Cisco is actively pursuing the acquisition of Astrix Security, with deal discussions currently valuing the company between $250 million and $350 million. According to a report by The Information, this potential acquisition reflects a broader shift among global tech leaders to strengthen their defenses against emerging AI-driven security risks.
As enterprises increasingly integrate artificial intelligence into their operations, they are simultaneously exposing themselves to new vulnerabilities. Consequently, traditional cybersecurity systems are struggling to keep up. AI agents—often granted wide-ranging permissions—can access sensitive internal and external systems, thereby creating new attack surfaces that hackers may exploit.
Founded in 2021, Astrix Security has positioned itself at the forefront of this evolving challenge. The company focuses on securing “non-human identities,” which include AI agents, automated workflows, and software processes that function independently of human oversight. These machine identities, while essential for modern digital ecosystems, can also introduce hidden security risks if left unmanaged.
What Astrix Brings to the Table
Astrix’s platform provides enterprises with enhanced visibility into these automated entities. Moreover, it proactively detects excessive or suspicious access before it leads to a breach. By enabling secure connections between third-party and internal applications, Astrix ensures that organizations maintain strict control over permissions granted to AI systems.
The company was founded by Alon Jackson and Idan Gour, both alumni of Unit 8200. Notably, this elite unit has produced leaders behind cybersecurity giants like Check Point, Palo Alto Networks, and Wiz.
Funding and Rapid Growth
In December 2024, Astrix secured $45 million in Series B funding, bringing its total funding to $85 million. The round was led by Menlo Ventures through its Anthology Fund, in partnership with Anthropic. Additional investors included Workday Ventures, Bessemer Venture Partners, CRV, and F2 Venture Capital.
At that time, Astrix reported a fivefold increase in revenue and tripled its workforce to approximately 80 employees. Its growing client base includes major enterprises such as Workday, NetApp, Priceline, and Figma.
Rising Demand for AI Security
As AI adoption accelerates, the demand for robust security frameworks continues to surge. Addressing this trend, Jackson emphasized the importance of secure AI integration.
“Many organisations want to integrate AI into every aspect of their work, but they need robust security,” he said. “Our platform ensures that AI agents are not only effective but also secure and properly managed.”
Despite its rapid growth, the company initially aimed for long-term independence.
“We didn’t raise this round to sell the company within a year or two,’ Jackson said then. “We’re building a company that can lead in a highly competitive market.”
What’s Next
While negotiations are still ongoing and no final agreement has been announced, Cisco’s potential acquisition of Astrix could significantly enhance its AI security capabilities. If completed, the deal would strengthen Cisco’s position in the rapidly evolving cybersecurity landscape, especially in protecting enterprises from AI-driven threats.
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