Okta Inc. has released new research indicating that while Indian enterprises are making steady progress toward delivering AI-powered digital experiences, many are still building the governance and security frameworks required to support these initiatives at scale.
The findings, announced on July 1, 2026, in Bengaluru, highlight a growing divide between AI adoption ambitions and the readiness of organisations to manage associated risks. Based on polling conducted at Okta’s AI Identity Summits held in Mumbai and Bengaluru, the study reveals that nearly 73% of respondents consider their organisations either very or somewhat prepared to roll out AI-driven experiences across applications, customer services, and AI agents.
However, the research underscores critical gaps in visibility and control. Only 14% of respondents reported having full visibility into all AI agents and non-human identities operating within their environments. Similarly, just 17% said they could restrict or suspend an AI agent across all systems when needed raising concerns about governance capabilities as AI adoption accelerates.
“As organisations move beyond experimentation and begin embedding AI into business processes, governance becomes just as important as innovation,” said Matthew Graham, Chief Security Officer, APJ at Okta.
The study points to broader challenges in managing non-human identities such as APIs, service accounts, and AI agents. While 53% of respondents expressed moderate confidence in their ability to manage these identities securely, only 17% said they were highly confident. Confidence in enforcing proper access controls remains equally low, with just 14% of respondents stating they are very confident that AI systems have access only to the data and systems they need.
These findings come at a time when organisations across India are rapidly integrating AI into core business functions, customer engagement models, and internal operations. As AI agents become more autonomous and deeply embedded within enterprise ecosystems, the need for robust identity security and governance frameworks has become increasingly urgent.
The report also highlights that while some organisations can partially enforce governance controls, consistency across hybrid and multi-environment setups remains a challenge. About 51% of respondents indicated they could restrict AI agents only in certain scenarios, reflecting fragmented control mechanisms.
Okta’s research emphasizes that as AI adoption scales, enterprises must prioritise visibility, identity lifecycle management, and access governance to ensure secure and responsible deployment. The company notes that identity security will play a crucial role in enabling organisations to build trust while unlocking the full potential of AI-driven innovation.
The survey included responses from over 120 technology and security leaders, reflecting a cross-section of industries actively exploring AI adoption across India.