Identity at the Center

Jeff and Jim review seven major IAM and cybersecurity industry reports from Q1 2026, covering releases from Check Point, Recorded Future, Sophos, Palo Alto Unit 42, IBM X-Force, Darktrace, and Hypr. They pull high-level findings and hot takes from each, identifying recurring themes: AI accelerating attack speed to as little as 72 minutes from breach to data exfiltration, identity infrastructure as the primary attack surface, machine identities as a growing and undermanaged risk, MFA gaps enabling credential abuse, and the near-impossibility of blocking every intrusion attempt. The episode also covers third-party and supply chain risk, deepfake attacks reaching 87% of surveyed organizations, stalled passkey adoption in the enterprise, and what zero standing privilege looks like in practice. They close with a lighter discussion on dark mode versus light mode and a hypothetical podcast reboot.Reports:Check Point Cyber Security Report 2026 — https://www.checkpoint.com/security-report/Recorded Future 2026 State of Security Report — https://www.recordedfuture.com/research/state-of-securitySophos Active Adversary Report 2026 — https://www.sophos.com/en-us/blog/2026-sophos-active-adversary-reportPalo Alto Networks Unit 42 Global Incident Response Report 2026 — https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/resources/research/unit-42-incident-response-reportIBM X-Force Threat Intelligence Index 2026 — https://www.ibm.com/reports/threat-intelligenceDarktrace Annual Threat Report 2026 — https://www.darktrace.com/resources/annual-threat-report-2026HYPR 2026 State of Passwordless Identity Assurance Report — https://www.hypr.com/reportConnect with us on LinkedIn:Jim McDonald: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmcdonaldpmp/Jeff Steadman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffsteadman/Visit the show on the web at http://idacpodcast.comTIMESTAMPS0:00 - Intro and weather chat3:00 - Conference updates: EIC Berlin and Identiverse7:30 - Q1 2026 IAM report roundup overview8:30 - Check Point Cybersecurity Report 202613:00 - Recorded Future State of Security 202617:00 - Sophos Active Adversary Report 202621:00 - Palo Alto Unit 42 Global Incident Response Report23:00 - IBM X-Force Threat Intelligence Index 202628:00 - Darktrace Annual Threat Report 202629:30 - Common themes across reports37:00 - Hypr State of Passwordless Identity Assurance 202644:30 - Overall takeaways: AI speed, machine identity, third-party risk48:00 - Light mode vs. dark mode and podcast reboot hypothetical57:00 - Wrap-upKEYWORDSIAM, identity and access management, IDAC, Identity at the Center, Jeff Steadman, Jim McDonald, cybersecurity, Q1 2026, Check Point, Recorded Future, Sophos, Palo Alto, Unit 42, IBM X-Force, Darktrace, Hypr, machine identity, NHI, MFA, passkeys, zero trust, zero standing privilege, AI threats, deepfakes, credential theft, phishing, ransomware, supply chain risk, ITDR, passwordless, EIC, Identiverse

Jeff and Jim welcome Joseph Carson, cybersecurity expert and host of the Security by Default podcast, for a conversation on AI in offensive and defensive security. Joseph shares the real-world incident that inspired his EIC keynote - watching two AI agents negotiate a ransomware payment live. He breaks down how attackers use unconstrained models to lower the skill barrier and accelerate data exfiltration. The conversation covers NATO Lock Shields, the world's largest live cyber defense exercise, identity as national critical infrastructure, and the EU AI Act's risk-based approach. Also: Estonia's AI tax agents, the energy cost of being polite to AI, and the Tamagotchi theory of human-AI relationships.Connect with Joseph: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephcarsonNATO Locked Shields: https://ccdcoe.org/exercises/locked-shields/Security by Default podcast (Spotify): https://open.spotify.com/show/0mzN5M5CkFVLn8fq5TnH0OConnect with us on LinkedIn:Jim McDonald: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmcdonaldpmp/Jeff Steadman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffsteadman/Visit the show on the web at http://idacpodcast.comTIMESTAMPS00:00 Welcome and intro03:02 Conference season and IDAC discount codes04:19 Introducing Joseph Carson and Security by Default10:18 Optimist or pessimist on identity security12:30 AI vs. AI - origin of the concept15:02 Watching two AI agents negotiate a ransomware payment17:26 The Tamagotchi metaphor for human-AI relationships19:07 Who is winning the AI cyber arms race21:00 How AI accelerates attacker capabilities23:09 Dark web LLMs and bypassing guardrails26:36 The energy cost of being polite to AI28:15 Agentic AI skills, campaigns, and the Matrix analogy31:34 Estonia AI agents filing tax returns35:14 Introducing NATO Lock Shields37:00 Protecting a simulated nation from 8,500 cyber attacks38:08 Why identity is national critical infrastructure41:18 AI in Lock Shields before and after43:05 Lock Shields 2025 scoring explained47:04 The EU AI Act - is it the next GDPR50:18 Risk-based approach to AI regulation53:35 Closing thoughts and cautious optimism54:21 Scuba diving vs. snowboarding58:05 Wrap-upKEYWORDSAI vs AI, agentic AI, identity security, NATO Lock Shields, EU AI Act, Joseph Carson, Security by Default, ransomware, dark web LLMs, guardrails, data exfiltration, phishing, critical infrastructure, Estonia, cyber defense, IDAC, Identity at the Center, Jeff Steadman, Jim McDonald

