- Okta launches Cross App Access to enhance security for AI agents within enterprise systems.
- The new protocol aims to manage agent-driven app interactions and improve visibility.
- Cross App Access is set to be available for select Okta Platform customers in Q3 2025.
Okta, Inc. (OKTA, Financial), a prominent player in identity and access management, has announced the introduction of "Cross App Access," a protocol designed to bolster security measures for AI agents operating across enterprise networks. This initiative emerges as a response to the increasing use of AI tools like Model Context Protocol (MCP) and Agent2Agent (A2A) that require secure, seamless connections to enterprise data and applications.
The newly developed protocol allows IT professionals to monitor and control the interactions between AI agents and applications such as Google Drive and Slack, minimizing security risks associated with manual logins and user consent procedures. According to Chief Product Officer Arnab Bose, Okta is committed to ensuring that their Cross App Access supports a secure ecosystem for standardized, agent-driven app interactions.
Slated for a Q3 2025 release, the Cross App Access will be available to select Okta Platform customers. The feature promises to enhance the user experience by eliminating repetitive consent requirements and improving the management of AI tools' access to sensitive data within enterprises, without compromising on security and compliance.
Okta's collaboration with industry-leading Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) aims to tackle prevailing challenges across enterprises and ISVs in delivering secure cross-app experiences. The new protocol transfers access control to the identity provider, such as Okta, thereby simplifying complexities and reducing security risks associated with token exchanges and user-granted access.
With Cross App Access, Okta aims to empower enterprises to adopt innovative AI solutions by facilitating secure interoperability between applications and AI systems, thus overcoming current hurdles related to security, usability, and integration. For more details on the technical framework or to apply for early access, interested ISVs can visit the Okta official website.
