F5 targets employee AI use with new security tool
Application security company F5 has launched Workforce AI Security, an agentless tool that gives organisations visibility and policy control over how employees use AI, including actions taken by AI agents on users' behalf. The launch responds to a shift in workplace AI use that has moved from simple queries to delegated tasks that can touch enterprise systems and data.
The company's 2026 State of Application Strategy Report found that 66% of organisations already permit AI to adjust policies and configurations. AI agents are gaining access to enterprise data, permissions, and systems as employees hand off more work to automated tools.
What the tool does
Workforce AI Security discovers AI services in use across browsers and developer tools, then applies controls based on service, licence tier, and data policy. AI actions can be attributed to individual users and agents. The solution inspects and classifies tool calls across model context protocol servers and supported agent tools, allowing or blocking actions based on identity, access risk, and sensitive data exposure before they run.
Network-based controls apply across browsers, command line interfaces, and AI agents without requiring another endpoint client. The tool is part of F5's AI Security Platform, which launched in June and gained AI gateway capabilities in August.
For management teams evaluating governance around employee AI use, this fits into a broader conversation about AI for Management and the controls needed as adoption spreads.
Why F5 built it now
F5 Chief Product Officer Kunal Anand said the platform addresses changing employee habits as AI embeds deeper into the enterprise.
"Employees aren't just asking AI questions anymore. They're handing work to AI agents that can reach into enterprise systems, call tools and change data on their behalf," Anand said. "Workforce AI Security applies intent-based guardrails in the network path to understand the context of AI interactions and enforce policy before risky actions occur."
Anand added that the addition gives organisations one set of controls across workforce AI use and how they build and deploy AI, wherever it runs. The strategic implications for executives are significant, which is why AI for Executives & Strategy has become a focus area for leadership teams.
Why this matters for management
The tool addresses a governance gap that many organisations have not yet closed. As AI agents gain permissions to act on employee behalf, the risk surface expands beyond what traditional endpoint security or acceptable-use policies can handle. F5's approach puts controls in the network path, which means management can enforce policy without deploying yet another client on every device.
For managers, the practical takeaway is to review what access AI agents currently have within your organisation and whether you can attribute AI actions to specific users. If you cannot answer those two questions today, you are operating without visibility into a growing portion of employee activity.
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