This episode features Drew Russell, Identity Resilience Platform Owner at Rubrik. Jim McDonald and Jeff Steadman explore the intersection of backup, recovery, and identity security. Drew explains how Rubrik evolved from data backup into a cyber resilience platform with identity as a core pillar. Topics include recovering Active Directory, Okta, and Entra ID after ransomware, Rubrik's "bunker in a box" appliance for immutable air-gapped recovery, proactive posture management, CrowdStrike and Defender integrations, and where AI and non-human identities fit into Rubrik's roadmap. The episode wraps with measuring success for a product you hope to never use, and a detour into watch collecting.This episode was made possible by the support of Rubrik. Learn more at rubrik.com/idacConnect with Drew: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drew-russell-3762411b/Learn more about Rubrik: https://www.rubrik.com/idacConnect with us on LinkedIn:Jim McDonald: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmcdonaldpmp/Jeff Steadman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffsteadman/Visit the show on the web at idacpodcast.comTIMESTAMPS00:00:00 - Welcome and Introduction00:01:19 - Introducing Drew Russell00:01:36 - How Drew Got Into Identity00:02:43 - What Is Rubrik and What Sets It Apart00:03:38 - From Backup to Cyber Resilience00:05:31 - Where Rubrik Fits in the IAM Landscape00:07:08 - Rubrik's Scale: Clients and Growth00:07:51 - Primary Use Cases: Post-Incident Recovery and AD00:09:09 - Kicking Out Compromised Accounts and ADR00:10:11 - Proactive Threat Detection and Mandiant Integration00:11:28 - Scanning Backups to Find the Clean Recovery Point00:12:14 - The Bunker in a Box Explained00:13:18 - Posture Management and Upstream Tool Integration00:14:19 - AI Agent Swarms and the Future Attack Surface00:15:37 - The Taiwan Bank Case Study: Six Weeks to Rebuild AD00:17:16 - The State of Nevada Incident: $400K and 30 Days00:17:56 - What Recovery Covers: AD, Okta, and Entra ID00:19:26 - Post-Restore Change Management and Whitelisting00:20:08 - How Long Should You Store Backups?00:21:19 - Indexing Identity for Intelligent Recovery Points00:22:29 - Excluding Malicious Actions During Restore00:24:41 - Zero Trust for Rubrik's Own Backups00:26:21 - No Windows, No Virtualization Architecture00:27:49 - Proactive Posture Management00:29:00 - CrowdStrike and Defender Real-Time Integration00:30:48 - Why Tabletop Exercises Often Fall Short00:31:53 - AI Roadmap and Non-Human Identities00:34:22 - The Three Pillars: Data, Identity, and AI00:35:29 - Deployment: SaaS vs. On-Prem00:38:37 - Appliance Sizing and Redundancy00:42:23 - Measuring Success for a Product You Hope to Never Use00:43:46 - The Ludacris Rubrik Commercial00:45:31 - Watch Collecting and the Omega Speedmaster00:53:39 - Drew's Closing WordsKEYWORDSIdentity at the Center, IDAC, Jeff Steadman, Jim McDonald, Rubrik, Drew Russell, identity resilience, cyber resilience, Active Directory recovery, AD backup, Okta recovery, Entra ID recovery, identity backup, ITDR, ISPM, non-human identity, NHI, agentic AI, ransomware recovery, bunker in a box, immutable backup, CrowdStrike integration, Microsoft Defender integration, Mandiant integration, identity disaster recovery, ADR, zero trust, tabletop exercises, posture management, IAM, identity security podcast, cybersecurity podcast

In this MailBag episode, Jeff Steadman and Jim McDonald tackle eight questions submitted by listeners from around the world, including Munich, Sao Paulo, Singapore, Toronto, Hanoi, London, Sydney, and Chicago. The conversation covers governing AI and non-human identities, practical first steps toward passwordless adoption, what a mature IAM program actually looks like, who should own identity within an organization, building credibility with leadership as a new IAM practitioner, enforcing least privilege in practice, rethinking access reviews beyond checkbox compliance, and how to make the business case for identity security investment before a breach occurs. The episode wraps up with some lighter listener questions about sports analogies for IAM roles and whether anyone in their personal lives actually understands what they do for a living.Connect with us on LinkedIn:Jim McDonald: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmcdonaldpmp/Jeff Steadman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffsteadman/Visit the show on the web at http://idacpodcast.comTIMESTAMPS00:00 - Introduction and RSA Conference debate03:41 - Conference plans for 2026: EIC, Identiverse, and Authenticate05:17 - MailBag intro and how questions get selected06:51 - Q1 (Hans, Munich): Governing AI access vs. human access — same principles or a different approach?12:32 - Q2 (Gabriela, Sao Paulo): Realistic first steps toward passwordless without disrupting everything18:34 - Q3 (Wei, Singapore): What does a mature identity program actually look like?30:26 - Q4 (Marcus, Toronto): When IT and security both claim to own identity, how do you sort it out?39:33 - Q5 (Linh, Hanoi): Building credibility and influence as someone new to the IAM space42:53 - Q6 (Claire, London): Enforcing least privilege in practice without slowing down the business46:14 - Q7 (James, Sydney): Are access reviews just a checkbox exercise, and is there a better way?49:18 - Q8 (Darnell, Chicago): Making the case to a CFO or CEO for identity security investment before a breach52:38 - Lighter note: If IAM was a sport, what position would you play?1:00:27 - Lighter note: Does your family actually understand what you do?1:03:06 - Wrap-up and how to submit future questionsKEYWORDSIDAC, Identity at the Center, Jeff Steadman, Jim McDonald, IAM, identity and access management, MailBag, non-human identity, AI governance, agentic AI, passwordless, passkeys, IAM program maturity, identity ownership, RACI, least privilege, zero standing privilege, access reviews, security theater, identity security budget, business case for IAM, ISPM, IGA, IDPro, Identiverse, EIC, Authenticate conference, RSA conference, cybersecurity podcast, identity security, identity community

