Join us as we welcome Karen Cohen, VP of Product Management at Apiiro, who shares her expertise on securing enterprise software in the age of AI. Discover how Apiiro helps companies innovate rapidly while maintaining robust risk controls, and hear groundbreaking research findings on how AI is transforming coding practices—improving velocity yet introducing new security challenges. Karen reveals practical advice for leaders, the importance of automated guardrails, and her vision for the future of AI-driven development. Don’t miss this insightful conversation packed with real-world strategies for thriving in today's tech landscape!

 Summary

Karen Cohen, VP of Product Management at Apiiro, discussed their application security posture management platform, which helps large enterprises analyze code, cut through noise, and prevent risks with automated guardrails. A recent research report revealed that AI-assisted coding increased velocity by four times but also introduced risks ten times higher, with new types of vulnerabilities like privilege escalation and exposed secrets. Cohen emphasized the need for better inventory, standards, and automated governance. She envisioned future AI agents as platforms with specialized plugins for various security needs, tailored to specific company contexts.

 Key Quotes:

• "Velocity gets about four times faster with AI, but unfortunately, it also introduces ten times the risk."
• "The types of risks that AI introduces are very different—it's not just about syntax errors anymore, but privilege escalation and exposed secrets."
• "You need automated guardrails and governance to safely scale AI innovation in your company."
• "If you don't know what you're securing, you can't protect your crown jewels—inventory is critical."
• "The future of AI in software development lies in specialized plugins: each an expert in its field, fine-tuning results for unique company contexts."

 Takeaways:

• AI dramatically accelerates software development but brings significant new security risks.
• Enterprises struggle to manage the evolving attack surface as AI introduces more complex vulnerabilities.
• Automated detection and governance are necessary to keep up with the scale and pace of AI-generated code.
• Effective AI integration starts with knowing your assets and implementing company-wide security standards.
• The next wave in AI development will see customizable, context-aware agents and plugins driving safer, smarter coding practices.

Links/Resource

Website:  https://apiiro.com/ 

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenzellnercohen/?originalSubdomain=nl  

Podcast: Full Tech Ahead — Hosted by Amanda Razani

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