Snyk has acquired Invariant Labs, an AI security research firm specializing in agentic systems, in a move to secure the next generation of intelligent software.
Large language models (LLMs) and agentic AI architectures are rapidly moving from labs to enterprise workflows. Unlike task-specific AI systems, these systems don’t only react to predefined inputs; they also plan, decide, and act, often coordinating with others in complex, loosely defined environments. Their value lies in their independence.
But that independence exposes the limits of traditional security models. Static code analysis, perimeter defenses, and role-based access controls can’t keep pace with systems that continuously adapt their behavior based on changing inputs and goals. With multiple agents operating across toolchains, APIs, and external systems, the attack surface expands exponentially.
As organizations deploy these systems without corresponding advances in security, they expose themselves to entirely new categories of risk. The threat landscape is shifting. Toolchain poisoning—where attackers compromise the software or tools agents rely on—can subvert behavior from the inside. Deceptive inputs can manipulate agent reasoning. And as these systems grow more capable, the risk of autonomous misalignment—agents pursuing unintended goals—becomes real.
"With Invariant Labs, we’re combining deep security research with real-time, production-grade defenses to secure these next-gen systems at runtime,” said Manoj Nair, Chief Innovation Officer at Snyk. “This acquisition isn't just about security features; it's how Snyk is leading the evolution of governance for intelligent agents, giving enterprises the confidence to safely build and deploy.”
Why This Acquisition Matters Now
Invariant Labs has spent the last several years at the edge of AI security research. The company has focused on the unique risks posed by agentic systems, particularly where traditional guardrails break down. Its work has helped define early standards for securing AI agents, with an emphasis on real-time policy enforcement that adapts to context, not just code.
At the heart of Invariant’s approach is a transparent security layer designed to sit alongside intelligent agents without disrupting their operation. This layer not only scans for vulnerabilities but monitors how agents behave, how they interact with tools, and how their decision-making might shift under pressure.
By bringing Invariant into the fold, Snyk gains both expertise and tooling built specifically for these new challenges.
“Agentic AI systems represent a fundamentally new class of software, far more capable and autonomous than traditional software programs,” said Luca Beurer-Kellner, Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer at Invariant Labs. “While this unlocks incredible potential, it also introduces unfamiliar and urgent security challenges. These systems must be secured with rigor before being deployed in mission-critical environments.”
Introducing Snyk Labs: A New R&D Frontier
With the acquisition, Snyk is launching Snyk Labs—a new research and development initiative aimed squarely at the emerging security needs of AI-native systems. The goal is simple: move faster than the threats.
Snyk Labs will focus on building defenses that work in real time. That includes behavioral monitoring to detect when agents start to drift from their intended roles, adaptive safeguards that can respond to unexpected inputs, and tooling that works at runtime, not just during development.
Invariant’s capabilities are central to this push. Its policy enforcement engine and transparent security layer will be integrated into Snyk’s AI Trust Platform, strengthening the platform’s ability to protect agentic systems without slowing them down. Together, they’ll be able to watch how intelligent software behaves in the wild and respond in the moment.
Shaping the Future of AI Application Security
When securing autonomous systems, the goal is to govern behavior, prevent unintended actions, and keep agents aligned with intent in dynamic environments. That shifts the focus from traditional vulnerability scanning to behavior governance: tracking what agents do, how they make decisions, and when those decisions veer off course.
Context now matters more than ever. It’s no longer enough to know what an agent can do—you need to understand why and how it’s doing it, and whether those actions support business goals. Security tools that offer this kind of real-time insight are quickly becoming a competitive advantage, especially as more companies push agentic systems into production.
Snyk’s acquisition also sends a clear message to the broader industry: AI security is no longer a fringe concern. As systems grow more capable and unpredictable, the ability to monitor, guide, and—when necessary—constrain their actions will be table stakes for anyone putting AI into play.
A Glimpse Ahead
With the Invariant Labs acquisition and the launch of Snyk Labs, the company is building security for intelligent, autonomous systems directly into its development pipeline. The message is clear: AI isn’t an edge case anymore, and securing it won’t be a bolt-on. It’s becoming part of how modern software gets built.
For developers, this means tools that work with the speed and complexity of AI-driven applications without getting in the way. For security teams, it brings new levels of visibility into how agents behave in real time. And for platform architects, it offers a framework for embedding governance into the foundations of next-gen infrastructure.
More broadly, the lines between DevSecOps and AI governance are starting to blur. As enterprises bring more agentic systems online, they’ll need workflows that treat security, compliance, and behavior control as part of the same conversation. Snyk’s investment in this space points to a future where AI security is an architectural requirement.
