ServiceNow is making headlines with its $1-1.5 billion acquisition of identity governance and security vendor Veza, a deal set to close in early 2026. This move signals ServiceNow's decision to strengthen presence in cybersecurity, targeting the growing market of human and non-human identities (NHIs) driven by the rise of agentic artificial intelligence (AI).
Veza is AI-native and designed to manage autonomous AI agents alongside human and machine identities. Veza serves approximately 150 global enterprise customers and has 230 employees.
Its patented Access Graph embeds governance into every layer of identity and access management. The acquisition emphasizes continuous visibility into each identity's permissions to ensure trust in AI agents. Full next-generation IGA capabilities include access hub, permission updates, and scalable governance beyond legacy solutions.
Integration with ServiceNow's Machine Identity Console enhances identity context and management. Veza ensures autonomous AI actions stay aligned with enterprise policies, enabling centralized governance at scale. Customer perspective from Blackstone validates smarter access management, ongoing access reviews, and seamless deprovisioning.
Why Identity Security Matters Now More Than Ever
Identity has become the central target for cyberattacks. Traditional identity and access management (IAM) and identity governance (IGA) solutions are now essential, as enterprises face increasingly sophisticated threats. Newer platforms, including identity security posture management (ISPM) and identity detection and response (IDR), are gaining traction, helping organizations prevent unauthorized access before attacks occur, Omdia's Rik Turner (Chief Analyst - Cybersecurity) and Don Tait (Senior Analyst, Identity, Authentication, Access), said in a report.
Omdia estimates the global identity market at $46 billion in 2025, with rapid growth expected due to distributed enterprise infrastructures across:
As corporate resources expand beyond traditional networks, identity security -- not just network security -- is becoming a top priority.
The Explosion of Non-Human Identities (NHIs)
The adoption of IoT already increased machine identities, but agentic AI is accelerating NHI growth exponentially. NHIs include:
Service accounts and service principals in cloud environments
AI agents powering enterprise workflows in CRM, ERP, and operations
Currently, enterprises may have around 100 NHIs per human identity, a number set to grow dramatically. Managing these identities securely is becoming critical for operational and regulatory compliance.
Veza's Platform Strengthens ServiceNow
Veza, founded in 2020, offers the Veza Access Platform with modules including:
NHI Security for both human and machine identities
Integrating Veza's technology, including its Access Graph, into ServiceNow's AI Control Tower will provide enterprises with centralized visibility and governance over AI agents, access permissions, and identity risks. It will also enhance ServiceNow Security and Risk products, such as Vulnerability Response, Incident Response, and Integrated Risk Management.
A Strategic Cybersecurity Play
ServiceNow has long aimed to expand into cybersecurity. With 34 acquisitions to date -- including Moveworks for $2.9 billion earlier this year -- the Veza acquisition positions ServiceNow as a competitor in the identity governance market alongside Microsoft Entra, Okta, and other enterprise security providers.
By addressing both human and non-human identity management, ServiceNow can differentiate its AI platform, provide more secure enterprise workflows, and capture a growing slice of the identity security market. Analysts predict continued mergers and acquisitions in the NHI sector, driven by AI adoption, regulatory requirements, and the need for scalable identity management.
The Bottom Line
ServiceNow's Veza acquisition is more than a cybersecurity expansion -- it's a strategic bet on the future of AI governance and identity security. By unifying human and non-human identity management on a single platform, ServiceNow is positioning itself to lead in enterprise AI, security, and risk management.
Rajani Baburajan