Jeff and Jim sit down with David Llorens, principal at RSM, to break down the RSM 2026 Attack Vectors Report. Drawing from real-world offensive security engagements, David explains why identity continues to be the primary attack surface, how AI chatbots are creating new vulnerabilities through prompt injection, and what separates organizations that get breached from those that don't. The conversation covers MFA gaps, the explosion of non-human identities, why PAM is the top investment priority for 2026, and how CISOs can align security spending with business objectives. Plus, the episode wraps up with soccer stories and some quality trash talk.Connect with David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-llorens-009a3310/Review RSM’s 2026 Attack Vectors Report: https://rsmus.com/insights/services/risk-fraud-cybersecurity/rsm-attack-vector-report.htmlConnect with us on LinkedIn:Jim McDonald: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmcdonaldpmp/Jeff Steadman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffsteadman/Visit the show on the web at http://idacpodcast.comTIMESTAMPS0:00 - Intro and Jim's big personal news4:51 - Main topic intro: RSM 2026 Attack Vectors Report5:55 - David's origin story and how he got into cybersecurity9:53 - What a principal is at RSM and David's current role11:16 - What the Attack Vectors Report is and how it is created14:40 - Why identity security is a dominant theme in this year's report17:19 - What separates organizations that get breached from those that don't18:18 - MFA as the first line of defense18:45 - Privileged access management as a growing priority19:40 - Detecting lateral movement through identity anomalies21:00 - Credential rotation as an advanced defensive technique22:26 - Non-human identities and service account risks24:37 - Middle market challenges and budget constraints25:17 - Is it the size of the budget or how you spend it?28:29 - Using internal audit and cross-department collaboration for security wins30:15 - Cybersecurity as a business enabler, not a deterrent32:45 - Non-human identities and agentic AI creating new attack surfaces35:51 - Prompt injection attacks and AI chatbot vulnerabilities39:42 - Actionable recommendations for practitioners42:41 - MFA implementation gaps and session hijacking45:02 - The case for FIDO2 and layered conditional access46:35 - Is identity security a board-level issue?49:47 - Three things CISOs should focus on through 202650:52 - PAM as the top investment priority51:28 - Removing unnecessary privileges from users56:11 - Redefining what privilege means in your organization57:43 - Social media accounts as privileged access58:42 - Credentials stored in SharePoint and OneDrive59:38 - Wrap up and where to find the report59:58 - Lighter topic: David's soccer background and playing semi-pro1:05:06 - Best trash talk stories1:07:03 - Jim's trash talk philosophy: scoreboard1:08:00 - Jeff's basketball trash talk and calling his shots1:10:00 - Final thoughts and sign offKEYWORDSIDAC, Identity at the Center, Jeff Steadman, Jim McDonald, David Llorens, RSM, attack vectors report, offensive security, penetration testing, identity security, MFA, multifactor authentication, privileged access management, PAM, non-human identities, service accounts, agentic AI, AI security, prompt injection, lateral movement, credential rotation, FIDO2, conditional access, session hijacking, middle market, CISO, board-level security, certificate-based authentication, active directory, configuration management, shadow AI

This episode is sponsored by Bravura Security. Learn more at bravurasecurity.com/idac.This is a Sponsor Spotlight episode of the Identity at the Center podcast. Jim McDonald and Jeff Steadman are joined by Bart Allan, General Manager at Bravura Security, to discuss why enterprise password management remains a critical piece of identity security even as organizations pursue passwordless strategies. Bart shares Bravura's history dating back to 1992, starting with self-service password reset and evolving into a full identity security platform spanning identity management, privileged access management, and enterprise password management. The conversation digs into the uncomfortable truth that while organizations may get 80% of their applications onto modern authentication, the remaining 20% still rely on passwords, creating real security risk. Bart explains how treating enterprise passwords the way organizations treat privileged credentials, with automated rotation and centralized management, can remove the human element from password creation and reduce exposure to breaches and social engineering. The group also discusses help desk social engineering attacks, breach recovery challenges, deployment strategies for rolling out an enterprise password manager, and the emerging role of password managers as passkey managers for portability. The episode wraps with some outdoor adventure stories from Bart and Jim.Connect with Bart: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bartholomewallan/Connect with us on LinkedIn:Jim McDonald: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmcdonaldpmp/Jeff Steadman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffsteadman/Visit the show on the web at idacpodcast.comTIMESTAMPS00:00 - Introduction and welcome01:00 - Sponsor Spotlight overview and Bravura Security introduction01:52 - Bart Allan's background in identity03:30 - History of Bravura Security from 1992 to today05:39 - How the Bravura name came to be07:00 - What makes Bravura unique in the identity market08:33 - Why password management still matters09:58 - The uncomfortable truth about passwords and the 80/20 problem13:00 - Personal vs enterprise password managers16:00 - The last mile to passwordless and legacy systems19:00 - Why storing passwords is not enough without active management22:00 - Help desk social engineering and the human element25:00 - Breach response and the fog of war31:00 - Scattered spider scenarios and credential reset at scale35:00 - Is a password manager the only viable option for the final 20%?38:00 - The future of password managers as passkey managers40:00 - Tips for deploying an enterprise password manager42:45 - Measuring success with an enterprise password manager45:17 - Lighter side of the conversation begins46:00 - Bart's backcountry skiing avalanche story from Rogers Pass50:30 - Jim's lightning storm story from backpacking in Yosemite52:53 - Final thoughts from Bart on the passwordless journey54:00 - Wrap up and outroKEYWORDSIDAC, Identity at the Center, Jeff Steadman, Jim McDonald, Bravura Security, Bart Allan, password management, enterprise password manager, passwordless, passkeys, privileged access management, identity security, help desk social engineering, breach recovery, credential rotation, self-service password reset, identity verification, IAM operations, shadow IT, FIDO, sponsor spotlight, password vault, legacy systems

