Execution Runtime Security in the Era of Agentic AI
Symantec, Monday, September 21st, 2026
Symantec argues autonomous AI attacks require shifting from blocklisting to default-deny runtime security.
This Symantec/security.com feature argues that traditional reactive security has become inadequate against autonomous AI agents capable of generating zero-day exploits and attacking at machine speed.
It contends organizations must move from default-allow blocklisting toward positive, default-deny security models anchored in strict application allowlisting and cryptographic verification of trusted binaries and execution paths.
The piece illustrates how allowlisting could block scenarios like prompt-injection hijacking of IT automation agents or living-off-the-land attack chains by stopping unauthorized execution inline.
It concludes that detection-based models break down against autonomous systems, making deterministic runtime controls essential.