Michael Rustom is a Canadian technology solutions consultant and entrepreneur with 30 years of experience in IT innovation and systems integration. As the founder and proprietor of Michael Rustom Inc., he specializes in turning complex new tech into practical business tools. He helps companies scale smoothly by expanding their services naturally over time.
Throughout his career, Michael has worn many hats, including serving as a VP of Sales and acting as the official IT supplier for the 2015 Pan Am Games. Now, he delivers technology advice to mid-market and enterprise clients in Canada, helping them make decisions regarding cybersecurity, cloud computing, and operational efficiency.
Q: Why does Agentic AI stand out to you right now?
Michael Rustom: For years, the AI tools we used behaved strictly like assistants. You asked a question, received an answer, and the interaction stopped right there. The change we see now is mostly about autonomy. Agentic AI systems are designed to observe, plan, and perform multi-step tasks independently. Instead of waiting for constant human prompts, they operate within predefined boundaries to keep processes moving forward. In my consulting work, the conversation has changed entirely. Business leaders want to know how it can actively manage workflows and monitor infrastructure in real time.
Q: How is this actually playing out in real business environments?
Michael Rustom: The reality is that these implementations are rollouts within highly controlled, specific environments. Think of it as a connected system and not an isolated tool. For example, an agentic system can track network performance, detect an anomaly, open a support ticket, alert the proper IT team, and suggest a solution based on historical patterns. The biggest differentiator here is that all those individual steps happen automatically, without a human operator needing to push a button at every phase of the process.
Q: Where are Canadian companies applying this technology first?
Michael Rustom: Cybersecurity is getting a lot of attention right now as a first use case. Security operations teams use agentic AI to automate threat detection and incident response. Because modern digital threats happen very quickly, a system that can immediately isolate an affected device or block suspicious network activity without waiting for manual human approval provides immense protective value. However, that speed demands rigorous governance to ensure the AI doesn’t accidentally trigger unnecessary business disruptions or shut down critical operational systems.
Q: What should leaders prioritize to build trust in these systems?
Michael Rustom: Governance is the most critical factor, and I talk about it with my clients all the time. The main issue is having 100% confidence in the results the technology produces. When you introduce an AI system as an active participant in a workflow, you must have complete visibility into the data it uses, the logic driving its choices, and a clear mechanism for human intervention. Leaders must establish firm operational boundaries for what these systems can and cannot do, ensuring that a human expert can easily help if something looks suspicious.
Q: How is this technology changing internal IT teams and talent needs?
Michael Rustom: This transition changes what we expect from internal teams. It requires careful planning around how you integrate these systems with your existing legacy infrastructure and overall business goals. As a result, the talent pool must adapt. It’s not enough to just deploy a tool and cross your fingers that it works out. Canadian enterprises need professionals who have strong technical knowledge and a grasp of operational impact. The daily cycle shifts away from manual execution toward continuous system design, proactive monitoring, and regular optimization of AI pathways.
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