AI Agents Outpace Security Measures in Enterprises
A SailPoint report reveals 82% of organizations use AI agents, but only 44% have security policies, highlighting a growing risk as 98% plan to expand their use.
A new report from SailPoint reveals a critical gap in enterprise security: while 82% of organizations already use AI agents, only 44% have policies in place to secure them. The study, conducted by Dimensional Research, surveyed 353 IT professionals across Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, India, Hong Kong, and Japan.
Key Findings:
- 96% of tech professionals view AI agents as a growing risk.
- 98% of organizations plan to expand AI agent use within the next year.
- 72% believe AI agents pose a greater risk than traditional machine identities.
Top Security Concerns:
- Access to privileged data (60%)
- Potential for unintended actions (58%)
- Sharing privileged data (57%)
- Decisions based on inaccurate data (55%)
- Accessing/sharing inappropriate information (54%)
The Paradox of AI Agent Adoption
Chandra Gnanasambandam, EVP of Product and CTO at SailPoint, noted: "Agentic AI is both a powerful force for innovation and a potential risk. These autonomous agents operate with broad access to sensitive systems but have limited oversight, creating a prime target for attackers."
Alarming Incidents:
- 23% of organizations reported AI agents being tricked into revealing credentials.
- 80% experienced unintended actions, including:
- Unauthorized system access (39%)
- Accessing/sharing sensitive data (31% and 33%)
- Downloading sensitive content (32%)
Call for Governance
With 92% of respondents emphasizing the need for AI agent governance, the report underscores the urgency for enterprises to balance innovation with robust security frameworks.
Data sources: SailPoint Report
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Alex Thompson
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Senior technology editor specializing in AI and machine learning content creation for 8 years. Former technical editor at AI Magazine, now provides technical documentation and content strategy services for multiple AI companies. Excels at transforming complex AI technical concepts into accessible content.