AI-Speed Attacks Demand Faster Detection

Alan Shimel speaks with Kunal Modasiya, senior vice president of products at Qualys, during Techstrong TV’s Black Hat 2026 coverage. The conversation focuses on scanless vulnerability detection and the need to respond as attackers use AI to move faster. Modasiya explains that the window between vulnerability disclosure and exploitation has collapsed from weeks or months to days, hours or even less.

That change puts pressure on traditional vulnerability management programs. Security teams can no longer wait for signatures, scheduled scans and long remediation cycles. Qualys is responding with InstaScan, a new capability powered by Agent Insta. It is designed to use existing asset inventory, software telemetry and vendor advisories to identify exposure without waiting for a new scan.

InstaScan Turns Existing Telemetry Into Findings

Modasiya describes scanless vulnerability detection as a way to close the detection gap. Agent Insta listens for new advisories from vendors such as Microsoft, Red Hat and Dell. It then compares those advisories against the software and asset data Qualys already has for the customer environment. The goal is to show which systems are exposed almost immediately.

The interview compares that approach to knowing what software and versions are already installed before a new vulnerability is announced. Instead of sending scanners back through the environment, Qualys can use the known inventory to identify likely exposure. That matters in an AI frontier model era, where attackers can weaponize disclosures faster than manual processes can react.

Agent Sara Extends Detection Into Remediation

The discussion also covers remediation. Modasiya says Agent Sara works with Agent Insta to help organizations move from detection to action. That includes patching, mitigation, isolation and validation. In this model, scanless vulnerability detection is not only about finding issues faster. It is also about reducing the time required to prioritize and fix them.

Shimel notes that AI-scale vulnerability discovery requires AI-scale response. Modasiya agrees, pointing to a three-part vision: AI-speed detection, hyper-prioritization and zero-day remediation. The goal is to help defenders operate at machine speed rather than relying on ticket queues and 60- or 90-day patch windows.

TotalAI 2.0 Addresses Agentic AI Risk

Qualys is also expanding its focus on securing agentic AI. Modasiya discusses TotalAI 2.0, which is designed to help organizations discover, secure, monitor and govern AI agents, LLMs, MCPs, AI tools and AI code repositories. The platform is aimed at visibility, posture management, runtime monitoring and governance.

For Techstrong TV viewers, the takeaway is clear. Enterprises are moving quickly toward agentic AI, and attackers are moving just as fast. Qualys is positioning InstaScan, Agent Insta, Agent Sara and TotalAI 2.0 as a way to help security teams detect, prioritize, remediate and govern risk at AI speed.