introduce a new attack surface,” SailPoint Chief Technology Officer Chandra Gnanasambandam said in a press release. “They often operate with broad access to sensitive systems and data, yet have limited oversight.”
Dive Insight:
The research comes as AI agents proliferate, gaining access to sensitive corporate data, including customer information, financial details, intellectual property, legal documents and supply chain transactions, the cybersecurity firm said.
“AI agents have rapidly become integral across organizations, with 98% of companies planning to expand their AI agent deployments in the next year,” according to a report on the findings.
While the technology promises efficiency and innovation, it also poses significant risk, with 80% of organizations reporting their AI agents have already performed unintended actions, including inappropriate data sharing and unauthorized system access, the report said.
“Beyond regulatory compliance issues, this creates vulnerabilities affecting employees, partners, and customers who may receive inaccurate information or, more dangerously, expose access credentials to malicious actors,” it said.
Nearly a third (31%) of those responding to the survey said AI agents have engaged in the sharing of inappropriate data, such as financial information. About four in 10 respondents said agents have accessed unintended systems, and 16% said agents have inappropriately ordered something.
The study highlights the urgent need for companies deploying AI agents to also implement measures for keeping them in check, SailPoint said.
A total of 353 IT professionals worldwide completed the survey.
