Cisco has completed the acquisition of Israeli AI security startup Astrix Security in a deal reportedly valued at $400 million. The move highlights Cisco’s growing focus on identity security and AI-driven threat detection as enterprises increasingly rely on automated systems and AI agents.
Following the acquisition, Astrix Security’s technology will be integrated into Cisco’s core cybersecurity ecosystem, including Cisco Identity Intelligence and Zero Trust solutions such as Duo and Secure Access. The integration will also extend to Splunk, enabling faster threat detection and response. With these capabilities, Cisco aims to move beyond traditional identity verification and gain deeper visibility into how users, systems, and applications behave in real time.
Founded in 2021 by Alon Jackson and Idan Gour, Astrix Security focuses on securing “non-human identities,” a rapidly growing area in cybersecurity. These identities include API keys, service accounts, OAuth tokens, and AI-driven systems that access data and perform tasks within organizations. As companies adopt automation and AI, these non-human identities are becoming critical infrastructure but also major security vulnerabilities.
Astrix Security’s platform enables organizations to monitor and manage access across both internal and third-party applications. It helps identify excessive permissions, detect suspicious activity, and prevent unauthorized access before it leads to security breaches or data leaks. By bringing this capability into its platform, Cisco will be able to track how systems operate across enterprise environments, manage identity access throughout its lifecycle, and detect threats in real time based on behavioral patterns.
The acquisition comes at a time when AI adoption is accelerating across industries, introducing new layers of security risk. Non-human identities, which are often over-permissioned and poorly monitored, are emerging as key entry points for cyberattacks. Astrix’s technology addresses this gap by offering continuous visibility and control over these identities, ensuring secure and compliant access.
Astrix Security was founded by former members of Israel’s elite Unit 8200, known for producing some of the world’s leading cybersecurity innovators. The company has built its platform around the idea that machine identities now outnumber human users in many enterprise environments, making their protection essential.
With this acquisition, Cisco is strengthening its position in the evolving cybersecurity landscape. As organizations shift toward AI-driven operations, securing non-human identities will become a central priority, and this deal reflects a broader move toward identity-first security powered by AI and real-time intelligence.
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Ruchi Kumar is the associate editor at Entrepreneur News Network and TVW News India, where she leads editorial strategy, brand storytelling, and startup ecosystem coverage. With a strong focus on innovation, business, and marketing insights, he curates impactful narratives that spotlight India’s evolving entrepreneurial landscape. She has written extensively on fintech, AI and emerging startups.