Rethinking Application Security Testing for AI-Powered and Autonomous Systems

As organizations increasingly embrace AI and agentic systems to drive productivity and enhance customer experiences, the landscape of application security is rapidly changing. 

But with these advancements come new risks that traditional application security testing (AST) tools are ill-equipped to address.

Our latest whitepaper, “Securing the Agentic Future: Rethinking Application Security Testing for AI-Powered and Autonomous Systems,” explores how AI and autonomous systems are changing the way we think about application security, and why it’s crucial to adapt our security strategies for this new era of intelligent applications.

What You’ll Learn

As AI continues to evolve, so do the types of vulnerabilities and threats organizations must be prepared to combat. This whitepaper covers:

• Large language models (LLMs) and agentic systems introduce vulnerabilities, including prompt injection, model manipulation, and emergent behaviors.
• The limitations of traditional AST models and why tools like Static Application Security Testing (SAST) and Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) fall short when it comes to AI-powered applications.
• Actionable strategies for CIOs and CISOs to navigate the rapidly changing landscape of AI security, including AI-native security testing and new governance models.

Real-world Threats

AI applications are unique in how they process inputs and make decisions, and this emergent behavior can lead to security vulnerabilities that are impossible to predict with traditional AST methods. For instance, attackers can manipulate language models using prompt injections, trick AI systems into executing malicious instructions, or expose sensitive data through memory leaks. These are just a few of the new risks that need to be mitigated in an AI-first world.

Why Traditional Tools Aren’t Enough

As we transition into the era of agentic systems, it's becoming increasingly clear that traditional security tools can’t handle the complexities of AI-powered applications. Static and dynamic security testing approaches struggle to deal with the emergent behavior of autonomous agents or the unpredictable nature of machine learning models.

That’s why we recommend the adoption of AI-native security testing, which is designed specifically for the AI-powered landscape. This includes strategies such as LLM behavior fuzzing, red teaming for AI, and model supply chain integrity verification, all of which are essential to keeping these systems secure.

What Should CIOs and CISOs Do?

The whitepaper also provides strategic recommendations for CIOs and CISOs, urging them to rethink their security frameworks and testing pipelines to accommodate AI-driven architectures. Key actions include:

• Building a cross-functional AI security team.
• Integrating AI behavior testing into the CI/CD pipeline.
• Running internal red-teaming exercises focused on AI failure modes.
• Conducting SBOM-style validation for AI models to ensure their integrity.

It’s clear, AI adoption is here to stay and with the growing risks come increasing regulatory pressures. The EU AI Act and U.S. Executive Orders will soon mandate greater transparency and security for AI systems, and by acting now you’ll be in a better position to comply.

Get Ahead of the Curve With HCL AppScan

Secure your AI-driven applications with HCL AppScan. We provide a comprehensive suite of security testing tools, including SAST, DAST, IAST, and SCA, designed to detect and remediate vulnerabilities before they become liabilities.

With HCL AppScan, Your Team Can:

• Identify security flaws in real-time during the development process.
• Continuously monitor application security post-deployment.
• Ensure compliance with evolving regulatory standards.

Ready to explore how you can secure your agentic applications? Download the whitepaper today and start building a proactive security strategy for the future.

By taking the right steps today, your organization will stay ahead of the curve, mitigating risk while empowering your teams to innovate with confidence.

Start your free trial of HCL AppScan.