Okena

About Okena

Okena, Inc. operated in the cybersecurity sector, providing software solutions designed to secure large corporate networks. The company was established in 1999 by co-founders Todd Brennan and Allen Hillery, with its initial location in Cambridge, Massachusetts, before moving to Waltham.

Okena's core technology centered on application-centric security, which enforced authorized application behavior to permit acceptable business activities while proactively blocking malicious actions. This approach was distinguished by its use of behavior-based detection and prevention, a contrast to the binary-pattern-based methods common among Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) at the time. The Okena endpoint agent was capable of blocking specific behaviors and attacks, positioning it as an early example of an Intrusion Detection and Prevention System (IDPS). Its flagship product, the StormWatch endpoint security software, provided threat protection for desktops and servers by identifying and stopping malicious behavior before it could cause damage.

The firm's business model was focused on serving large corporate clients in the B2B market. A significant milestone in the company's history was its acquisition by Cisco Systems, which was announced on January 24, 2003, for an aggregate value of approximately $154 million in Cisco common stock. Following the acquisition, Okena's team of 52 employees was integrated into Cisco's Virtual Private Network and Security Business Unit. The technology developed by Okena became the foundation for the Cisco Security Agent (CSA), enhancing Cisco's portfolio of network-integrated security solutions.