Investing.com -- Agentic AI has emerged as a pivotal focus across the tech sector, signaling a new competitive battleground for companies seeking dominance in artificial intelligence.

Analysts at Stifel note that the technology’s potential extends far beyond traditional AI applications, with implications for both cybersecurity and broader enterprise functions.

As the AI landscape evolves, Agentic AI is seen as the next frontier, offering both immense opportunities and substantial risks.

Unlike conventional AI, which operates within predefined constraints, Agentic AI possesses the capability to autonomously assess, plan, and execute tasks.

This higher level of autonomy makes it a valuable asset in cybersecurity, where organizations are leveraging its capabilities to enhance threat detection, incident response, and network security.

However, this same autonomy also introduces new vulnerabilities. Analysts point out that malicious actors can exploit Agentic AI for sophisticated cyberattacks, including social engineering, identity theft, and the creation of advanced malware.

The dual-use nature of Agentic AI has made it a focal point in enterprise security discussions. Companies are investing heavily in both utilizing and securing AI-driven systems.

A major challenge lies in controlling and verifying AI agents’ actions, ensuring that they perform tasks as intended without unintended consequences. The ability to secure AI models from manipulation through prompt injections, data poisoning, and unauthorized access has become a pressing concern.

Major cybersecurity vendors are positioning themselves to capitalize on the rise of Agentic AI.

Analysts highlight companies such as CyberArk, Okta (NASDAQ: OKTA ), Palo Alto Networks (NASDAQ: PANW ), and CrowdStrike (NASDAQ: CRWD ) as key players in the space, each bringing unique capabilities to secure AI identities, protect against AI-driven threats, and enhance AI model security.

These firms are leveraging their expertise in identity and access management, cloud security, and network protection to address the rapidly evolving risks posed by autonomous AI systems.

In addition to public companies, the private sector is also actively engaged in Agentic AI innovation.

Analysts point to more than 50 private cybersecurity firms that are developing solutions either to harness Agentic AI’s power or to mitigate its associated risks.

This reflects the broader industry shift toward AI-driven security solutions that not only react to threats but proactively anticipate and neutralize them.