IBM launches new software integrations to tighten AI agent security and governance
IBM is rolling out the industry’s first unified platform combining AI security and governance to manage risks around AI agents at scale. The update boosts watsonx.governance and Guardium AI Security.
The new setup lets enterprises red team AI agents, audit activity, detect shadow agents, and enforce policies automatically. Guardium AI Security now scans cloud environments, code repos, and embedded systems for new AI use cases, triggering governance workflows via watsonx.governance. 
It supports compliance with 12 frameworks, including the EU AI Act and ISO 42001. Enterprises can set custom rules to scan input/output prompts for security gaps like code injection and data leaks. Automated red teaming helps find and fix vulnerabilities fast.
Ritika Gunnar, General Manager, Data and AI, IBM stated:
"AI agents are set to revolutionize enterprise productivity, but the very benefits of AI agents can also present a challenge."
"When these autonomous systems aren’t properly governed or secured, they can carry steep consequences."
Watsonx.governance now monitors AI agents through their full lifecycle, tracking relevance, context, and faithfulness of responses. New features like onboarding risk assessment and audit trails are due June 27.
IBM also bundles Compliance Accelerators pre-loaded with global AI rules like the U.S. Federal Reserve’s SR 11-7 and NYC Local Law 144. IBM Consulting adds a new service for secure AI deployments and continuous governance.
Suja Viswesan, Vice President, Security and Runtime Products, IBM added:
"The future of AI depends on how well we secure it today. Embedding security from the start is essential to protecting data, supporting compliance obligations, and building lasting trust."
Besides on-premises, watsonx.governance now runs on AWS in India with enhanced model monitoring.
Jennifer Glenn, IDC Research Director, said:
"Unifying AI governance with AI security gives organizations the necessary context to find and prioritize risks, as well as the information to clearly communicate the consequences of not addressing them."
These upgrades aim to help enterprises keep AI agents secure and compliant as they scale agentic AI across organizations. The updates will fully roll out by year-end.
Read more about IBM watsonx.governance and Guardium AI Security.
