Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 21, 2026

Okena

Okena is an intrusion detection company based in Waltham, Massachusetts. It was acquired by Cisco Systems on January 24, 2003, for $154M, in an all-stock transaction.

Last revised
Jun 21, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
124 w
Citations
2
Source
Okena
IndustryComputer Security
Founded1999
FoundersTodd Brennan
Allen Hillery
HeadquartersWaltham, MA,
Number of employees
50+
ParentCisco Systems

Okena is an intrusion detection company based in Waltham, Massachusetts. It was acquired by Cisco Systems on January 24, 2003, for $154M, in an all-stock transaction.12

Okena's technology is behavior-based detection and prevention, as opposed to most Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS), which are binary-pattern-based. Also, the Okena endpoint agent can block certain behaviors and attacks, an early example of Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (IDPS). Okena's StormWatch endpoint security software formed the basis of the Cisco Security Agent (CSA).

Okena was founded in 1999 by Todd Brennan and Allen Hillery. It was initially located in Cambridge, MA.

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