In the landscape of today’s cybersecurity, one truth that comes to everyone’s mind is the lines between human and non-human identities that are blurring fast. Recently, the news of Israeli cybersecurity startup Axiom bought by Okta for $100 million has surprised everyone, and this feels like an AI-driven process that runs critical workflows.
The evolving complexity is why Okta’s acquisition of Axiom Security is making waves right now. Okta is recognised as an identity giant and is now doubling down on securing the non-human workforce by integrating Axiom’s privilege access management. The news of Israeli cybersecurity startup Axiom bought by Okta is a move that can strengthen the defensive fabric for the future.
The timing could not be more urgent as Okta’s own AI at Work survey revealed that only 10% of these organisations have a well-developed strategy. With AI agents taking over workflows and automating critical tasks, and interacting with sensitive systems, the gap and bridge are closing down, and the Okta-Axiom deal aims to keep on doing that in the future.
Privileged Access Matters
The question about why privileged access matters more than ever is that privileged accounts have traditionally always been the prime targets for attackers. The non-human identities, which are also called NHIs, are multiplying at a pace that most enterprises cannot keep up with. Manually managing these permissions can be chaotic, and this was pointed out by Okta CTO Abhi Sawant.
The news about Israeli cybersecurity startup Axiom bought by Okta is not just a product expansion, but it is a recognition of where the world is headed. By integrating Okta Privilege Access, enterprises gain a single control plane to manage both human and non-human privilege accounts that exist in 2025, and this is the best thing about the acquisition.
Okta’s Strategy Against Risks
Okta has always been vocal about the risks that AI introduces, and the research makes it very clear that enterprises are embracing AI in workflows. The Israeli cybersecurity startup Axiom bought by Okta, brings in just-in-time (JIT) access capabilities, which is a game-changer. Another strategy that comes from unified controls is by consolidating access oversight across the cloud.
This strategy is adopted to allow Okta to eliminate the fragmentation that attackers often try to exploit. This approach also reduces operational overhead as teams no longer need to manage different types of PAM tools in silos. By making sure privileged access is tightly governed, Okta is positioning itself not just as an identity provider but also as a guardian of enterprise AI.
The Axiom Security Edge
Axiom Security was founded in Israel by Itay Mesika and Illan Dardik, and it is a young company, but it has made a huge impact. Recently, the Israeli cybersecurity startup Axiom bought by Okta, news that shocked everyone on social media. The clients of Axiom Security include Navam, Orca Security, and Varonis. These customers represent the confidence of companies in Axiom Security in 2025.
One thing that makes Axiom stand out is the cloud-native and explainability-first approach as unlike those outdated PAM systems, it focuses on building with machine accounts and AI agents in mind. The financial details of the deal were not disclosed, but reports have shown that a valuation is around $75 million compared to the larger acquisitions in the cybersecurity space.
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Looking Ahead at the Future
The vision behind the Israeli cybersecurity startup Axiom bought by Okta acquisition, is building what Okta calls an identity security fabric. This means that an architecture capable of handling both traditional human identities and the fast-growing category of non-human ones as well. By layering Axiom’s PAM capabilities into its platform, Okta is offering enterprises a single solution.
The Israeli cybersecurity startup Axiom bought by Okta, sets the stage for Okta to be more than just a SaaS identity provider. It has positioned the company as a leader in securing AI-powered enterprises, where the biggest risks will come not from lack of AI but from lack of governance as well.
