Cybersecurity experts and business leaders are increasingly worried about a hidden epidemic of identity-based vulnerabilities within corporate networks. A recent report reveals a startling lack of confidence, with only one-third of business leaders feeling secure in their current identity security solutions. The report, which surveyed 650 IT and security executives across North America and Europe, highlighted that a staggering 69% “lack full insight into identity vulnerabilities” that could be exploited by hackers. This finding points to a dangerous blind spot in corporate defenses.
The problem is compounded by the complexity of modern IT environments. Companies now juggle an average of five different identity management platforms, a fragmentation that makes it nearly impossible to maintain a unified and secure system. This sprawling digital landscape creates “shadow access” and “shadow assets,” which are rogue accounts or devices that are not properly monitored or secured. These unseen identities represent high-risk blind spots for security teams.
Furthermore, basic security measures are often overlooked. The report found that nearly 70% of respondents were unsure if all devices and applications within their organization required multi-factor authentication (MFA). While many are moving toward more phishing-resistant forms of MFA, a significant number still struggle with implementation due to the perceived complexity and cost.
Experts warn that this lack of visibility is a major pain point. According to Todd Thiemann, a principal analyst at Omdia’s Enterprise Strategy Group, “Getting visibility across a heterogeneous identity estate that can include on-premises, multiple clouds, and a variety of SaaS tools has been an ongoing enterprise challenge.”
Despite these challenges, there are signs of progress. The report noted that 82% of financial executives have increased their budgets for identity security, suggesting a growing recognition of the threat. However, as long as companies remain unaware of their full security posture, they remain vulnerable to sophisticated cyberattacks that exploit these unseen weaknesses.
