Episode

Microsoft's Deputy CISO on Securing AI Agents

Podcast: The a16z Show
Published: Aug 21, 2026
Duration seconds: 1515
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Canonical source: https://a16z.simplecast.com/episodes/how-microsoft-is-securing-the-agentic-enterprise-aaron-zollman-j7eOe8NH
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Summary

a16z's Joel De La Garza is joined by Aaron Zollman, Deputy CISO at Microsoft Gaming, to discuss how security teams can embrace AI agents without losing control. Aaron shares Microsoft's experience with OpenClaw, from the initial instinct to ban it to figuring out how to make it safe to use. They unpack what agents mean for identity, permissions, containerization, and monitoring, as well as how AI is shifting the CISO's role from saying "no" to safely enabling new technology. They also explore whether AI could help defenders patch vulnerabilities as quickly as they're discovered, and why new AI threats don't make the old security problems go away.