Akamai to Buy LayerX for AI Browser Security

Akamai Technologies has announced its intent to acquire LayerX, a browser-based AI usage control and secure enterprise browser company, for about $205 million. The deal is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026. Akamai said LayerX will become part of its Zero Trust organization, with LayerX employees, including co-founders Or Eshed and David Vaisbrud, joining Akamai.

LayerX gives Akamai a way to extend security controls into the browser, where employees are increasingly using generative AI tools, SaaS AI applications, and AI agents. Akamai said the technology can help security teams see and manage how users interact with AI tools, including prompts, file uploads, web content, and SaaS applications. The company is positioning the acquisition as part of its broader workforce security strategy.

A key part of the deal is LayerX’s browser approach. Akamai said LayerX works with commonly used browsers rather than requiring organizations to move users to a separate proprietary enterprise browser. That could matter for customers trying to govern AI usage without creating new user disruption or forcing a broader browser migration.

The acquisition points to a growing customer need around AI usage control. As employees adopt AI tools through everyday workflows, customers will need help setting policies, monitoring data movement, and reducing exposure without slowing work down. Akamai’s move gives partners another opening to discuss Zero Trust, browser security, and AI governance as part of broader managed security programs.