Detecting and Managing AI Agents Across SaaS and Cloud

Aug 21, 2025

As AI agents become integral to enterprise operations—automating tasks, querying data, and interacting with APIs—gaining visibility into their activities is paramount. Traditional monitoring tools, designed for human users, often fall short in tracking the dynamic and autonomous behaviors of AI agents. This oversight can lead to security vulnerabilities, compliance risks, and operational inefficiencies.

The Challenge of Monitoring AI Agents

AI agents operate at machine speed, often executing tasks across multiple systems simultaneously. Their ephemeral nature and lack of consistent user identifiers complicate traditional monitoring approaches. Key challenges include:

  • Lack of Traceable Ownership: AI agents often lack consistent identifiers, making it difficult to attribute actions to specific entities.

  • Dynamic Access Patterns: Agents may require varying permissions over time, complicating static access controls.

  • Ephemeral Lifespan: The short-lived nature of many AI agents poses challenges for traditional logging and monitoring systems.

These challenges underscore the need for specialized tools and strategies to monitor AI agent activities effectively.

Strategies for Effective Monitoring

To address these challenges, organizations can adopt the following strategies:

  • Implement Agent-Specific Monitoring Tools: Utilize platforms designed to track AI agent activities across cloud and SaaS environments, providing real-time insights into their actions.

  • Integrate with Existing Infrastructure: Ensure that monitoring solutions seamlessly integrate with existing identity and access management systems to provide a unified view of both human and non-human activities.

  • Establish Clear Policies and Controls: Define and enforce policies that govern AI agent behaviors, including access permissions and operational boundaries.

By adopting these strategies, organizations can enhance their ability to monitor and manage AI agent activities, ensuring both security and compliance.

The Importance of Real-Time Visibility

Real-time visibility into AI agent activities allows organizations to:

  • Detect Anomalous Behaviors: Quickly identify and respond to unexpected actions that may indicate security incidents or operational issues.

  • Ensure Compliance: Monitor AI agent activities to ensure they adhere to regulatory requirements and internal policies.

  • Optimize Performance: Gain insights into AI agent operations to identify opportunities for optimization and efficiency improvements.

Incorporating real-time monitoring capabilities is essential for maintaining control over AI agent activities and mitigating associated risks.

Conclusion

As AI agents continue to play a pivotal role in enterprise operations, gaining visibility into their activities is crucial. By adopting specialized monitoring strategies and tools, organizations can effectively manage the complexities introduced by non-human identities, ensuring secure and efficient operations.