Microsoft to Introduce 11 New AI Agents for Security-Focused Copilot

Tech giant Microsoft has announced plans to roll out 11 new AI agents for its security-focused Copilot, aimed at simplifying repetitive tasks that typically burden cybersecurity teams. This significant development makes Microsoft one of the world’s largest tech vendors to integrate autonomous AI agents into its security stack. The goal is to reduce the workload for cyber professionals and enhance efficiency through AI-driven automation, according to the company.

Agentic AI in Cybersecurity

Agentic AI refers to the utilization of autonomous, self-directed AI systems to detect, respond to, and mitigate cyber threats without human intervention. These AI agents can analyze vast amounts of data in real time, identify patterns, and predict potential vulnerabilities or attacks. They autonomously deploy defensive measures, such as isolating infected systems or blocking malicious traffic, while continuously adapting to evolving threats. This proactive, intelligent response improves the efficiency of cybersecurity systems, reducing response times and enhancing overall protection. Agentic AI helps organizations stay ahead of cybercriminals and ensures more resilient, adaptive defense mechanisms in dynamic threat landscapes.

Expert Insights

"It’s very interesting to note that the partners who have tied up with MS security copilot (OneTrust, Tanium, etc) are companies who haven’t upgraded their product utilities nor implemented user-friendly features in a while and nor are they good on the evaluation and customer service parameters (seems more like a commensalism)," says Deepti Chauhan, VP – Information Security, Genpact.

Cybersecurity Professionals Need to Upgrade and Upskill

According to Chauhan: "Security professionals cannot be replaced entirely due to the security risks from AI solutions too (security copilot itself has concerns on data leakages and authentication risks, not to mention the single point of failure/putting all your eggs in one basket- given Microsoft is all pervasive). Days are likely numbered for security professionals who stick to their tech agenda and do not have the skills /do not wish to upskill and provide contextual summaries/decisions. However, for those who are willing to upskill, AI agents will free them from the drudgery of identifying false positives (perhaps) and instead focus on L2/L3 tasks. Moreover, AI agents in security will likely show results if security teams actually know what they want from the AI solution and have clear use cases that justify the cost."

Will the Role of a CISO Evolve as Technology Changes?

"I think ‘Numbered’ is a harsh term. The role of a CISO will evolve and transform for sure. The agents still lack strategic thinking, problem-solving skills, and creativity that humans bring to the table. What we can be sure of is that all IT professionals will move towards more strategic, architectural, and AI management roles rather than low-level troubleshooting. The traditional roles evolve with AI enhancements and new AI-centric cybersecurity roles will also be prevalent," points out BFSI tech leader Abhay Johorey, Managing Director, Protiviti India.

Can the Use of AI in Cybersecurity Help Close the Talent Gap?

A number of experts do feel that with AI automating tasks like threat detection, the talent gap in the domain could shrink due to reducing workloads and lowering of entry barriers.

"AI won’t replace cybersecurity professionals but will reshape their roles. While AI can automate tasks like threat detection, it lacks human intuition, creativity, and strategic thinking. Instead of eliminating jobs, AI can help close the talent gap by reducing workloads and lowering entry barriers. The future is AI-augmented security teams, where professionals who embrace AI thrive, while those who resist may struggle to stay relevant," Abhishek Jha, CISO, Citi Global Markets.

(Views expressed are personal and do not necessarily reflect that of the organization that the quoted personas belong to.)

Published On Apr 4, 2025 at 09:12 AM IST

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