Delinea Acquires StrongDM to Boost Identity Security
▼ Summary
– Delinea is acquiring StrongDM to combine enterprise PAM with just-in-time authorization, forming a new identity security platform for continuous environments.
– The combined platform will use runtime authorization to enforce least privilege in real-time, supporting a transition toward zero standing privilege without replacing existing PAM investments.
– It aims to secure both human and non-human identities (like AI agents) across cloud, hybrid, and on-prem environments through a unified policy and audit layer.
– Key benefits include frictionless developer access, reduced credential theft risk, AI governance, and stronger compliance via a centralized control plane.
– The acquisition is expected to close in Q1 2026, subject to regulatory review, with financial terms not disclosed.
The strategic acquisition of StrongDM by Delinea marks a significant step forward in identity security, merging enterprise privileged access management with just-in-time runtime authorization. This union creates a powerful platform designed for today’s continuous, always-on environments, where the rapid growth of non-human identities demands real-time security controls. The integrated solution aims to provide a unified policy and governance layer, enforcing least privilege precisely when access is needed without disrupting existing investments.
In an era where AI adoption is accelerating and machine identities are proliferating, securing privileged access across complex hybrid and cloud-native infrastructure is paramount. StrongDM’s technology will extend the Delinea Platform, enabling a single, integrated approach to policy, governance, and auditing. This supports both temporary and credential-based access, facilitating a deliberate shift toward a zero standing privilege (ZSP) model. Organizations can progressively reduce their attack surface created by standing privileges while maximizing returns on current PAM technologies.
Industry experts note that viewing just-in-time and zero standing privilege initiatives as a journey allows for measurable risk reduction. This approach minimizes operational impact and protects existing infrastructure investments. As one corporate CISO highlighted, securing AI agents from the outset is critical. A unified platform to monitor, authorize, and govern access for IT teams, developers, and AI agents across all environments provides essential control.
The combination reflects the necessary evolution from traditional, session-based PAM to a modern identity security control plane. This scalable system governs access for all human and non-human identities through runtime authorization, enabling continuous evaluation and response. It is particularly valuable for organizations that need to provide developers with seamless access to cloud infrastructure and databases while maintaining the compliance and control security teams require.
The joint platform promises several key benefits. It will deliver frictionless yet secure developer access to sensitive resources like databases and containers, enforcing least privilege in real time. By minimizing persistent credentials, it reduces exposure to threats like credential theft, phishing, and software supply chain attacks. Furthermore, it introduces AI governance and real-time control over autonomous agents through unified visibility and continuous policy enforcement for machine identities. Finally, it strengthens compliance and simplifies operations via a centralized control plane for end-to-end privileged access policy across all environments.
“Compromised credentials continue to be the primary cause of security breaches, making identity the foundational control layer,” stated Delinea’s CEO. “This move accelerates our evolution toward modern, ephemeral access models typical of cloud and AI-centric environments. We are enabling organizations to secure non-human identities with the same rigor applied to human access, allowing businesses to move faster without sacrificing security.”
The CEO of StrongDM added that access models designed for static infrastructure and human users are inadequate for dynamic, AI-driven environments. Joining forces will deliver runtime authorization at enterprise scale, securing every privileged action through policy-based enforcement that remains transparent to developers and operators. This represents identity security built for how modern enterprises truly operate.
Ultimately, the combined platform allows organizations to modernize their identity security progressively. It avoids a disruptive “rip-and-replace” approach, enabling a gradual transition away from static privilege and credential-based models. Together, the companies are poised to redefine identity security for enterprises where developers, machines, and AI agents all require seamless, secure privileged access to keep the business moving forward.
The acquisition is anticipated to finalize in the first quarter of 2026, pending standard closing conditions and regulatory approvals. Financial details of the transaction were not made public.
(Source: HelpNet Security)
