AI Is Your New Coworker. Does It Need a Badge?

Agentic AI Is Creating New Risks, New Career Opportunities for Cyber Professionals Brandy Harris • June 11, 2025

Artificial intelligence is no longer confined to sandboxes. It's writing code, triaging support tickets, filtering threats, and, in some organizations, autonomously managing parts of the network. As AI shifts from passive tool to active participant, cybersecurity professionals must confront a critical identity management question: Does AI need to be treated like any other user in your ecosystem - with secure access?

See Also: OnDemand | Navigate the threat of AI-powered cyberattacks

The Rise of Agentic AI

The shift from AI as a statistical model to AI as an agent marks a turning point in cybersecurity strategy. Agentic AI refers to systems capable of autonomous goal pursuit, meaning they can perceive, decide and act without step-by-step human instruction. These agents don't just analyze data. They initiate actions that affect operational environments.

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