CyberGuard dictionary / AI Security
AI Agent Permissions
AI agent permissions are the actions and data access granted to an AI driven workflow through its accounts, tools, and connected services.
In simple terms
An agent that can read a calendar and send email has real privileges. A request or retrieved document should not silently expand those privileges.
Technical explanation
Least privilege applies to tool scopes, service identities, tenant boundaries, and approval before high impact actions. Tool execution must be authorized outside the model, since model output is not an access control decision.
A model may propose an action, but external policy must decide whether the action is permitted. Tool scopes, tenant context, approval, and audit trails should constrain what the agent can actually do.
Examples in practice
A scheduling assistant may read free time but requires an explicit user confirmation before sending invitations or changing existing meetings.
An assistant drafts a meeting invitation but cannot send it until the user confirms recipients and time. Its calendar token cannot read unrelated users' calendars.
Why it matters
Excessive tool access turns mistakes or injected instructions into larger security incidents.
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Sources and further reading
Published 2026-10-15 · Last updated 2026-10-15 · CyberGuard editorial content. Source links provide context; they do not imply endorsement.