Simon Moffatt, founder and analyst at The Cyber Hut and co-host of The Analyst Brief podcast, returns to Identity at the Center for a wide-ranging conversation about the strategic evolution of identity security. Simon shares an update on his second book, IAM at 2035, which explores where identity is heading over the next decade. The discussion covers why identity has shifted from a back office function to a strategic business enabler, driven by the convergence of cloud, zero trust, and expanding digital ecosystems.Jim and Jeff dig into how organizations can measure their identity security posture, and Simon introduces his Identity Security Scorecard, a framework of 50-plus data points covering visibility, protection, detection, and response. The conversation shifts to the identity attack lifecycle, where Simon explains why organizations need to move beyond log-based forensics and toward real-time detection and response before attacks complete.The group also explores how non-identity data signals, like CAEP and shared signals frameworks, are critical to building a fuller picture of risk. The final segment tackles agentic AI and its implications for identity, including the argument that agentic identities may represent a third identity type distinct from both human and machine. Simon makes the case that AI adoption is outpacing identity and security innovation, creating a widening gap that the industry must address through governance, accountability, and new architectural patterns.Connect with Simon: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonmoffatt/The Analyst Brief Podcast: https://www.thecyberhut.com/podcast/Connect with us on LinkedIn:Jim McDonald: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmcdonaldpmp/Jeff Steadman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffsteadman/Visit the show on the web at http://idacpodcast.comTimestamps00:00 Introduction and conference discount codes02:29 Simon Moffatt returns to the show03:58 Update on the IAM at 2035 book07:25 The Analyst Brief podcast and covering identity trends08:44 Identity shifts from back office to strategic priority11:47 The compliance trap and reactionary identity management14:25 Customer identity transparency influencing workforce identity16:52 Defining identity security across 80-plus vendors20:11 Products alone do not solve identity security21:14 Thinking like an attacker about identity flows23:23 Red flags in an organization's identity posture25:43 The identity security scorecard and measuring risk29:27 Avoiding FUD when presenting identity risk to the board32:34 The identity attack lifecycle explained36:53 Building the mindset for real-time detection and response37:41 CAEP, shared signals, and non-identity data sources40:10 Identity as a 24/7 security operations function43:24 Agentic AI drops like a nuclear explosion on identity46:49 The widening gap between AI adoption and identity security47:51 Is agentic identity a third identity type?50:47 What needs to change to address the agentic identity explosion53:24 Will AI shake the core of enterprise IT?57:24 AI may be the only thing that can secure AI58:04 Travel tips for EIC Berlin and European conferences01:02:45 Wrapping upKeywordsidentity security, identity attack lifecycle, identity attack paths, agentic AI, agentic identity, non-human identity, NHI, identity security scorecard, zero trust, CAEP, shared signals framework, identity governance, identity strategy, IAM, identity posture, Simon Moffatt, The Cyber Hut, The Analyst Brief, IDAC, Identity at the Center, Jeff Steadman, Jim McDonald

In this episode of Identity at the Center, hosts Jeff and Jim dive into the details of the Shared Signals Framework (SSF) and Continuous Access Evaluation Profile (CAEP), with special guest Atul Tulshibagwale, the CTO of Signal. The trio discusses the complexities and applications of these identity security standards, recent adoption by major tech companies, and how they are transforming the approach towards identity and access management. Atul also shares exciting news about Signal's impending acquisition by CrowdStrike and reflects on a recent safari trip in Kenya. Tune in to learn about the evolution of identity security and the future of SSF and CAEP.Connect with Atul: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tulshi/Learn more about the Artificial Intelligence Identity Management Community Group: https://openid.net/cg/artificial-intelligence-identity-management-community-group/Learn more about SSF and CAEP:https://openid.net/how-authzen-and-shared-signals-caep-complement-each-other/https://sgnl.ai/whitepaper/caep-best-practices/https://caep.dev/https://youtu.be/qakOw0g2mZ8?si=p8z9imn7x-HhLdcVhttps://www.youtube.com/live/e64YiAmGmf4?si=QPKDg2Jm9oSZmbhZhttp://sharedsignals.guide/Connect with us on LinkedIn:Jim McDonald: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmcdonaldpmp/Jeff Steadman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffsteadman/Visit the show on the web at http://idacpodcast.comTimestamps:00:00 Introduction and Episode Milestone00:17 Challenges with Installing Molt Bot02:32 MoltBook and AI Agents03:21 Jim's Perspective on AI Assistants09:24 Conferences and Networking10:10 Introduction to Shared Signals and CAEP13:03 CrowdStrike Acquisition of Signal14:03 AI Identity Management Community16:59 Shared Signals Framework and CAEP Explained30:03 Final Version of CAEP and Shared Signals Released30:35 Adoption by Major Technology Providers32:49 Benefits of Implementing Shared Signals36:32 Future of SSF and CAEP40:51 Certification Program for Shared Signals52:48 Real-World Safari Adventure01:00:34 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsKeywords:IDAC, Identity at the Center, Jeff Steadman, Jim McDonald, Atul Tulshibagwale, Shared Signals Framework, SSF, CAEP, Continuous Access Evaluation Profile, OpenID Foundation, CrowdStrike, SGNL AI Identity, Agentic Identity, AuthZEN, Risk, Identity Security, IAM, Podcast

This episode is sponsored by PlainID. Visit plainid.com/idac to learn more.In this sponsored episode, Jim McDonald and Jeff Steadman talk with Gal Helemski, CTO and co-founder of PlainID, about the evolving landscape of authorization. The conversation covers the transition from traditional roles and attributes to a modern policy-based access control (PBAC) approach. Gal explains how PlainID helps organizations centralize authorization logic, improve security posture, and simplify the management of access across complex hybrid and multi-cloud environments. The discussion also touches on the importance of visibility into who has access to what and the role of standards like Cedar and Rego in the future of authorization.Connect with Gal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gal-helemski-b9542231/Learn more about PlainID: plainid.com/idacConnect with us on LinkedIn:Jim McDonald: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmcdonaldpmp/Jeff Steadman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffsteadman/Visit the show on the web at idacpodcast.comTimestamps:00:00 Introduction to the Sponsor Spotlight02:15 Meet Gal Helemski from PlainID05:30 The shift from RBAC to PBAC10:45 Challenges with traditional authorization methods15:20 How PlainID centralizes authorization logic22:10 Integrating with existing identity providers28:45 The role of visibility and auditing in authorization35:30 Discussion on authorization standards: Cedar and Rego42:15 Future trends in identity and access management50:00 Final thoughts and where to learn moreKeywords:IDAC, Identity at the Center, Jeff Steadman, Jim McDonald, PlainID, Authorization, Policy-Based Access Control, PBAC, RBAC, Cybersecurity, IAM, Access Management, Gal Helemski, Identity Security

