With its focus on the evolving dynamics of AI adoption, the session explored how technologies such as Generative AI, private large language models (LLMs), and autonomous agents are rapidly becoming integral to modern business operations. In modern business, AI is no longer a future concept – it is a present-day imperative for automating workflows and improving customer experiences.
However, with accelerated adoption comes an even greater increase in risk. An overview of emerging threats like shadow AI was provided in the webinar, which focused on unsanctioned tools that operate outside of the sight of IT, increasing vulnerabilities. Among the growing concerns that enterprises should address proactively are data exposure, model manipulation attacks, and API abuse.
What made the session particularly insightful was its focus on actionable strategies. Experts emphasized the need for a security-first approach to AI deployment—integrating robust governance frameworks, ensuring data protection, and continuously monitoring AI models for anomalies. The discussion also underscored the importance of aligning security with innovation, rather than treating it as a barrier.
“AI Security at the Pace of Adoption” by Neil MacDonald, Distinguished VP Analyst Gartner and Russ Schafer, Executive Vice President of Marketing, Fortinet, highlighted how AI is dramatically expanding attack surfaces. They emphasized that traditional security models are not designed for today’s production-grade AI environments, where GenAI applications, private LLMs, and autonomous agents operate at scale.
Robert May, Executive Vice President, Technology and Product Management, Fortinet shared insights on “Aligning Security to Your AI Journey,” stressing the importance of integrating security into infrastructure decisions from the outset. Visibility, control, and performance, he noted, must evolve alongside AI adoption.
A key concern addressed was governance. In “Governing GenAI in Live Environments,” Wei Ling, VP of Product Management, Fortinet and David Lorti, Director of Product Marketing, Fortinet outlined practical strategies for real-time data controls, compliance, and governance, especially as GenAI systems increasingly operate in live enterprise settings.
The summit also moved to infrastructure in “Securing AI Infrastructure and LLMs,” where Ben Zilberman, Director of Product Marketing, Application Security, Fortinet and Russ Schafer, explored risks such as prompt injection, uncontrolled data movement, and model instability, offering approaches to secure AI systems in production.
The webinar concluded with “Converging SOC and NOC with Agentic AI” by Maggie Wu, Director of Product Marketing, Fortinet and Schafer. He discussed how agentic AI is transforming operations—reducing manual workloads, accelerating incident response, and enhancing efficiency.
In a world where AI adoption is accelerating, security must evolve even faster. Organizations that embed security into their AI strategy will be best positioned to innovate with confidence in an increasingly complex threat landscape.
A key takeaway from the webinar was that securing AI at scale requires a shift in mindset. Enterprises must move beyond traditional security models and adopt adaptive, intelligence-driven frameworks that evolve alongside AI technologies.
As organizations race to unlock AI’s full potential, sessions like these serve as a timely reminder: Innovation without security is a risk not worth taking. With the right strategies in place, businesses can confidently accelerate their AI journey while staying resilient in an increasingly complex threat landscape.
