Security vendors deploy AI defenses against automated cyberattacks

Defenders are fighting AI-powered cyberattacks with their own agentic AI as weaponized frontier AI shrinks attack discovery times from weeks to minutes. Attackers evolve from AI-assisted to fully automated campaigns, exploiting vulnerabilities at machine speed. Cisco, HPE, Microsoft, and Palo Alto Networks are expanding runtime security through acquisitions and new tools, including automated red teaming and agentic defenses. New startups HiddenLayer, Sysdig, and Tonic Security add model-specific protection, runtime visibility, and exposure management. This all-hands-on-deck response aims to tip advantage toward defenders.