Seth Boro, Managing Partner at Thoma Bravo, stated on October 19, 2026, that the proliferation of autonomous AI agents increases cybersecurity risks. Boro highlighted that threats from malicious AI systems are expected to grow alongside the wider deployment of the technology.
Boro compared prompt manipulation to human social engineering, noting that attackers use specific inputs to force AI models to bypass rules or leak data. Thoma Bravo’s portfolio companies are currently developing defenses against these vulnerabilities and collaborating on protections against AI-driven attacks.
Thoma Bravo maintains a significant presence in the cybersecurity sector, with its portfolio generating approximately $8 billion in related revenue. Since 2008, the firm has backed dozens of companies and completed over 15 exits in the industry.
Recent market activity includes Thoma Bravo’s announcement on October 9, 2026, to acquire Darktrace for $5.3 billion. Additionally, on October 19, 2026, Proofpoint agreed to acquire Varonis for $6.3 billion, citing a doubling of advanced threats year-over-year.