In this milestone episode of Identity at the Center, Jeff and Jim celebrate 400 episodes and reflect on their journey over the past six and a half years. They discuss the podcast’s evolution, from its early days focusing on strategy and framework to recent themes like cloud identity, governance, and AI-driven technologies. Jim shares his New Year's resolution of writing a book about identity, blending practitioner stories with educational elements, and utilizing AI tools. The duo also highlights significant trends in identity and access management, including frictionless authentication and privilege access management. They look forward to the future of identity within an AI-driven landscape, urging listeners to adapt to technological advancements. Tune in for insights, reflections, and their plans for continuing to grow the podcast.Connect with us on LinkedIn:Jim McDonald: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmcdonaldpmp/Jeff Steadman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffsteadman/Visit the show on the web at http://idacpodcast.comTimestamps00:00 Welcome and Milestone Celebration00:44 Reflecting on the Podcast Journey01:27 Jim's New Year's Resolution: Writing a Book05:16 Using AI in the Writing Process09:34 Podcast Growth and Listener Support13:08 Remembering Luis Almeida16:59 Conference Highlights and Discount Codes19:05 Lessons Learned from Podcasting29:01 The Evolution of the Podcast36:01 Pandemic Disruptions and Podcast Challenges36:30 Funny Moments and Swearing on the Show37:24 Identity Management Trends in 202039:20 Cloud Identity and Certifications in 202141:54 Governance and Compliance in 202244:23 Security Convergence and Milestones in 202351:07 Privilege Access Management in 202455:15 Frictionless Authentication in 202558:20 AI and the Future of Identity in 202601:09:00 Reflections and GratitudeKeywords:IDAC, Identity at the Center, Jeff Steadman, Jim McDonald, IAM, podcast, cybersecurity, digital identity, AI, agentic identity, PAM, IGA, cloud security, passkeys, professional development, IDPro, identity governance

Jim McDonald is joined by Jeff Margolies, Chief Product and Strategy Officer at Saviynt, to discuss the intersection of artificial intelligence and identity security. Jeff shares his decades of experience in the industry, from building the IAM practice at Accenture to his current leadership role at Saviynt. The conversation covers how AI is making manually intensive identity tasks more efficient, the emergence of Identity Security Posture Management (ISPM), and the critical need to govern identities for AI agents. Jeff also provides his perspective on the future of the identity practitioner and why he remains an optimist in a rapidly changing technological landscape.Connect with Jeff Margolies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmargolies/Connect with us on LinkedIn:Jim McDonald: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmcdonaldpmp/Jeff Steadman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffsteadman/Visit the show on the web at http://idacpodcast.comTimestamps:00:00:00 - Introduction and Gartner Identity Conference Recap00:02:11 - Jeff Margolies' Career Journey in Identity and Security00:04:36 - Returning to Identity and Joining Saviynt00:06:13 - How AI is Impacting Identity Security and Governance00:09:56 - The Future of Identity Services in an AI World00:13:58 - Will AI Disrupt the SaaS Model for Identity?00:19:50 - The Impact of AI on the Identity Practitioner Job Market00:26:16 - Identity for AI: Governing Agents and Delegated Authority00:32:00 - Combating Deepfakes and Proving What is Real00:34:40 - The Rise of Identity Security Posture Management (ISPM)00:41:46 - Comparing Posture Management and ITDR00:44:17 - Advice for CISOs: Why Posture Should Come First00:49:35 - The Secret to Saviynt's Success and Future Outlook00:52:19 - Lighter Note: Why Jeff Chose a Tesla for His DaughterKeywords:IDAC, Identity at the Center, Jeff Steadman, Jim McDonald, Jeff Margolies, Saviynt, IAM, Identity and Access Management, AI, Artificial Intelligence, ISPM, ITDR, Cybersecurity, Identity Governance, SaaS, IGA

In this episode, Jim McDonald welcomes back Martin Kuppinger, Principal Analyst at KuppingerCole, to discuss the rapidly evolving landscape of identity in 2026. With Jeff Steadman away, Jim and Martin dive deep into the intellectual challenges posed by AI agents and the limitations of traditional non-human identity frameworks. Martin explains why organizations are feeling a sense of disillusionment with AI and how a capability-based identity fabric approach can help manage the complexity. They also explore the balance between security and business enablement, the rise of workload identities, and what to expect at the upcoming European Identity and Cloud Conference (EIC) in Berlin.Connect with Martin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martinkuppinger/KuppingerCole: https://www.kuppingercole.comEuropean Identity and Cloud Conference (EIC) (don’t forget to use our discount code idac25mko): https://www.kuppingercole.com/events/eic2026Connect with us on LinkedIn:Jim McDonald: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmcdonaldpmp/Jeff Steadman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffsteadman/Visit the show on the web at http://idacpodcast.comTimestamps00:00 - Welcome back to 2026 and EIC preparations02:48 - The shift from future potential to current AI agent challenges03:12 - Understanding AI disillusionment and the lack of control in regulated industries05:19 - Security as a business enabler vs progress prevention09:55 - Why AI agents should not be classified simply as non-human identities11:43 - Complex relationships between humans, agents, and delegated tasks15:17 - Self-service identity for knowledge workers and AI productivity18:40 - The risks of decentralized agent creation and "shadow" AI21:58 - How AI is being baked into identity products beyond role mining26:55 - Using usage data to reduce over-entitlements34:10 - The Identity Fabric: A capability-based approach to IAM40:33 - Vendor rationalization and the flexibility of the fabric47:19 - Previewing EIC 2026 topics: Wallet initiatives and consent52:44 - Final advice: Curing symptoms vs addressing causesKeywords:IDAC, Identity at the Center, Jeff Steadman, Jim McDonald, Martin Kuppinger, KuppingerCole, IAM, AI Agents, Identity Fabric, EIC 2026, Non-Human Identity, Workload Identity, ITDR, IGA, Cybersecurity

