As the integration of AI agents into corporate workflows accelerates, traditional identity access management (IAM) systems are struggling to keep pace. Israeli startup Oak has officially emerged from stealth mode, announcing it has secured $60 million in seed funding to address the growing security gaps created by the intersection of human and machine access. The company aims to replace outdated, manual credential management with a unified, AI-native control plane designed to govern access across complex enterprise environments.

Founded by cybersecurity veterans Shai Morag and Tal Marom, Oak spent months consulting with over 100 chief information security officers to identify the primary pain points in current IAM frameworks. The resulting platform utilizes an AI connector framework that maps access permissions to actual application usage. Unlike legacy systems that rely on periodic, manual reviews, Oak’s solution automatically revokes unnecessary permissions in real-time, significantly reducing the attack surface for potential bad actors who might exploit AI-driven automation.

Despite being in stealth, the company has already deployed its product with several enterprise clients. The $60 million funding round, co-led by Accel, CRV, and Greylock Partners, will support aggressive R&D and expansion efforts, particularly in the United States. With a team already numbering 50, Oak is positioning itself to become a dominant force in the identity security sector, aiming to modernize how organizations manage the increasingly blurred lines between human employees and autonomous digital agents.

Key Takeaways

• Oak has launched with $60 million in seed funding to modernize identity access management for the AI era.
• The platform uses an AI-native framework to monitor real-time app usage and automatically revoke unused permissions.
• The company is led by cybersecurity veterans Shai Morag and Tal Marom, who previously built and sold successful security startups.

Editor’s Analysis & Impact

The emergence of Oak highlights a critical shift in the cybersecurity landscape: the transition from static, perimeter-based security to dynamic, identity-centric governance. As AI agents gain the ability to perform tasks previously reserved for humans, the ‘identity’ of a user becomes increasingly difficult to verify and manage. Oak’s approach—prioritizing risk-based, automated access control over manual operations—is a necessary evolution. The significant backing from top-tier venture firms suggests that investors view identity management as the next major battleground in enterprise security. If Oak can successfully navigate the deep-seated vendor lock-in prevalent in the IAM market, it is well-positioned to become a foundational layer for the next generation of AI-integrated corporate infrastructure. However, the company will face stiff competition from established incumbents attempting to retrofit their own legacy platforms with AI capabilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What problem is Oak trying to solve?
A: Oak is addressing the security vulnerabilities created by outdated identity access management systems that are ill-equipped to handle the rise of AI agents and the complex, hybrid digital environments of modern enterprises.

Q: How does Oak's technology differ from traditional IAM tools?
A: Unlike legacy tools that rely on manual, periodic reviews of user permissions, Oak uses an AI-native framework to monitor actual application usage and automatically revoke unnecessary access in real-time.