* [![perspectives](https://origin-www.paloaltonetworks.com.au/perspectives/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/prespective-icon.png)](https://origin-www.paloaltonetworks.com.au/perspectives) * Why I Take the Position: "No Security? Then No AI" # Why I Take the Position: "No Security? Then No AI" ![Why I Take the Position: “No Security? Then No AI”](https://origin-www.paloaltonetworks.com.au/perspectives/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Meerah-Rajavel-headshot-2-scaled.jpg) **By [Meerah Rajavel](https://origin-www.paloaltonetworks.com.au/perspectives/author/meerah/ "Posts by Meerah Rajavel")** | **3 min read** | ![share icon](https://paloaltonetworks.com/content/dam/pan/en_US/cxo-perspectives/images/cxo-share.svg) * LinkedIn button ![linkedin-icon](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/content/dam/pan/en_US/microsite/cortex/images/share-linkedin.svg) * Twitter share button ![twitter-icon](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/content/dam/pan/en_US/microsite/cortex/images/share-twitter-x-black.svg) * \[Email share button ![email-icon](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/content/dam/pan/en_US/microsite/cortex/images/share-email.svg)\](mailto:?subject=Why I Take the Position: “No Security? Then No AI”\&body=Check out this article https%3A%2F%2Forigin-www.paloaltonetworks.com.au%2Fperspectives%2Fwhy-i-take-the-position-no-security-then-no-ai%2F "Share in Email") * ![copy-icon](https://origin-www.paloaltonetworks.com.au/perspectives/wp-content/themes/csp2025/dist/images/icons/icon-share.svg) [](https://origin-www.paloaltonetworks.com.au/perspectives/why-i-take-the-position-no-security-then-no-ai/?pdf=download&lg=en&_wpnonce=83197ae001 "Click here to download") MEET THE AUTHOR ![](https://origin-www.paloaltonetworks.com.au/perspectives/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Meerah-Rajavel-headshot.jpg) As Chief Information Officer, Meerah is responsible for Palo Alto Networks' global information technology functions, driving a comprehensive strategy to scale and rapidly deliver innovative solutions for our worldwide teams. Prior to joining Palo Alto Networks in 2022, Meerah was CIO at Citrix and held past leadership roles at McAfee, Forcepoint, Cisco and Infosys. Meerah deeply understands the IT challenges across the industry, among organizations of all sizes. Meerah holds a Bachelor's in Computer Science \& Engineering from the Thiagarajar College of Engineering at Anna University in Chennai, India. She also holds a Master's of Business Administration from the Leavey School of Business at Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, California.... [Learn more](https://origin-www.paloaltonetworks.com.au/perspectives/author/meerah/) ## IN THIS ARTICLE We are currently witnessing a massive shift in the enterprise. We are moving from AI that *talks* (chatbots) to AI that *acts* (agents). This shift should change every CIO's mindset when it comes to security. When an AI is just summarizing emails, the risk is manageable. But when an AI is executing financial transactions, provisioning software, or writing complex RFPs, the risk profile explodes. This reality has led me to take a position that often surprises my peers: *If you don't have AI-specific security, don't do AI.* ## **The Velocity Trap** Everyone wants "Business Velocity." But in the rush to adopt AI, many leaders mistake *speed* for velocity. Remember: Speed is just moving fast. Velocity is speed with direction and quality. If you deploy AI agents without deep visibility, you might get speed, but you will also accelerate your mistakes. As I tell my team: *AI makes great things go faster, but it makes bad things go faster, too.* ## **From Chatbots to "Doing"** To understand why security is the prerequisite for velocity, look at how we are using agents internally at Palo Alto Networks. We didn't just want a bot to answer questions. We wanted action. * **The RFP Agent:** We built an agent to handle one of our most complex workflows --- responding to massive security RFPs. It doesn't just "chat"; it works across teams, verifies data integrity against our product copilot, and produces a complete, high-quality response in hours instead of weeks. * **Panda AI:** Our employee experience agent doesn't just look up flight policies; it changes the itinerary. It doesn't just explain how to get software; it provides the access. ## **The "Black Box" Problem** You cannot hand over high-stakes processes like these to a "Black Box." If I cannot *see* exactly