Cisco Launches AI Agents to Strengthen Cybersecurity
Reuters: SAN FRANCISCO, June 2 — Cisco Systems announced a new platform that helps organizations deploy AI agents to defend their IT infrastructure. The company revealed the technology on Tuesday as cyber threats continue to grow in scale and complexity.
The new platform, called Cisco Cloud Control, allows businesses and government organizations to create and manage AI agents. These digital tools can monitor networks, identify threats, and take action against cyber attackers.
Cisco said cybersecurity threats increasingly involve automated systems controlled by human hackers. As a result, organizations need faster methods to detect and respond to attacks.
DJ Sampath, Senior Vice President and General Manager of AI Software and Platform at Cisco, explained the challenge. He said security teams can no longer operate only at human speed. Modern threats require machine-scale responses and automated protection.
Cisco designed Cloud Control to help organizations build defensive systems quickly. The platform enables security teams to deploy multiple AI agents that work together to monitor and protect critical systems.
The announcement comes as the artificial intelligence industry continues to expand. Anthropic is expected to release its Mythos model in the coming weeks. Some experts believe advanced AI tools could help hackers increase the scale and speed of cyber attacks.
Cisco believes organizations will rely on AI-powered coding tools when creating security-focused AI agents. To support that process, the company introduced a marketplace within the Cloud Control platform.
The marketplace will function similarly to an app store. Customers will be able to select coding tools from different providers and integrate them into their workflows.
The first coding tool available through the marketplace will be OpenAI’s Codex. Cisco plans to embed Codex directly into Cloud Control, allowing customers to access coding capabilities without leaving the platform.
According to Sampath, Cisco will earn revenue from sales generated through the marketplace. However, the company has not finalized the exact revenue-sharing structure.
He stated that operating and integrating these technologies requires significant resources. Therefore, Cisco expects a business model that supports those costs.
The launch reflects Cisco’s strong focus on automated cybersecurity. The company aims to help organizations counter modern threats with coordinated AI agents and advanced monitoring capabilities.
Cisco Cloud Control became available in North America on Tuesday. The marketplace for third-party tools is scheduled to launch during the second half of 2026.
Industry observers will watch closely as organizations adopt AI agents to strengthen security operations in an increasingly complex digital environment. The development marks an important and promising step in cybersecurity automation.
FAQs:
1. What are AI agents in Cisco Cloud Control?
2. Why did Cisco launch its new AI agents platform?
3. How do AI agents help protect IT infrastructure?
4. What is Cisco Cloud Control?
5. Who can use Cisco Cloud Control?
6. Why does Cisco believe machine-scale security is necessary?
7. How could AI-powered cyber threats affect organizations?
8. What role will OpenAI Codex play in Cisco Cloud Control?
9. When will Cisco's marketplace for third-party tools become available?
10. In which region is Cisco Cloud Control initially available?
