Palo Alto Networks Inc. recently acquired CyberArk Software Ltd., signaling a trend of consolidation within the identity security market. Meanwhile, Okta Inc. has introduced an AI agent runtime gateway and established the Blueprint Alliance in partnership with Amazon Web Services Inc. and CrowdStrike Holdings Inc.
Omdia analyst Todd Thiemann surveyed 400 security leaders regarding the implementation of identity security for AI agents. Respondents identified confusion and uncertainty about the origin of potential attacks as the primary inhibitors to adoption. The survey also revealed a lack of consensus on which platform should manage these security tasks.
Participants in the Omdia survey indicated that data security platforms, such as those from Palo Alto Networks or Microsoft, are currently preferred for managing AI agent identity. Identity platforms were cited as the second most common choice. Thiemann suggests that the current complexity necessitates a defense-in-depth strategy rather than reliance on a single dominant provider.
The Blueprint Alliance aims to define gateway capabilities, including authentication, authorization, and visibility. However, Thiemann notes that managing data security and other risks across multiple providers increases the number of policies enterprises must coordinate, potentially creating security gaps in an evolving landscape.
