Gwen Clavon is senior vice president of cybersecurity & threat mitigation at Amentum, overseeing a team tasked with protecting strategic partnerships by leveraging machine learning, big data analytics and emerging tech to secure data, enhance operational agility, and strengthen digital and physical infrastructure.
Cybersecurity is no longer a game of defense. It’s a race against intelligent, evolving adversaries.
The AI revolution has ushered in unprecedented efficiencies, but it has also armed malicious actors with faster, more sophisticated tools for cyberattacks. As threats evolve in complexity and speed, the need for intelligent, automated defense mechanisms has never been more urgent.
Agentic AI: A New Paradigm in Cyber Defense
Unlike traditional AI systems that rely on human prompts, Agentic AI operates autonomously. It proactively identifies and mitigates threats without waiting for manual rule updates or intervention. These systems don’t just process data, they reason, act, and adapt.
Agentic AI continuously interacts with its digital environment, learning from sensitive data and integrated tools. It executes multi-step defense strategies, refining its approach over time to protect critical assets and solve complex cybersecurity challenges. For enterprise IT leaders, Agentic AI offers the scale and speed needed to manage overwhelming alert volumes and persistent talent shortages.
Deploying Agentic AI: Practical First Steps
Agentic AI is already accessible in cost-effective formats and can be integrated into existing Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) and Extended Detection and Response (XDR) platforms. Organizations can begin with pilot programs targeting specific use cases, such as phishing detection or lateral movement analysis, where the technology can autonomously identify vulnerabilities and initiate remediation.
Early wins help build stakeholder confidence and demonstrate the tangible value of agentic systems. Importantly, Agentic AI can also support cybersecurity efforts tied to physical infrastructure, where threats are increasingly converging with digital systems.
Securing the Physical-Digital Frontier
In industrial environments governed by SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) systems, Agentic AI plays a vital role in defending mission-critical sites like power plants and data centers. Its ability to operate at scale and speed makes it indispensable in securing the sprawling Internet of Things (IoT) landscape.
Balancing Autonomy with Human Oversight
Despite its capabilities, Agentic AI must be deployed with care. End users remain a significant vulnerability, still prone to clicking suspicious links — and must be supported by ongoing education and awareness.
Cybersecurity teams must also guard against over-reliance on autonomous systems. Agentic AI should enhance, not replace, human judgment. Strong governance frameworks are essential to ensure its actions align with organizational goals and ethical standards.
Conclusion: Empowerment Through Intelligence
Agentic AI is reshaping cybersecurity from a reactive stance to a proactive force. Its true power lies in partnership, with human creativity and oversight guiding its autonomous capabilities. As a force multiplier, Agentic AI enables cybersecurity professionals to focus on strategic decision-making, driving resilience in an increasingly complex threat landscape.
October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. WashingtonExec is sharing OpEds from industry experts on critical cyber topics, and how GovCons and government can work together to secure critical missions.