Jeff Steadman is joined by RSM colleagues Rich Servillas and Charles John to explore the critical intersection of identity access management, operational resilience, and disaster recovery. Rich, a director from the cyber response group, shares insights from the front lines of ransomware and cloud intrusions, while Chuck, director of operational resilience, discusses the importance of business continuity planning. The conversation covers the true impact of security incidents on brand reputation and operations, the necessity of out-of-band communication, and why identity is often the first thing challenged and the last thing trusted during a crisis. The guests also provide practical advice for IAM professionals on reducing blast radius through standing privilege reduction and robust logging.Connect with Rich: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-servillas-041a0551/Connect with Chuck: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuckjohn/Connect with us on LinkedIn:Jim McDonald: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmcdonaldpmp/Jeff Steadman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffsteadman/Visit the show on the web at http://idacpodcast.comTimestamps:00:00:00 - Introduction and 2026 conference outlook00:01:44 - Introducing guests Rich and Chuck from RSM00:03:56 - Defining operational resilience and business continuity00:06:22 - When and how to start the planning process00:09:55 - Chuck's background in public health and emergency management00:12:44 - The broad impact of incidents on brand and operations00:16:45 - Key elements every recovery plan must include00:19:14 - Defining incident severity and matrixes00:21:52 - Identity as the new perimeter and its operational dependencies00:24:57 - Why hackers log in rather than break in00:26:46 - The first hours of a cyber incident response00:29:35 - Current threat trends and the role of AI00:31:29 - Updating plans through post-action debriefs00:34:31 - Cyber insurance gaps and contractual SLAs00:40:24 - Advice for identity professionals on reducing blast radius00:46:10 - Personal milestones and looking forward to 2026Keywords:IDAC, Identity at the Center, Jeff Steadman, Jim McDonald, IAM, Cybersecurity, Business Continuity, Disaster Recovery, Operational Resilience, RSM, Incident Response, Ransomware, Cyber Insurance, Identity Governance

Jeff and Jim are joined by Gartner Analyst Rebecca Archambault for a special live edition of the podcast recorded at the Gartner Identity & Access Management Summit in Grapevine, Texas on December 10, 2025. Instead of a traditional interview, the trio hosts "Majority Rules," an interactive game show where the live audience votes on pressing and fun identity topics. Listen in to hear the pulse of the room on everything from the biggest buzzwords of the year and the true purpose of analyst 1:1 sessions, to the best strategies for navigating the vendor hall. The group explores audience preferences on IGA, AI risks, non-human identities, and the most common lies told in sales cycles. It is a fun, lighthearted look at what identity professionals are actually thinking about the current state of the industry.Connect with Rebecca: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-becky-archambault-4b4285111/Connect with us on LinkedIn:Jim McDonald: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmcdonaldpmp/Jeff Steadman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffsteadman/Visit the show on the web at http://idacpodcast.comChapter Timestamps00:00 - Intro and Game Rules02:40 - First Question: Favorite Podcast03:15 - Networking vs. Education04:08 - Buzzword of the Year: Agentic Identity04:47 - User Behavior Analytics Usage05:37 - Expo Hall Memories and Socks06:20 - The Twist: Battle Royale Rules06:45 - The True Purpose of Analyst 1:1s07:55 - Mitigating Agentic AI Risks08:55 - Strategies for the Vendor Hall09:37 - The Future of IGA10:15 - Favorite Gartner Reports11:05 - Benefits of Just-in-Time Access11:45 - AI in Authentication Priorities12:35 - Securing Non-Human Identities13:05 - Keys to Successful B2B IAM 13:40 - The Hardest Part of Role Mining14:15 - PAM for AI Agents14:50 - Keynote Takeaways15:40 - Measuring IAM Success16:20 - Defining ITDR17:05 - The Biggest Lie in IAM Sales17:35 - Least Favorite Gartner Report18:10 - Audit Preparation Preferences18:45 - Common Lies in the Vendor Hall19:15 - The Most Dangerous Access Right19:35 - Winner Announcement and OutroKeywordsIAM, identity management, cybersecurity, Gartner IAM Summit, Majority Rules, game show, Rebecca Archambault, IDAC, Identity at the Center, Jeff Steadman, Jim McDonald, Agentic Identity, ITDR, non-human identity, role mining, zero standing privileges

