Okta to Acquire AI Identity Security Startup Permiso Security for Nearly $200 Million

Okta, a leading identity management company, has announced its acquisition of Permiso Security, an AI identity security startup. The deal, valued at just under $200 million, is structured as an almost all-cash transaction and is set to close in the third quarter of fiscal 2027, subject to customary closing conditions.

Permiso Security, which emerged from stealth in 2022, specializes in developing software that helps security teams detect suspicious activity in cloud environments, particularly focusing on monitoring AI agents and other machine identities. The startup's platform, including the recent introduction of SandyClaw, is designed to analyze AI agent behaviors in a sandboxed environment to identify potential malicious activities before deployment.

With this acquisition, Okta aims to bolster its position in securing AI agents and non-human identities, expanding its core identity management business. Permiso Security had previously raised about $29 million, including an $18.5 million Series A round in April 2024, which valued the startup at approximately $80 million. The acquisition is set to enhance Okta's identity security fabric and strengthen its threat detection and prevention capabilities.