Apono Secures $34 Million to Transform Cloud Identity Security in AI-Driven Future

On November 18, 2025, Apono, a pioneering company in cloud identity security, successfully closed a $34 million Series B funding round. This round, led by U.S. Venture Partners (USVP) alongside participation from Swisscom Ventures, Vertex Ventures, and 33N Ventures, significantly boosts Apono's total capital to over $54 million. This funding underscores the growing importance of secure identity management as enterprises navigate the complexities of modern cloud environments.

Apono has distinctively positioned itself with its Zero Standing Privilege (ZSP) access management model, which addresses crucial vulnerabilities in traditional identity and access management systems. As cloud services continue to proliferate, managing permissions effectively becomes increasingly challenging for organizations. To combat this, Apono's platform utilizes Just-in-Time (JIT) and Just-Enough-Access (JEA) strategies to deliver flexible, context-aware access to resources, which enables organizations to maintain productivity without sacrificing security.

Meeting a Growing Need

In the past year, Apono has demonstrated significant growth, achieving a fourfold increase in its client base. Among its notable customers are industry giants such as Intel, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, and Monday.com. These organizations rely on Apono to streamline access management across hybrid and multi-cloud environments, ensuring compliance and enhancing incident response capabilities.

Rom Carmel, Co-founder and CEO of Apono, emphasized the pressing need for innovative access management solutions as artificial intelligence (AI) increasingly integrates into operational frameworks. “The large-scale adoption of AI agents exponentially scales the problem of getting access right,” Carmel stated. “Achieving ZSP with a dynamic access management approach is the only sustainable way to secure Agentic operations at scale.” By implementing a dynamic permission model, Apono verifies every access request in real-time, thereby significantly mitigating risks associated with both human and machine identities.

A Vision for the Future

Apono's innovative solutions aim to redefine the relationship between security and operational efficiency, recognizing that a fundamental shift is necessary as human and AI identities converge in the workplace. As systems of automation become more common, traditional static models for identity access security fall short in addressing the level of context-awareness and scalability needed. By leveraging deep learning and policy automation, Apono's technology ensures that enterprise operations remain agile and secure in an increasingly complex digital landscape.

Jacques Benkoski, a General Partner with USVP, will be joining Apono's board to foster the company's expansion strategies. With extensive experience in scaling enterprise software companies, including cybersecurity firms like Trusteer and Medigate, Benkoski's guidance is expected to propel Apono towards further innovations in identity security. “Apono is leading the next evolution of identity security—bringing zero trust to identity access, complementing the recent advances in network access,” he said.

Funding Utilization and Future Engagements

The new resources will be strategically invested in accelerating the development of AI-powered access intelligence and refining policy automation capabilities. Furthermore, Apono plans to broaden its market operations in the United States and explore new international territories. The expansion will include scaling their engineering and sales teams to meet increasing demand from enterprises that require robust security solutions.

As part of its marketing initiatives, Apono will showcase its dynamic access platform at the upcoming AWS reInvent conference scheduled for December 1–5, 2025, in Las Vegas, NV. Attendees will have the opportunity to witness live demonstrations of Apono's cutting-edge technology, designed specifically for the new era of hybrid work environments.

About Apono

Apono has established itself as a leader in innovative identity security measures with its Cloud Privileged Access Platform, tailored for the emerging domain of AI-driven operations. Founded by cybersecurity and DevOps experts, Apono assists businesses in cloud environments by eliminating standing privileges and promoting just-in-time and just-enough access methods for all identities—whether human, machine, or AI agents. Trusted by a multitude of Fortune 500 companies, Apono serves as a bridge between security and engineering teams, enabling organizations to drive progress without the risk of compromising security.