#395 - Sponsor Spotlight - RedblockThis episode is sponsored by Redblock. Visit redblock.ai/idac to learn more.Jeff and Jim come to you live from the Gartner IAM Summit in Grapevine, Texas, for a special Sponsor Spotlight with Redblock. They sit down with CEO Indus Khaitan to discuss how Redblock uses AI and computer vision to solve the "last mile" problem in identity management: disconnected applications.Indus explains how Redblock acts as an "agentic" layer, using screen recordings to learn administrative tasks for apps that lack APIs. The conversation covers the origin of the company name, the urgency of securing the "long tail" of applications, and how they build trust and guardrails around AI execution. They also discuss the "DoorDash" analogy for identity fulfillment and wrap up with a fun chat about Indus's passion for flying planes.Connect with Indus: https://www.linkedin.com/in/khaitan/Learn more: redblock.ai/idacConnect with us on LinkedIn:Jim McDonald: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmcdonaldpmp/Jeff Steadman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffsteadman/Visit the show on the web at [idacpodcast.com](http://idacpodcast.com)Timestamps00:00 Introduction from Gartner IAM Summit00:46 Guest Introduction: Indus Khaitan of Redblock01:40 Indus's Journey into Identity02:41 The Origin of the Name "Redblock"04:20 The Underserved Market: Services vs. Software07:34 The Urgency of Securing Disconnected Apps09:19 Why Traditional IGA and PAM Aren't Enough11:35 The DoorDash Analogy: Where Redblock Fits14:30 What Makes Redblock Unique? (Agentic Process Automation)16:15 Trusting AI with Security Tasks18:50 Onboarding Apps via Video Recording21:23 Deployment: Running Air-Gapped on Customer Cloud22:17 Handling UI Changes and "Full Self-Driving" Analogy25:40 Integration with SailPoint and Governance Tools27:13 Speed of Integration: Days vs. Years32:00 How the "Headless Browser" Works33:35 Limitations: Web Apps vs. Thick Clients36:58 Redblock's 2025 Milestones and Future Outlook39:48 Call to Action: Solving Disconnected Apps40:27 Impressions of the Gartner IAM Summit44:26 Are We in an AI Bubble?46:46 Indus's Hobby: Flying PlanesKeywordsIDAC, Identity at the Center, Jeff Steadman, Jim McDonald, Redblock, Indus Khaitan, AI, Artificial Intelligence, IAM, Identity and Access Management, Disconnected Apps, Agentic AI, Computer Vision, Gartner IAM Summit, RPA, IGA, Cybersecurity

We are live from the Gartner IAM Summit 2025 in Grapevine, Texas! In this episode, we welcome back Sarah Clark, now the Chief Product Officer and GM of North America at Hopae. Sarah shares her journey from Mastercard to buying rainforests in Costa Rica and rescuing dogs, before diving deep into the world of digital identity infrastructure. We discuss connecting government-issued digital IDs with the private sector to combat fraud and improve user experiences. Sarah breaks down the differences in global adoption, highlighting why the EU is leading the charge with upcoming mandates and how countries like Brazil and India are scaling their programs. We also explore the state of mobile driver's licenses in the US, the potential for age verification and workforce management use cases, and whether the US can catch up to the rest of the world. Plus, we wrap up with a heartfelt conversation about dog rescue and the challenges of pet adoption.Connect with Sarah https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahmclark/Connect with us on LinkedIn:Jim McDonald: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmcdonaldpmp/Jeff Steadman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffsteadman/Visit the show on the web at http://idacpodcast.comTimestamps00:00:00 - Intro: Live from Gartner IAM Summit 202500:01:25 - Introducing Sarah Clark and her journey to Hopae00:03:00 - What is Hopae and the vision for digital identity infrastructure?00:04:19 - Why governments are moving toward digital IDs (186 countries!)00:05:32 - Solving the fraud crisis with government-issued credentials00:07:05 - The benefits: Security, efficiency, and inclusion00:08:52 - Global adoption curves: India, Philippines, and Brazil00:10:48 - The EU vs. US: Who is winning the digital ID race?00:14:04 - eIDAS 2.0 mandates and the intermediary role00:17:03 - Future trends: Age verification, Fintech, and stablecoins00:19:54 - Workforce management and "Know Your Employee"00:21:28 - Sarah's passion project: Rainforest preservation and dog rescue00:25:35 - Closing thoughts on the future of identityKeywordsIDAC, Identity at the Center, Jeff Steadman, Jim McDonald, Sarah Clark, Hope, Digital Identity, Digital Wallets, Mobile Driver's License, mDL, eIDAS 2.0, Identity Verification, Fraud Prevention, KYC, Verifiable Credentials, Gartner IAM Summit, Digital Infrastructure, Biometrics, Age Verification

Join Jeff, Jim, and special guest Ian Glazer at the Gartner IAM Summit 2025 as they discuss the Identity and Access Management (IAM) industry, the evolution of IAM practices, and the exciting new concepts like Continuous Identity. They delve into topics such as the impact of AI, shared signals framework, and the struggles and triumphs of identity practitioners. Plus, hear about the Digital Identity Advancement Foundation’s mission and enjoy some lighter moments with tales of 'chuckles' and supper clubs. Don't miss this insightful and entertaining episode of the Identity at the Center podcast.Connect with Ian: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iglazer/Connect with us on LinkedIn:Jim McDonald: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmcdonaldpmp/Jeff Steadman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffsteadman/Visit the show on the web at http://idacpodcast.comTimestamps00:00 Introduction and Casual Banter00:50 Conference Highlights and Podcast Milestones03:00 Introducing Ian Glazer05:43 Digital Identity Advancement Foundation (DIF)08:09 Challenges in Identity Governance and Administration (IGA)13:28 Continuous Identity: A Paradigm Shift22:31 Real-World Applications and Organizational Impact31:51 Realistic Security Measures32:28 Maturity of Identity and Access Management34:54 Skills and Challenges in IAM36:44 Metrics and Outcomes in IAM40:23 Identity Practitioner Skills41:19 Solving Problems with AI46:21 Continuous Identity and Future Trends48:45 Identity Salon and Community54:19 Wrapping Up and Future EventsKeywordsIan Glazer, Continuous Identity, Shared Signals Framework, CAEP, Gartner IAM Summit, Identity Security, Joiner Mover Leaver, IGA, Access Certification, Identity Salon, IDAC, Identity at the Center, Jeff Steadman, Jim McDonald, IAM, Cybersecurity, Non-Human Identity, Identity Practitioner, DIAF

