Key Strategies to Mitigate Risks in AI Agent Deployment

Rising AI Investments and Agentic AI

A recent EY survey reveals that 92% of tech executives plan to increase AI spending, with half expecting over 50% of their AI deployments to be autonomous within two years. This includes investments in machine learning, private LLMs, and AI agents. Raj Sharma of EY emphasizes the need for organizations to make systems 'agent-ready' to manage risks.

The Challenge of Rapid Deployment

AI agents, which integrate language models with enterprise data and workflows, are being rapidly deployed in CRM, ERP, and customer experience systems. However, haste can lead to security risks, technical debt, and poor outcomes. A Stacklet survey found that 82% of cloud professionals see AI fueling complexity, with 45% failing to optimize AI-related cloud usage. Raj Balasundaram of Verint warns of ethical lapses, data exposure, and compliance issues.

Four Essential Recommendations

1. Prioritize Business Value and User Experience

Organizations should focus on high-impact AI agents that address specific use cases. Bob De Caux of IFS advises starting with measurable wins and evolving agents alongside business needs. Claus Jepsen of Unit4 highlights the importance of a unified AI agent to avoid siloed solutions.

2. Strengthen Access Control and Data Security

John Paul Cunningham of Silverfort compares AI agents to C-suite members, advocating for defined roles and least-privilege access. Experts recommend data security posture management and governance non-negotiables. Jeff Foster of Red Gate stresses the need for secure-by-design approaches to protect sensitive data.

3. Methodically Add Data Sources

Michael Berthold of KNIME advises scaling AI environments gradually to maintain control over outputs. Dr. Priyanka Tembey of Operant AI warns of risks like tool poisoning and data leakage, recommending built-in runtime protection. Sam Dover of Trustwise suggests centralized MCP registries to enforce security standards.

4. Implement QA and Operations Plans

Chas Ballew of Conveyor emphasizes the need for evaluation baselines and human review to ensure accuracy. Alan Jacobson of Alteryx highlights the importance of monitoring model drift and continuous validation. Organizations should develop LLM testing protocols and ModelOps capabilities.

Conclusion

AI agents offer exciting opportunities, but success requires a disciplined approach. By focusing on business value, security, data governance, and quality assurance, organizations can mitigate risks and achieve sustainable outcomes.