How to govern Cursor
An AI code editor that edits files and runs commands across a codebase, often without a review of each step.
Anysphere · Certrak checks Cursor every quarter, and sooner when Anysphere ships a capability change or a customer declares a new use of it · Last checked 16 Oct 2026 · Next check by 16 Jan 2027
Guidance updated Reviewed the changelog from 1 September to 13 October. Projects adds a cloud coordinator agent that plans work, runs many sub-agents, keeps shared memory across machines and can act on Slack, schedule or pull-request events without being prompted. Agent execution can run on self-hosted machines with computer use, mobile remote control of local agents is on by default outside Enterprise, and an app marketplace grants third-party apps write access to checks and reviews. Full changelog ↓How Cursor is used
We see two common ways businesses use Cursor, and we govern each one on its own terms. If your team uses it differently, that is fine: you describe the use in your own words and Certrak works out the governance from what it actually does.
Code generation and review
Consequence to people: MediumWriting or reviewing code, with a developer in the loop
Autonomous coding agent
Consequence to people: MediumCode AI operating in agent mode - taking actions across repositories, running commands, deploying
Governing Cursor in practice
- Name one person who owns Cursor in your business. Governance starts with a name.
- Write down what Cursor is used for. Certrak recognises 2 common uses: Code generation and review and Autonomous coding agent. Yours may differ; write down yours.
- Decide what Cursor may and may not be given. Internal business information is in scope, so name what stays out.
- A person reviews most outputs and exceptions are flagged. Agree what counts as an exception and who sees it.
- Cursor can run code or scripts without a person approving. Record which of these you allow, and who can change that.
- Look again at each use on the rhythm shown against it, and sooner on any of these: industry incidents, vendor model updates and autonomy level changes.
What changed, and how Certrak responded
We record every check here, including the ones that changed nothing. A check that found no governance change proves we looked.
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Guidance updated Scheduled review
Cursor Projects
Anysphere shipped it 10 Sep 2026.
Reviewed the changelog from 1 September to 13 October. Projects adds a cloud coordinator agent that plans work, runs many sub-agents, keeps shared memory across machines and can act on Slack, schedule or pull-request events without being prompted. Agent execution can run on self-hosted machines with computer use, mobile remote control of local agents is on by default outside Enterprise, and an app marketplace grants third-party apps write access to checks and reviews.
How Certrak responded: Where Cursor is used for ordinary code assistance, it can now run code and act on events without a person starting each task. Owners are asked whether their people use Projects or event-driven agents; if they do, the system is treated as running code on its own and the matching controls apply.