Cisco rolls out new software tools to protect IT systems from AI Agents
As attackers deploy swarms of AI agents, defenders now need their own autonomous agents to fight back at machine speed.
Key takeaways
- Cisco's announcement comes as Anthropic is set to release its Mythos model to the public in the coming weeks, an AI tool that some experts fear could be used by hackers to turbo-charge cyber attacks.
- Sampath said that Cisco will take a cut of the sales through the platform but has not yet determined the exact amount.
- The Cloud Control software is available in North America on Tuesday, and the marketplace for third-party tools will come in the second half of 2026, Sampath said.
Cite or link to this article
Griffin, M. (2026) 'Cisco rolls out new software tools to protect IT systems from AI Agents', 311 Institute, 21 May. Available at: https://www.311institute.com/cisco-rolls-out-new-software-tools-to-protect-it-systems-from-ai-agents/ (Accessed: 1 October 2026).
As we see autonomous systems of systems AI agents emerge that can hack through almost anything Cisco on Tuesday announced a new suite of software tools that businesses can use to build their own armies of AI agents, to protect their IT infrastructure against cybersecurity threats.
Cisco's announcement comes as Anthropic is set to release its Mythos model to the public in the coming weeks, an AI tool that some experts fear could be used by hackers to turbo-charge cyber attacks.
Cisco Cloud Control, as the company calls the system, is designed to allow businesses and governments to create and manage AI agents that will watch over their systems and block and remove hackers, among other functions. Because cybersecurity threats are increasingly coming from swarms of AI agents acting on behalf of human hackers, IT managers need to respond in kind say Cisco executives.
"You can no longer do things at human scale," said DJ Sampath, senior vice president and general manager of AI software and platform at Cisco. "It has to be machine scale, from an operational perspective."
To build those AI defender agents quickly, Cisco believes its customers will want to use AI coding tools. The company also rolled out an app-store-like marketplace, similar to Microsoft’s AI Agent security marketplace, where companies can choose among coding tools, with the first offered being OpenAI's Codex, which will be embedded directly in the Cloud Control platform. Sampath said that Cisco will take a cut of the sales through the platform but has not yet determined the exact amount.
"We're working through the economics. You should expect that we will have some economics that favour us, because it costs non-trivial amounts to be able to leverage all of these pieces," Sampath said.
The Cloud Control software is available in North America on Tuesday, and the marketplace for third-party tools will come in the second half of 2026, Sampath said.
What this means for your organisation
Attacks now run at machine speed.
Hackers deploy swarms of AI agents that probe systems far faster than people can. Human-led defence cannot keep up. Security operations must automate response.
Defenders need their own agents.
Cisco wants firms to build armies of defensive agents. These watch systems and remove intruders. Security teams should test agent-based defence now.
Agents need governance.
AI agents that act on their own can also make mistakes or be hijacked. They are becoming a prime attack surface. Set clear limits, monitoring and kill switches.
Three questions for your next leadership meeting
- Can our security operations respond at machine speed?
- Where could defensive AI agents protect our most critical systems?
- How will we govern and monitor the agents we deploy?
The trends and technologies behind this story
From the 311 Starburst, the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit’s map of the technologies and trends shaping the next 50 years.
Analysis by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit, from Matthew Griffin’s article and 311 data. First published on Fanatical Futurist.
FAQ
Why fight AI agents with more AI agents?
Automated attacks now move faster than any human team can respond, so defenders need autonomous agents that monitor systems and block intrusions at machine speed, exactly what Cisco's Cloud Control is built to deploy.
About the author
Matthew Griffin Founder, President and Futurist, 311 Institute
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath."
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Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath." 17-time best selling author of the "Codex of the Future" series, Matthew is the Founder, President and Futurist of the 311 Institute, a global Futures and Deep Futures advisory firm working with royal households, world leaders, G7, G20, and G77 governments, NGOs, and multi-national mid and mega cap firms to help them explore, shape, and lead the next 50 years of business and society.
An award-winning YouTube creator with over a million followers, with an unrivalled global reach and impact, Matthew is a highly sought-after international keynote speaker, lecturer, and mentor who collaborates with global leaders through the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to shape pivotal initiatives such as the UN’s AI for Humanity programme, the United Nations Conference of the Parties (UN COP), and the World Economic Forum in Davos.
As the former Global Head of Cloud, National Security, and Enterprise Sales for companies including Atos, Dell-EMC, and IBM, Matthew has a proven track record of building multi-billion dollar business units and turning failing divisions into market leaders. His ability to identify, analyse, and communicate the implications of hundreds of emerging technologies and trends is unparalleled, and his insights are trusted by many of the world’s most respected organisations, including ABB, Accenture, Adidas, AON, ARM, BCG, Centrica, Citi, Coca-Cola, Dentons, Deloitte, Dow Jones, EY, Google, KPMG, Lego, Legal & General, LinkedIn, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Qualcomm, RWE, Samsung, Siemens AG and Siemens Energy, T-Mobile, UBS, VISA, Walmart, Workday, Worldpay and many others.
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Source: first published by the 311 Institute on 21 May 2026. Cite as: Griffin, M. (2026). Cisco rolls out new software tools to protect IT systems from AI Agents. 311 Institute. https://www.311institute.com/cisco-rolls-out-new-software-tools-to-protect-it-systems-from-ai-agents/
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