AI agents are multiplying faster than the governance frameworks meant to control them. Cvent runs more than 6,000 AI agents, outnumbering their employees.
CIO Pradeep Mannakkara and CISO Ben Mayrides join CXOTalk to discuss how they're navigating agent security, compliance, and governance using the AWARE framework developed by Glean's Work AI Institute in collaboration with Databricks and Palo Alto Networks.
The conversation covers why traditional security architectures fail when applied to non-deterministic agents, how CIOs and CISOs can align on agent risk, and what enterprise leaders should do right now.
Key Points
Existing security controls do not work for agentic AI
Traditional identity and observability systems were built for deterministic software, not for agents that reason, delegate, and act autonomously, so organizations need purpose-built technical governance, such as the AWARE framework.
Give people a safe runway, then layer in governance
Cvent encouraged all employees to create agents on a platform with embedded security controls, building AI fluency first and adding moderation and metrics as adoption matured.
Replace gut-feel objections with shared criteria
CIOs and CISOs can eliminate friction by agreeing in advance on specific evaluation questions so every AI project faces the same transparent bar and teams reach decisions faster.
Episode Participants
Pradeep Mannakkara is the Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer of Cvent. He is responsible for driving the company’s advancement and strategic direction of Cloud Operations, Information Security, Business Applications, IT Project Management Office, and Enterprise Services. His efforts enabled Cvent to become the first meetings, events, and hospitality technology provider to have its Privacy Shield certifications approved by the United States Department of Commerce after third-party verification.
Ben Mayrides is Chief Information Security Officer at Cvent. His career spans the FBI, AOL, Sony, Fannie Mae, The Advisory Board Company, and Ellucian. Outside of his professional work, Ben is active in both the technology and local communities, including advisory roles with Exium, MACH 37, and 1455 Literary Arts, and service as Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees at the Latin American Youth Center Career Academy.
Michael Krigsman is a globally recognized analyst, strategic advisor, and industry commentator, known for his deep expertise in business transformation, innovation, and leadership. He has presented at industry events worldwide and written extensively on the reasons for IT failures. His work has been referenced in the media over 1,000 times and in more than 50 books and journal articles; his commentary on technology trends and business strategy reaches a global audience.
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