what the RFP agent is accessing, or if I cannot guarantee that Panda AI is enforcing identity protocols, I cannot deploy them. The risk of an agent hallucinating a price in a contract or granting unauthorized access is simply too high. ## **Trust is the Accelerator** This is where the conversation about security flips. Security isn't the gatekeeper saying "No" to the RFP agent. Security is the *only reason* the RFP agent exists. Because we use [Prisma AIRS](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/prisma/prisma-ai-runtime-security) to govern the agent's actions and ensure data integrity, we can trust it to do the work. We don't have to hover over it. My advice to fellow CIOs is this: Don't settle for "fast" AI. Demand "trusted" AI. Because in the agentic era, you can't have one without the other. *This is the FInal Part of our* [***Deploy Bravely***](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/deploybravely#executives)*series.* ***Catch up on the full story:*** * *Part 1:* [***Strategy***](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/perspectives/why-traditional-security-fails-in-the-age-of-non-deterministic-ai/)*(Anand Oswal)* * *Part 2:* [***Architecture***](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/perspectives/the-pilot-trap-why-scaling-ai-is-impossible-with-legacy-appsec-tools/)*(Ian Swanson)* * *Part 3:* [***Build***](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/perspectives/stop-guessing-why-automated-red-teaming-is-the-new-standard-for-ai/)*(Badar Ahmed)* * *Part 4:* [***Run***](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/perspectives/drift-noise-and-manipulation-why-runtime-security-is-the-only-way-to-trust-ai-in-the-wild/)*(Rich Campagna)* * *Part 5:* [***Innovate***](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/perspectives/innovation-at-ai-speed-why-security-is-the-bedrock-of-brand-trust/)*(Kelly Waldher)* * [AI](https://origin-www.paloaltonetworks.com.au/perspectives/all-articles/?cat=ai) * [Secure AI Usage](https://origin-www.paloaltonetworks.com.au/perspectives/all-articles/?cat=secure-ai-usage) ## Related Content ![](https://origin-www.paloaltonetworks.com.au/perspectives/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Why-Cybersecurity-KPIs-Are-Changing-featured.jpg) BLOG ### AI **Why Cybersecurity KPIs Are Changing (And What This Means for Security Leaders)** True cyber resilience is impossible to achieve without strategic and tactic... [Helmut Reisinger](https://origin-www.paloaltonetworks.com.au/perspectives/author/helmut-reisinger/ "Posts by Helmut Reisinger") [](https://origin-www.paloaltonetworks.com.au/perspectives/why-cybersecurity-kpis-are-changing-and-what-this-means-for-security-leaders/) ![](https://origin-www.paloaltonetworks.com.au/perspectives/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Weaponized-Intelligence-featured.jpg) BLOG ### AI **Weaponized Intelligence** We are building the foundation that makes defense possible.... [Nikesh Arora](https://origin-www.paloaltonetworks.com.au/perspectives/author/nikesh-arora/ "Posts by Nikesh Arora") [](https://origin-www.paloaltonetworks.com.au/perspectives/weaponized-intelligence/) ![](https://origin-www.paloaltonetworks.com.au/perspectives/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/RFP-Bottleneck-featured.jpg) BLOG ### AI **From Weeks to Minutes: How We Applied an AI-First Transformation to the RFP Bottleneck** Understanding why manual efforts burn hundreds of hours and are bottlenecki... [Sandeep Uttamchandani](https://origin-www.paloaltonetworks.com.au/perspectives/author/sandeep-uttamchandani/ "Posts by Sandeep Uttamchandani") [](https://origin-www.paloaltonetworks.com.au/perspectives/from-weeks-to-minutes-how-we-applied-an-ai-first-transformation-to-the-rfp-bottleneck/) STAY CONNECTED ## Connect with our team today Job Level Sign me up to receive news, product updates, sales outreach, event information and special offers about Palo Alto Networks and its partners. By submitting this form, I understand my personal data will be processed in accordance with Palo Alto Networks [Privacy Statement](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/legal-notices/privacy?ts=markdown) and [Terms of Use](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/legal-notices/terms-of-use?ts=markdown). This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google [Privacy Policy](https://policies.google.com/privacy) and [Terms of Service](https://policies.google.com/terms) apply. 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