Rules & guardrails
Why separate the decision to act from the action itself?
A reliable pattern splits deciding to act from doing it. The agent proposes an action; an independent check validates it against policy and permissions before it executes.
A reliable pattern is to split deciding to act from doing it. The agent proposes an action; an independent check validates it against policy and permissions before it executes. OWASP’s agent security guidance builds on exactly this separation, with validation sitting between intent and effect.[1]
Gate the irreversible Let an agent propose a high-stakes move, but require a human or a verified rule to confirm sending money, deleting data, or messaging a customer. Save full autonomy for low-stakes, reversible work.
References
- AI Agent Security Cheat Sheet — OWASP