Microsoft Expands Security Tools to Protect AI Agents at Every Stage

As AI agents transition from proof-of-concept to production, end-to-end security has become a necessity. At Build 2025, Microsoft emphasized that identity, data governance, and runtime protection must be integrated into the AI lifecycle from the start. The company is rolling out new features across its Entra, Purview, and Defender platforms to embed these critical security controls into AI agent development and management.

Identity Safeguards for AI Agents

With AI agents increasingly making decisions on behalf of users, they require the same identity protections as human employees. Microsoft Entra Agent ID assigns unique, persistent identities to AI agents built in Copilot Studio and Azure AI Foundry. This digital passport ensures visibility and control over AI agents through existing policies for authentication, access provisioning, and role management.

Microsoft is also collaborating with partners like ServiceNow and Workday to integrate Entra Agent ID into their platforms, streamlining the management of AI agents alongside human workers.

Compliance and Data Security with Purview

As AI agents handle sensitive enterprise data, the risk of exposure grows. Microsoft Purview now extends its data security and compliance controls to AI agents by default. Whether using Azure AI Foundry or a custom SDK, organizations can apply classification, data loss prevention, and usage policies without overhauling their governance frameworks.

This update empowers security teams to monitor what data AI agents access, how they use it, and whether they comply with internal and external regulations—a crucial step for responsible AI at scale.

Real-Time Security with Defender

The rapid pace of AI development often leads to overlooked security gaps. Microsoft Defender now integrates directly with Azure AI Foundry, providing security posture insights and runtime threat detection during the development phase. This allows teams to identify and fix vulnerabilities before deployment, bridging the gap between development and security teams.

A Unified Approach to AI Security

These updates reflect Microsoft’s broader strategy: treating AI not as a standalone capability but as an integral part of the enterprise that requires robust security and governance. By anchoring AI agent development in identity (Entra), compliance (Purview), and runtime defense (Defender), Microsoft is providing a practical framework for businesses to scale AI safely.

For more insights on securing AI deployments, explore Microsoft’s official documentation.