As Software Creation Approaches the Speed of Thought, Security Lags Behind
The latest innovation in software development has revolutionized the way applications are created. Generative artificial intelligence (AI) and Vibe Coding have made it possible for anyone, anywhere to build functional solutions at an unprecedented pace. However, this rapid progress has raised a pressing concern: how to secure what’s being built.
In the past, software development was a laborious process governed by documentation and sequential milestones. The Waterfall Model dominated the scene when computing resources were limited, and change was seen as a failure in planning rather than a natural part of development. This linear progression took years to complete, with distinct phases such as business requirements, architecture and design, coding, testing, deployment, and maintenance. Every blueprint had to be approved before a single line of code was written.
The advantages of Waterfall were obvious: predictability and standardized delivery. Large enterprises, governments, and independent software vendors (ISVs) adopted the model because it aligned with procurement, budgeting, and compliance requirements. However, the challenge lay not in creating the software but maintaining its relevance. By the time software reached production, markets, customer expectations, and technologies had often changed.
The Agile movement emerged as a response to Waterfall’s limitations. Development organizations shifted into short, iterative sprints where smaller teams delivered incremental functionality, gathered feedback, and adjusted direction continuously. Cross-functional collaboration replaced silos, and customers became active participants instead of passive recipients. The success of Agile eventually led to DevOps, extending the concept beyond development.
Today, AI has taken software creation to a new level. Generative AI and Vibe Coding are making it possible for anyone to build functional applications in real-time. However, this rapid progress has raised concerns about security. Organizations face the daunting task of securing what’s being built at an unprecedented pace.
The use of AI in software development introduces new risks. Agentic AI agents can create shadow AI, which can lead to privilege paths and identity-related exposures. These risks are not only a threat to organizations but also to individuals whose data is being processed by these applications. The speed at which software is being created makes it challenging for security teams to keep pace.
The truth is that security hasn’t kept up with the rapid progress of software development. As organizations continue to adopt AI and Vibe Coding, they need to be aware of the potential risks associated with these technologies. It’s essential to develop strategies for securing what’s being built at the speed of thought.
To mitigate these risks, organizations should consider conducting an Identity Security Risk Assessment to discover agentic AI agents, shadow AI, privilege paths, and identity-related exposures across their environment. This will help them identify potential vulnerabilities before they become threats. By doing so, organizations can ensure that their applications are not only functional but also secure.
In conclusion, the rapid progress of software development has created a new challenge for security teams: how to secure what’s being built at an unprecedented pace. Organizations need to be aware of the risks associated with AI and Vibe Coding and develop strategies to mitigate them. By doing so, they can ensure that their applications are not only functional but also secure.
Source: Bleeping Computer — 2026-07-06