Microsoft's Vision for Agentic Security at RSAC 2026: Ambient, Autonomous, and AI-Native

Microsoft positions security as the 'core primitive' for the agentic era at RSAC 2026, unveiling ambient autonomous platforms, executive events, and interactive experiences that demonstrate how AI agents will reshape threat detection and response.

The security landscape is undergoing its most rapid transformation yet, driven by the explosive growth of AI agents and autonomous systems. At RSAC 2026, Microsoft is positioning itself at the forefront of this shift, presenting a vision where security becomes ambient and autonomous—woven into every layer of the AI stack and operating at machine speed.

The Rise of the Frontier Firm

Microsoft's narrative centers on what they call the "Frontier Firm"—organizations that are human-led but agent-operated. This isn't futuristic speculation; it's happening now. With over 80% of leaders already deploying AI agents or planning to within the year, we're entering an era where every professional may soon have an entire agentic team at their disposal. By 2028, IDC projects 1.3 billion agents in use globally—a scale that fundamentally changes how we work and how we secure.

The implications are profound. Traditional security models built for human operators and static systems struggle to keep pace with agentic AI that can make autonomous decisions, access sensitive data, and execute complex workflows at machine speed. Microsoft's answer is to make security the "core primitive"—an ambient, autonomous layer that's as intelligent and adaptive as the AI it protects.

Microsoft Pre-Day: Setting the Strategic Tone

Sunday, March 22 at the Palace Hotel kicks off with Microsoft Pre-Day, an exclusive experience designed to frame the week's conversations. Vasu Jakkal, CVP of Microsoft Security Business, will lead discussions on how AI and agents are reshaping the security landscape. The session promises to showcase how Microsoft processes over 100 trillion security signals daily to inform agentic defense strategies.

Key announcements include Agent 365, which delivers observability across every layer of the AI stack, and purpose-built security capabilities designed specifically for agentic environments. The event concludes with networking opportunities, including an invite-only dinner for CISOs and security executives—creating space for the strategic conversations that shape industry direction.

Executive Track: Moving Beyond Theory

For senior security decision-makers, RSAC 2026 offers a curated executive track that translates AI security concepts into actionable strategies. The CISO Dinner on Sunday evening provides intimate settings for comparing approaches and building relationships with peers facing similar challenges.

Tuesday's "AI Agents are here! Are you Ready?" panel explores the critical intersection of observability, governance, and security needed to safely scale AI agents while unlocking human potential. Wednesday's "AI Risk Equation" session tackles the practical challenges of AI proliferation, visibility gaps, and expanding attack surfaces that CISOs must navigate.

The week concludes with a Post-Day Forum at the Microsoft Experience Center in Silicon Valley, offering half-day immersive programs with direct access to Microsoft's security and AI experts. Transportation from the city center ensures accessibility for attendees wanting deeper engagement beyond the main conference content.

Keynote: Ambient and Autonomous Security

Monday's RSAC 2026 keynote featuring Vasu Jakkal, "Ambient and Autonomous Security: Building Trust in the Agentic AI Era," promises to be a defining moment. Scheduled for 3:55 PM-4:15 PM PDT, the session will explore how ambient, autonomous platforms with deep observability are evolving to address AI-powered threats and build a trusted digital foundation.

Two sessions deserve special attention:

Security, Governance, and Control for Agentic AI (Monday, 2:20–3:10 PM) will dive into the core principles that keep autonomous agents secure and governed, preventing sprawl, misuse, or unintended actions. Speakers Neta Haiby and Tina Ying will address the governance frameworks needed as agents become integral to business operations.

Advancing Cyber Defense in the Era of AI Driven Threats (Tuesday, 9:40–10:30 AM) with Brad Sarsfield will explore how AI elevates threat sophistication and what resilient, intelligence-driven defenses look like in this new era.

Interactive Experiences at Booth #5744

The Microsoft booth transforms from traditional product showcase to interactive security playground. At its center is a single-player experience that puts attendees in high-stakes security scenarios, working with adaptive agents to triage incidents, optimize conditional access, surface threat intelligence, and maintain endpoint security and compliance.

The booth theater offers quick, expert-led sessions highlighting real-world use cases and practical guidance for strengthening security approaches across the AI landscape. A unique activation allows attendees to upload photos of their pets and receive AI-generated custom stickers—a playful touch that humanizes the technology discussion.

Microsoft Security Hub: The Gathering Place

Throughout the week, the Palace Hotel serves as Microsoft's central hub—a welcoming space away from the conference bustle. Here, attendees can recharge, connect with Microsoft security experts and executives, participate in focused thought leadership sessions and roundtable discussions, and engage in networking experiences designed to spark meaningful conversations.

The Security Hub also hosts members of the Microsoft Intelligent Security Association (MISA), showcasing how partners extend and enhance Microsoft Security solutions. From integrated threat intelligence to compliance automation, these collaborations demonstrate the ecosystem approach needed for comprehensive security in the agentic era.

Why This Matters Now

The timing is critical. Organizations face a perfect storm: AI agents are proliferating faster than governance frameworks can adapt, threat actors are weaponizing AI at scale, and the attack surface is expanding exponentially. Microsoft's message is clear—security must evolve from a reactive function to an ambient, autonomous layer that's as intelligent and adaptive as the systems it protects.

For security leaders, RSAC 2026 represents more than a conference—it's a strategic inflection point. The sessions, experiences, and conversations happening in San Francisco will shape how organizations approach security in an agentic world. Those who engage deeply with these concepts now will be better positioned to lead their organizations through the transformation ahead.

Microsoft's comprehensive approach—from executive strategy sessions to hands-on technical demonstrations—reflects the reality that securing agentic AI requires both high-level vision and practical implementation guidance. The question isn't whether AI will transform security work, but whether organizations will be prepared for what comes next.

The era of ambient, autonomous security has arrived. RSAC 2026 is where the industry will define what that means in practice.