# NIST Prioritizes Agentic AI Security

NIST’s 2026 Cybersecurity Awareness Month agenda highlights federal attention to securing agentic AI used in software development. The focus includes controls for agent identity, authentication, authorization, and access; NIST’s October webinars and related National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (NCCoE) work may inform future technical expectations and create demand for secure DevSecOps, digital identity, CUI compliance, and cybersecurity workforce services. The signal identifies no solicitation, award, contract value, or mandatory contractor requirement.

- Contractors can use NIST’s October webinars and related NCCoE work to understand the security issues being emphasized; no specific procurement opportunity or compliance deadline is identified.
- Firms offering secure DevSecOps, digital identity, CUI compliance, or cybersecurity workforce services may find these areas relevant to future federal demand.
- Organizations should distinguish this emerging focus from a formal requirement: the signal describes areas of attention, not a current mandate or procurement action.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Information Technology
**Topics:** Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence
**Published:** October 06, 2026

### Government Entities
- National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
- National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (NCCoE)

### Sources
- [The monsters of Cybersecurity Awareness Month are getting stronger - Nextgov/FCW](https://www.nextgov.com/cybersecurity/2026/10/monsters-cybersecurity-awareness-month-are-getting-stronger/416449) - Nextgov/FCW