A routing policy is the rule set that decides which approved AI model, service, or backend handles a request. It can use signals such as task type, cost, latency, sensitivity, user role, or availability to choose the best target for each call. In an AI gateway, the routing policy is part of the control plane: it does not generate answers itself, but it governs where traffic goes and under what conditions.
In cyber security, routing policy matters because it becomes a control boundary for approved usage. Good policies can reduce shadow AI, enforce model allowlists, apply quotas, and create audit logs for compliance and incident response. Weak policies can route sensitive prompts to the wrong model, bypass safeguards, or expose data to systems that should not see it. Defenders therefore treat routing rules like production security logic: they test changes, monitor outcomes, and keep rollback paths ready. Attackers may try to manipulate inputs or configuration to steer requests toward a less secure or less capable model.