Okta unveils new tools to secure AI agents and non-human identities

Okta, has launched new platform innovations to better protect non-human identities like AI agents, service accounts, and API keys. These enhancements aim to provide the same level of security, governance, and visibility for machines and AI as they do for human users. This move comes as organizations increasingly rely on AI agents to automate tasks across customer service, sales, and IT.

The announcement was made by Okta’s Chief Product Officer Arnab Bose, highlighting the company’s commitment to securing the growing ecosystem of digital and automated identities.

The new features were announced on April 10, 2024. Several are already available to customers through Early Access or General Availability previews.

While Okta is headquartered in the U.S., these innovations are being rolled out globally—including in India, where businesses are fast embracing AI-driven automation.

Non-human identities are growing fast, especially as companies deploy AI agents at scale. According to Deloitte, by 2027, half of all companies using generative AI will also use AI agents. These identities are often poorly secured, with fixed credentials and no multi-factor authentication, making them a major security risk. Only 15% of organizations currently feel confident in securing them.

Okta’s updated platform introduces key features:

• Identity Security Posture Management and Okta Privileged Access: Help companies discover and control machine identities like API keys and automation tools.

• Separation of Duties (SoD): Ensures users don’t get conflicting access that could lead to fraud or security breaches.

• Secure Device Features: Reduce MFA fatigue and risk of credential theft by integrating hardware-level protections.

• Secure Identity Integrations (SII): Offers out-of-the-box security for apps like Microsoft 365, Salesforce, and Google Workspace.

• On-prem Connector: Helps organizations manage access in legacy, on-prem systems through Okta’s governance tools.

As AI and automation reshape the workplace, Okta is helping businesses manage the resulting identity sprawl. By unifying how both human and machine identities are governed, organizations can maintain a stronger security posture in an increasingly complex IT environment.