As cyberspace wraps disappear and AI agents gain access, the identity has become the real foundation of security.
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When Palo Alto Networks announced the Acquisition of CyberarkMany in the cyberspace have been aware of. Not only because it was a high profile agreement between two major players, but because of what it implied: identity is no longer characteristic of cyber security. It has become the foundation.
This acquisition highlights a shift that has been building for years – where identity is not just another layer in the stack, but the connective tissue that holds everything else together.
“As well as the way the TCP/IP network mattress has risen to the application mattress a decade ago, the identity has evolved into its own rational level – the fabric that now explains everything else in cyberspace,” he explains Orchid CEO Roy Katmor.
Beyond the perimeter defense
Traditionally, cyber security has focused on maintaining bad actors – building higher walls and more sophisticated detection systems. The walls of protection, virus protection tools and invasion systems work in the assumption that threats come out of the gates. The model assumes that the keys are safely in the hands of authorized people and the real risk is beyond the perimeter. But today, the most detrimental violations often come from within: compromised credentials, access rights and unauthorized use of trust systems – or those who imitate them.
Certification abuse is still the most common point of entry into large violations. It is easier, quieter and more scalable than traditional holdings. And as companies adopt more cloud services and remote work structures, the idea of a clear perimeter has disappeared.
As I talk to cyberspace executives, there is increasing consensus on the idea that identity is the perimeter now.
Marc maiffretThe CTO at Beyondtrust emphasized that “identity must be at the core of any modern security strategy”.
The rise of identity “dark matter”
The problem is that the identity ecosystems are extensive. Most organizations are struggling to maintain visibility, especially in large, distributed environments. Shadow, old -fashioned applications, outdated documentation, lack of standardization and the absence of continuous applications all the units the challenge. Results: Local accounts, orphan accounts, excessive users and service accounts that go beyond normal governance checks. Together, these form what we call “dark matter identity” – the invisible parts of the access landscape that have real risk, but remain unnecessary.
“The more a business evolves, the more this dark matter grows.
Security orchid Identity Safety State 2025 The report shows that in almost half of business environments, at least one application of IDs of ID have produced formal identity providers. In some cases, credentials were stored in simple text or hardcoded in scenarios – practices that are considered very dangerous but disturbing.
Their research also found that basic identity checks – such as connection percentage limits, complexity of passwords and account lock policies – are missing up to 40% of the time. These gaps are not due to negligence as much as complexity. Identity, as soon as it manages mainly through some central systems, now extends to cloud services, old -fashioned applications and emerging AI systems.
It is difficult to see, harder to manage and almost impossible to rule with outdated tools.
The AI factor
Artificial intelligence adds even greater complexity. Organizations are developing AI agents to handle everything, from software development to customer support in business activities. These factors often require access to system level, API keys or database credentials for operation. But they do not behave like people’s users. They do not clock, do not stop or follow geographical or roles -based rules.
This shift raises thorny questions about accountability and control: Who is ultimately responsible for the actions of an AI agent? How close should his rights be determined and what does the “responsible field” look like in practice? Can his access remain dynamically aligned with that of the human operator and, equally critically, can be revoked when the agent becomes responsible?
As AI continues to be integrated into basic work flows, these are no longer academic concerns. Emerge at risk of compliance and security. And they require governance frameworks designed for the speed and scale of machine -based identity. “IAM cannot evolve. It must be rebuilt as fundamental infrastructure, which embraces the past, the present and the future,” Katmor argues.
Identity as an infrastructure
The bottom line is this: We are in a new era. Identity is not a box to check during boarding or a backend system that belongs to it. It is an infrastructure. And like all infrastructure, it requires constant visibility, policy imposition and durability.
Front safety models prioritize the constant discovery of human and motor identities-in all the environments. They map the access flows dynamically, monitor for signs of shift or abuse and enforcement in real -time policy.
Identity checks must be evolved from static to adaptive and from reactive to preventive. Reflecting the point where the market – and the risk – is head of identity experts suggest that organizations must focus on building a level of control over the entire identity estate.
“If you look at the big picture, your network has a level of control. Your final points have a level of control,” Katmor reminds us, “it’s time for the identity to have its level of control.”
The meeting room pays attention
It is not just security teams to wake up on this shift. Tables, investors and regulators also pay attention. New frameworks such as NIS2 and PCI DSS 4.0 require detailed control routes for identity -related activity, including access from AI systems or in non -managed environments. The informed rules of the SEC cyberspace also emphasize the importance of notifying the substantive risk, which is increasingly involved in identity.
In this context, the Palo Alto -Cebeark deal is more than a business strategy. It’s a sign. Identity is an issue at boat level now. And sellers who allow clarity and control – without adding complexity – will form the next generation of cyber security.
Look forward to
First security is not a keyword. It’s a necessity.
Whether your body examines the AI adoption, zero confidence frames or compliance readiness, a principle applies: If you can’t see it, you can’t secure it. Identity is the new infrastructure. And our ability to understand and manage it will determine how safe your digital future is.
