Okta acquires AI security startup Permiso for approximately $200 million

Okta, an identity management firm, announced the acquisition of Permiso Security, a startup focused on securing AI agents and non-human identities. The transaction is valued at just under $200 million and is structured predominantly as a cash deal, with closure expected in the third quarter of Okta's fiscal 2027. Permiso was founded by former FireEye executives and built software to detect suspicious behavior in cloud environments after users and applications gain access permissions. The startup recently broadened its scope to monitor AI agents and other machine identities, launching SandyClaw, a tool designed to analyze AI agent capabilities in isolated environments to identify potential threats before deployment. The acquisition underscores growing demand for securing non-human identities as enterprises deepen their reliance on autonomous software. Identity management has shifted from login verification to continuous monitoring of what users and machines do post-access. Permiso had raised approximately $29 million to date, including an $18.5 million Series A in April 2024.