Security | Threat Detection | Cyberattacks | DevSecOps | Compliance

Identity and access management (IAM) is part of a world where the only constant is change. Whether from emerging technologies and new cyber threats, or unpredictable human behaviors and shifting business priorities – cybersecurity is in a state of permanent flux. These developments have caused many cybersecurity teams to harden their defenses with methods such as identity-based and passwordless authentication.

The explosion of remote work and digital transformation has unleashed a tidal wave of new systems and software. Even smaller or ‘old-school’ companies are juggling more applications than ever before to keep pace with collaboration and automation in the remote age. Yet, every exciting new system requires login credentials, secrets, and access privileges, creating potential entry points for cybercriminals.

If organizations are complying with their regulatory obligations, why are they still being breached? This obvious question exposes a paradox at the heart of everything we do in cybersecurity. It seems that the more we regulate, the more compliance requirements and frameworks we produce, and the more we nurture cybersecurity awareness, the more cyber incidents we face. What’s going on? Where’s the cause and where’s the effect?

In today's fast-paced digital environment, organizations face a growing need to protect sensitive systems and data while maintaining operational efficiency and driving productivity. One Identity Safeguard, a comprehensive Privileged Access Management (PAM) solution, not only addresses security concerns, but also offers significant business advantages that go beyond basic compliance and risk mitigation.

Some traditional security methods are no match for evolving cyber threats, which is why zero trust is an essential addition to every organization’s arsenal. Unlike perimeter defenses, zero trust secures access at every level, verifying every device and user continuously to create a security posture that is far harder to penetrate. Gartner reports that 63% of organizations now use a zero trust strategy, a shift driven by the rising costs and frequency of successful breaches.

Privileged Access Management (PAM) is a subset of Identity and Access Management (IAM) that specifically addresses controlling access for users who work with the most sensitive systems and data within an organization, such as IT, information security and DevOps personnel. Among other tasks, PAM enforces the principle of least privilege, which grants users the minimum level of systems and data access they need to do their jobs.

According to the 2024 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report, 75% of cyber attacks involve exploiting compromised privileged credentials, making privileged access one of the most sought-after attack vectors. Additionally, 60% of organizations cite insider threats as the primary cause of data breaches, highlighting the critical need to secure privileged accounts against both external and internal threats.

Discover the Pluggable Authentication Modules (PAM) framework in UNIX & Linux. Learn how PAM enables seamless integration of diverse authentication modules.

Once upon a time, ordering software would involve a physical delivery with a manual setup and availability on designated machines. The rise of cloud technology changed all that, with subscription-based SaaS growing 300% during 2012–2018. This shift in business model, from owning software to renting it, also meant a change in provisioning. Instead of relying on internal resources and expertise, organizations could simply tap into their external partners and providers.