Agentic AI
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API Security
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Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning

Akamai CEO Tom Leighton on Managing Risk From Autonomous Systems

Michael Novinson (MichaelNovinson) •
March 30, 2026    

Tom Leighton, co-founder and CEO, Akamai

Agentic artificial intelligence is reshaping enterprise attack surfaces by increasing API use and expanding exposure to exploitation and data theft, said Tom Leighton, co-founder and CEO at Akamai.

See Also: AI Security Risks Rise With Agentic Systems

Security teams must first identify growing volumes of APIs and shadow AI activity across environments. To defend against AI-driven threats, organizations need specialized controls, including AI-aware firewalls, outbound monitoring and segmentation. As agent-to-agent communication rises, enforcing strict controls over data exchange is critical.

“You have to have microsegmentation, so you’ve got a firewall agent on every critical application or device to keep your enterprise safe. It’s vital now in the age of AI,” Leighton said.

In this video interview with Information Security Media Group at RSAC Conference 2026, Leighton also discussed:

How agentic AI poses threats to API vulnerabilities and expands attack surfaces;
The benefits of microsegmentation in limiting breach impact;
Why edge defense stops bot traffic before it overwhelms targets.

Leighton leads Akamai’s growth as a distributed cloud platform for content delivery, cybersecurity and cloud computing. A pioneering technologist and entrepreneur, he brings deep expertise in network algorithms, distributed computing and internet security, with a long track record of innovation, patents and industry leadership.