Okta buys Permiso for $200M to secure AI agents

Okta has agreed to acquire Permiso Security, an AI identity security startup, for nearly $200 million in an all-cash deal. The acquisition aims to address growing enterprise demand for securing AI agents and machine identities as autonomous software becomes more embedded in operations. Okta plans to integrate Permiso’s capabilities into its identity security platform to monitor and detect suspicious activity in cloud environments, extending beyond traditional user authentication.

Permiso, co-founded by former FireEye executives Paul Nguyen and Jason Martin, emerged from stealth in 2022 and has since raised $29 million, including an $18.5 million Series A in April 2024. The startup’s SandyClaw platform analyzes AI agent skills in a sandboxed environment to identify malicious behavior before deployment. Okta’s chief product officer, Ely Kahn, highlighted Permiso’s threat detection strengths, stating the acquisition will advance Okta’s ability to secure AI-driven identities. The deal, expected to close in Q3 of Okta’s fiscal 2027, underscores the intensifying competition among identity management companies to protect non-human identities in AI-driven ecosystems.