Security Teams Explore Agentic AI for Offensive Testing as Threat Concerns Grow

Organizations are showing increased interest in offensive security capabilities as concerns about AI-enabled threats continue to rise, according to a discussion between Omdia analyst Theresa Lanowitz and the Dark Reading News Desk.

The conversation focused on the possible use of agentic AI in penetration testing, red-team exercises, and related security validation work. Agentic systems could potentially help automate portions of these activities by carrying out multi-step tasks, assessing findings, and adapting testing workflows based on results.

For defenders, the appeal is clear: security teams often face limited staffing, expanding attack surfaces, and a need to test controls more frequently. AI-supported offensive testing may help teams identify weaknesses faster, prioritize remediation work, and simulate attacker behavior at greater scale.

However, the same capabilities introduce significant risks. Systems designed to autonomously investigate networks or execute testing actions require strict authorization, clear boundaries, and strong oversight. Without those controls, automated tools could disrupt production environments, access sensitive information, or be misused beyond their intended scope.

Balancing automation and oversight

Organizations evaluating agentic AI for security testing should treat it as an augmentation to experienced practitioners rather than a replacement for human judgment. Penetration tests and red-team engagements require careful scoping, rules of engagement, and accountability for actions taken during an assessment.

• Define authorized targets, testing windows, and prohibited actions.
• Require human review for high-impact actions and findings.
• Maintain logs of tool activity, prompts, decisions, and outputs.
• Protect credentials, customer data, and other sensitive information used during testing.
• Validate AI-generated findings before escalating them as confirmed vulnerabilities.

As AI becomes more capable, both attackers and defenders are likely to incorporate it into their workflows. The central challenge for security leaders will be adopting automation in a way that improves testing coverage and speed without weakening operational safeguards or governance.