New investment strengthens identity governance for India’s AI‑driven enterprises and supports compliance with evolving data protection mandates
Okta, the leading independent identity company, has expanded its commitment to India with the launch of its first in‑country Okta Platform tenants, enabling data residency, advanced disaster recovery and stronger security governance for highly regulated sectors. Announced on January 16, 2026, the move helps Indian organisations—especially in BFSI, insurance, healthcare and other compliance‑driven industries—securely adopt artificial intelligence while protecting sensitive identity data within national borders.
The investment comes at a critical moment. According to Okta’s research, 91% of Indian organisations are already using AI agents, yet only 10% have a mature strategy for managing non‑human identities. As enterprises scale their AI adoption, identity systems must evolve to protect machine‑to‑machine interactions, API tokens, service accounts and autonomous agents that increasingly access business‑critical systems.
“Our unified identity security fabric protects every identity — human or AI — with equal rigor. This investment empowers innovators to embrace AI with confidence and compliance.”
— Stephanie Barnett, VP Presales & Interim GM, Okta APJ
Stephanie Barnett, VP Presales and Interim GM for APJ, said traditional security models are no longer sufficient. “As AI agents enter the workforce, perimeter‑based security can’t keep up. Okta’s identity security fabric protects every identity — human or AI — with equal rigor,” she said.
The new in‑country tenants are hosted on AWS and offer three major benefits: local data residency aligned with India’s DPDP Act and sector‑specific regulatory expectations; enhanced identity security extending protection to both human and machine identities; and improved disaster recovery, providing business continuity during regional infrastructure disruptions.
Shakeel Khan, RVP and Country Manager for Okta India, emphasised that identity security has become foundational for digital progress. “AI agents are transforming how work gets done, but they also introduce new challenges. Securing every identity within India’s borders is now mission‑critical,” he said.
Okta customers will be able to deploy in the India region in early 2026, reflecting the company’s long‑term investment in building a trusted, compliant and AI‑ready identity ecosystem for the country’s fast‑growing digital economy.