Okta buys AI security startup Permiso — source says for about $200M
9:09 AM PDT · July 30, 2026
Okta on Thursday agreed to acquire AI identity security startup Permiso Security, betting that demand for protecting AI agents and other machine identities will grow as enterprises deploy autonomous software across their operations.
Terms not disclosed by Okta. TechCrunch source: acquisition valued at just under 200 million figure when TechCrunch asked CEO Todd McKinnon for comment, but company would not comment on specifics. Expected to close in the third quarter of Okta’s fiscal 2027, subject to customary conditions.
Strategic context
Identity management companies expanding beyond login verification to continuous monitoring of users, applications, and AI agents after access is granted. Competition intensifying to secure machine identities as enterprises embed AI deeper into operations.
Permiso
Emerged from stealth in 2022. Software helps security teams spot suspicious activity in cloud environments after users or applications gain access; recently expanded to monitor AI agents and other machine identities. Co-founded by former FireEye executives Paul Nguyen and Jason Martin. Focus: detecting attacks using stolen/compromised identities to move through cloud infrastructure. In April, introduced SandyClaw — platform to analyze AI agent skills in a sandboxed environment for malicious behavior before deployment.
Raised about 18.5 million Series A in April 2024 led by Altimeter Capital; Series A valued Palo Alto startup at about $80 million post-money (per people familiar with financing).
Okta CPO Ely Kahn: “Permiso will extend Okta’s identity security fabric with proven identity threat detection and response capabilities, and an incredible threat research and security team that will advance Okta’s threat detection and prevention capabilities.”