Building AI Security in a Greenfield Moment

Microsoft's Nicole Ford on Frameworks for Secure AI Adoption Michael Novinson (MichaelNovinson) • November 27, 2025

The rapid adoption of artificial intelligence agents presents CISOs with an unprecedented governance challenge - and an equally significant opportunity. Unlike cloud computing and other technologies where security controls played catch-up after widespread adoption, AI offers security leaders a rare chance. "It is a greenfield time where we get to build the controls now and make sure we do it right," said Nicole Ford, vice president and customer security officer at Microsoft.

Ford said that organizations must treat AI agents like identities - subject to policies, controls and continuous oversight. But the challenge is daunting: Many AI-based attacks are still being defined, from prompt poisoning to "wallet attacks" designed to drive up cloud costs and force service shutdowns. "We're driving the car and building it at the same time," Ford said, noting that the industry ...