We are currently witnessing a massive shift in the enterprise. We are moving from AI that talks (chatbots) to AI that acts (agents).
This shift should change every CIO’s mindset when it comes to security. When an AI is just summarizing emails, the risk is manageable. But when an AI is executing financial transactions, provisioning software, or writing complex RFPs, the risk profile explodes.
This reality has led me to take a position that often surprises my peers: If you don’t have AI-specific security, don’t do AI.
The Velocity Trap
Everyone wants “Business Velocity.” But in the rush to adopt AI, many leaders mistake speed for velocity. Remember: Speed is just moving fast. Velocity is speed with direction and quality.
If you deploy AI agents without deep visibility, you might get speed, but you will also accelerate your mistakes. As I tell my team: AI makes great things go faster, but it makes bad things go faster, too.
From Chatbots to “Doing”
To understand why security is the prerequisite for velocity, look at how we are using agents internally at Palo Alto Networks.
We didn’t just want a bot to answer questions. We wanted action.
- The RFP Agent: We built an agent to handle one of our most complex workflows — responding to massive security RFPs. It doesn’t just “chat”; it works across teams, verifies data integrity against our product copilot, and produces a complete, high-quality response in hours instead of weeks.
- Panda AI: Our employee experience agent doesn’t just look up flight policies; it changes the itinerary. It doesn’t just explain how to get software; it provides the access.
The “Black Box” Problem
You cannot hand over high-stakes processes like these to a “Black Box.”
If I cannot see exactly what the RFP agent is accessing, or if I cannot guarantee that Panda AI is enforcing identity protocols, I cannot deploy them. The risk of an agent hallucinating a price in a contract or granting unauthorized access is simply too high.
Trust is the Accelerator
This is where the conversation about security flips. Security isn’t the gatekeeper saying “No” to the RFP agent. Security is the only reason the RFP agent exists.
Because we use Prisma AIRS to govern the agent’s actions and ensure data integrity, we can trust it to do the work. We don’t have to hover over it.
My advice to fellow CIOs is this: Don’t settle for “fast” AI. Demand “trusted” AI. Because in the agentic era, you can’t have one without the other.
This is the FInal Part of our Deploy Bravely series.
Catch up on the full story:
- Part 1: Strategy (Anand Oswal)
- Part 2: Architecture (Ian Swanson)
- Part 3: Build (Badar Ahmed)
- Part 4: Run (Rich Campagna)
- Part 5: Innovate (Kelly Waldher)
