Okta expands Bengaluru operations to strengthen identity security for India’s AI-driven growth

Okta is scaling its Bengaluru operations with major R&D expansion, deep-tech hiring and new AI-driven identity security initiatives as enterprises accelerate adoption of GenAI and automated agents, heightening the need to secure both human and non-human identities.

Okta has announced a major expansion of its India operations, strengthening its Bengaluru campus with new investments, expanded R&D capabilities and a significant hiring push. The move comes amid rapid growth in Generative and Agentic AI adoption across Indian enterprises, where identity security is emerging as the foundation for safeguarding digital ecosystems.

The company’s latest research reveals a critical vulnerability: although 91% of organisations now deploy AI agents in production, only 10% have a formal security strategy. Analysts warn that weak authentication could cause up to 40% of AI agent deployments to fail by 2027. This rising risk is pushing organisations to prioritise modern identity and access management (IAM) as their most essential defence.

Bengaluru to lead next-generation identity innovation

Okta’s expanded Bengaluru facility will focus on building its “Identity Security Fabric,” a unified framework designed to secure both human and non-human identities powering the new AI ecosystem. The centre will accelerate development of several advanced tools, including Policy Recommender, Governance Analyzer and Intelligent Threat Protection, while also spearheading new capabilities to protect AI agents.

Okta’s India team has grown to 700 employees since 2023, and the company plans to expand its local workforce by 50% in 2026. Hiring will target deep-tech engineering and product development talent, supporting the company’s ambition to scale global revenues from $5 billion to $10 billion.

Stephanie Barnett, VP Presales and Interim GM, APJ, said modern identity has become central to secure AI adoption. “India’s digital ambition is unmatched, and by deepening our presence in Bengaluru, we’re uniquely positioned to help customers innovate safely as they embrace GenAI and agentic AI,” she said.

India’s strategic role in Okta’s global growth

Reinforcing India’s position as a global technology hub, Okta said its Bengaluru expansion will serve as a critical engine for innovation worldwide. Highlighting the importance of India’s tech talent, Shakeel Khan, Regional Vice President & Country Manager, Okta India, said: “Our expansion in Bengaluru is about amplifying our ability to innovate at the speed of AI. India’s talent pool has the unique depth required to tackle the complex security challenges of securing AI agents and the expanded identity surface. This new facility will be the engine that helps build the identity layer of the future, ensuring that Okta leads the charge in securing the Age of AI for customers across sectors.”

As India enters a defining phase of digital transformation, Okta aims to support enterprises in strengthening security foundations and unifying identity. The company will continue working closely with partners such as Sonata, Softcell, ACPL and 22By7 to drive identity-led transformation across the country.