Certiv Review 2026: Runtime Assurance for the Agentic Era

Introduction

As AI agents proliferate across enterprise environments in 2026, a new security category has emerged to address the unique challenges these autonomous systems present. Certiv, emerging from stealth in March 2026 with $4.2 million in pre-seed funding, introduces the concept of “Runtime Assurance for AI Agents”—a fundamental reimagining of security controls for the age of autonomous software.

Traditional security tools were built for human-driven software. They capture logs after actions occur, but cannot understand agent intent, evaluate risk in context, or enforce policy during execution. Certiv addresses this gap with an endpoint-first approach that intercepts, observes, and governs AI agent behavior before it reaches production systems.

In this review, we examine how Certiv works, why it matters, and whether it represents the future of AI security governance.

What is Certiv?

Certiv is a Seattle-based startup that has created what it calls the “first Runtime Assurance Layer for AI Agents.” The platform installs directly on employee workstations across Windows, macOS, and Linux, positioning itself as a control point that governs how autonomous AI systems behave on endpoints.

The fundamental insight behind Certiv is that organizations cannot effectively govern AI agents without living on the same computer where agents operate. Traditional security tools—whether network proxies, cloud-based monitoring, or SIEM systems—operate at a layer removed from the actual execution environment. Certiv takes a different approach: it sits directly between AI agents and the systems they interact with, evaluating every action against organizational policies in real time.

Unlike tools that analyze isolated actions, Certiv evaluates the full chain of reasoning behind an agent’s behavior, enabling it to infer intent and apply precise policy controls. This approach provides visibility into on-device AI activity that network-level tools typically miss, including tool calls and data access happening directly on the endpoint.

Key Features

Agent Discovery and Visibility

Certiv automatically discovers every AI agent, tool, model, endpoint, and usage pattern across the organization. Security teams gain complete visibility into:

• Which AI agents are running on corporate devices
• What tools and models are being used
• Usage patterns and behavioral baselines
• Data access attempts and file interactions

Intent-Based Policy Controls

Rather than blocking actions based solely on what an agent is doing at a particular moment, Certiv evaluates what an agent is trying to achieve. This intent-based approach enables:

• Contextual risk assessment that considers the full task objective
• Proportionate responses that allow productive work while blocking risky behavior
• Policy exceptions for approved use cases
• Granular controls based on agent type, user role, and data sensitivity

Real-Time Risk Scoring

Every agent action receives a risk score based on multiple factors:

• Data sensitivity of accessed resources
• API calls and system interactions
• Code execution scope
• Historical behavioral patterns
• Policy compliance status

Cross-Platform Endpoint Support

Certiv supports the major enterprise operating systems:

• Windows (including Windows 11)
• macOS (Intel and Apple Silicon)
• Linux (major distributions)

Integration with Existing Security Stack

The platform integrates with common enterprise security tools:

• SIEM systems for centralized logging
• SOAR platforms for automated response
• Endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools
• Identity and access management (IAM) systems

Pricing

Certiv has not publicly disclosed pricing as of May 2026. Based on the company’s positioning and comparable enterprise security tools, pricing is likely structured as:

• Per-endpoint licensing: Annual subscription based on protected endpoints
• Enterprise tier: Custom pricing for large deployments with advanced features
• Pilot programs: Available for organizations evaluating the platform

Early customers have reported pilot programs with transparent scoping and reasonable terms. Organizations interested in Certiv should contact the company directly for enterprise pricing.

Pros and Cons

Advantages

• Unique Market Position: Certiv pioneered the “Runtime Assurance” category, addressing a gap that traditional security tools ignore
• Endpoint-First Architecture: By operating at the endpoint level, Certiv captures context that network tools miss
• Intent Understanding: The ability to evaluate agent goals, not just actions, enables smarter policy enforcement
• Agent-Agnostic Design: Works with Claude Code, OpenClaw, GitHub Copilot Workspace, and other AI coding tools
• Experienced Founding Team: Led by veterans from Union Bay Networks, CloudCoreo, F5 Networks, and Microsoft

Disadvantages

• Early-Stage Product: As a stealth startup with limited production deployments, Certiv lacks extensive real-world validation
• No Public Pricing: Prospective customers cannot easily evaluate cost-effectiveness
• Narrow Focus: The endpoint-first approach means Certiv cannot monitor agents running in non-endpoint environments
• Limited Integrations: Integration ecosystem is still developing
• Competition: Other AI security startups are entering the space with different approaches

Alternatives

Onyx Security

Onyx Security offers a broader “Secure AI Control Plane” that operates across agent discovery, decision tracking, and action governance. Where Certiv focuses on endpoints, Onyx provides enterprise-wide visibility.

Best for: Organizations seeking comprehensive AI agent governance across all environments

Paladin AI Agent Security

An emerging player focusing on runtime monitoring and compliance for regulated industries.

Best for: Healthcare, finance, and other regulated sectors with strict compliance requirements

Microsoft Purview AI Hub

Microsoft’s compliance solution includes AI agent monitoring capabilities for organizations heavily invested in Microsoft ecosystems.

Best for: Enterprises already using Microsoft 365 and Azure

Custom SOC Solutions

Many organizations build internal monitoring solutions using existing SIEM and EDR tools with custom AI agent policies.

Best for: Organizations with strong security engineering teams and unique requirements

Use Cases

Securing AI Coding Assistants

The most immediate use case is governing AI coding assistants like Claude Code and GitHub Copilot Workspace that can execute code, access files, and interact with internal systems. Certiv ensures these tools operate within approved boundaries:

• Blocking attempts to access sensitive repositories
• Preventing code execution that violates security policies
• Auditing all file access and API calls
• Enforcing data loss prevention controls

Managing Third-Party AI Agents

As organizations deploy third-party AI agents for various business functions, Certiv provides governance across:

• Customer service automation
• Document processing workflows
• Financial analysis tools
• HR and recruitment systems

Compliance Documentation

For organizations subject to AI regulations, Certiv provides:

• Complete audit trails of agent actions
• Policy enforcement evidence
• Risk assessment documentation
• Compliance reporting

Incident Response

When AI agents behave unexpectedly or potentially maliciously, Certiv enables:

• Real-time alerting on suspicious behavior
• Automatic containment of risky agents
• Forensic analysis of agent actions
• Root cause investigation

Verdict

Certiv represents a thoughtful approach to a genuinely new security challenge. By positioning itself at the endpoint level and focusing on intent-based policy enforcement, the company addresses gaps that traditional security tools simply cannot fill.

The concept of “Runtime Assurance” resonates because it captures something fundamental about AI agents: their autonomous nature requires controls that exist at the point of execution, not downstream in logs and alerts.

Rating: 7.5/10

Verdict: Certiv is worth evaluating for organizations deploying AI agents on employee endpoints. The endpoint-first approach provides unique value, though buyers should carefully assess product maturity and pricing before committing. The AI agent security space is evolving rapidly, and Certiv’s early-mover advantage could prove significant—or could be overtaken by better-funded competitors.

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Published: May 2026 | Category: AI Agent Tools