Join hosts Jeff Steadman and Jim McDonald for a special live episode recorded on location at Identiverse DC! In this interactive session, Jeff and Jim host a game of "Majority Rules," where the audience competes not to answer correctly, but to guess the most popular answer in the room.The game covers a wide range of topics, from the trivial (worst conference swag and the official uniform of an IAM architect) to the technical (securing API keys, the biggest bottlenecks in IGA, and the primary causes of role explosion).Things get intense halfway through with the introduction of the Battle Royale rules, where picking the minority answer sends a player's score back to zero. Watch to see who survives the explosions and takes home the grand prize.Connect with us on LinkedIn:Jim McDonald: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmcdonaldpmp/Jeff Steadman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffsteadman/Visit the show on the web at http://idacpodcast.comChapter Timestamps00:00 Intro to Identity at the Center Live00:36 Explaining the Rules of Majority Rules04:25 Question 1: The Worst Conference Swag06:00 Question 2: Replying to Access Denied07:05 Question 3: AI in Identity Management08:40 Question 4: Favorite MFA Method10:12 Question 5: Least Favorite Auth Factor11:15 Turning up the Heat: Battle Royale Mode12:10 Question 6: Why RBAC is Difficult at Scale13:30 Question 7: The IAM Architect Uniform14:50 Question 8: Best Place to Hide a Secret16:15 Question 9: Protocols You Secretly Miss17:25 Question 10: Most Hated Specialized Key18:40 Question 11: Conference Responsibilities20:00 Question 12: Securing API Keys21:20 Question 13: Secrets to Surviving Keynotes22:55 Question 14: The Biggest Bottleneck in IGA24:45 Question 15: Causes of Role Explosion25:50 Question 16: What Breaks First After a Schema Update26:40 Final Question: Fastest Way to Confuse a User27:40 Crowning the WinnerKeywordsIDAC, Identity at the Center, Jeff Steadman, Jim McDonald, Identiverse, Identiverse DC, IAM, Identity and Access Management, Cybersecurity, InfoSec Game Show, Live Podcast, Majority Rules, MFA, IGA, API Security, RBAC, Role Explosion, Tech Humor, Cyberrisk Alliance

Jeff and Jim come to you live from the expo floor at Identiverse DC 2025. They are joined by John DelMauro, Executive Vice President at Cyber Risk Alliance, to discuss the energy of regional events and how they differ from the massive Las Vegas gatherings.The group discusses the current state of the identity industry, the inevitable presence of AI in both marketing and event planning, and the "Identity at the Center" game show that took place earlier in the conference. John provides an exclusive look ahead at what is being planned for Identiverse in Las Vegas, including a new algorithmic approach to one-on-one networking, expanded pavilions, and potentially even puppies.Finally, the conversation shifts to a fun hypothetical: if money and logistics were no object, what kind of conference would each of them launch? The answers range from health and longevity in Austin to a technology expo in Japan.Connect with John: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-del-mauro/Learn more about the CyberRisk Alliance: https://www.cyberriskalliance.com/Connect with us on LinkedIn:Jim McDonald: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmcdonaldpmp/Jeff Steadman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffsteadman/Visit the show on the web at http://idacpodcast.comChapter Timestamps00:00 Introduction and vibes from Identiverse DC00:52 Recapping the Majority Rules game show02:00 Introducing John DelMauro from Cyber Risk Alliance03:59 What is Cyber Risk Alliance?05:25 The benefits of regional events vs. Las Vegas09:15 Current themes: AI dominating the conversation13:21 How AI helps in planning and researching events15:50 Previewing Identiverse Las Vegas 202517:10 The new one-on-one networking algorithm22:15 Breaking news: Puppies at the conference?24:45 Hypothetical: What dream conference would you host?27:45 Jim's take on a longevity conference29:18 Jeff's dream of a tech nerd-con31:00 Closing thoughts and wrap upKeywordsIDAC, Identity at the Center, Jeff Steadman, Jim McDonald, John DelMauro, CyberRisk Alliance, Identiverse, Cybersecurity, Event Planning, Networking, InfoSec, AI in Events, Washington DC, Conference Trends

In this episode of the Identity at the Center Podcast, hosts Jeff and Jim sit down with Tobin South, co-chair of the OpenID Foundation's AI Identity Management Community Group, to delve into the intricacies of identity management in the age of agentic AI. They discuss the challenges and solutions related to AI agents, the role of the Model Context Protocol (MCP), and the concept of recursive delegation and scope attenuation. Additionally, the conversation covers practical advice for developers and enterprises on preparing for AI-driven identity management and explores the cultural touchstone of coffee from various global perspectives.Connect with Tobin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tobinsouth/OpenID Foundation: https://openid.net/Identity Management for Agentic AI (OpenID Whitepaper): https://openid.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Identity-Management-for-Agentic-AI.pdfConnect with us on LinkedIn:Jim McDonald: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmcdonaldpmp/Jeff Steadman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffsteadman/Visit the show on the web at http://idacpodcast.comChapter Timestamps:00:00 – Jeff and Jim banter about unopened iPads and conference season05:55 – Introduction to Tobin South and his AI identity background07:00 – How AI has evolved from machine learning to generative models09:00 – The OpenID AI Identity Management Community Group10:30 – ChatGPT’s impact on the AI perception shift12:00 – Users vs. Agents: What’s the difference?14:00 – Letting the right bots in: AI agents vs. bad bots17:00 – AI impersonation, delegation, and the risk of shared credentials20:00 – Impersonation vs. Delegation – what practitioners need to know23:00 – Governance, oversight, and delegated authority for agents26:00 – Liability and “who is responsible” in agentic systems30:00 – How developers can prepare for agent identity and access management32:00 – Explaining the Model Context Protocol (MCP)36:00 – Enterprise use cases for MCP and internal automation38:00 – Is MCP the next SAML?42:00 – Recursive delegation and scope attenuation explained46:00 – The one key takeaway for IAM professionals48:00 – Lighter note: Coffee talk – from Sydney to San Francisco54:00 – Wrap-up and where to find more IDAC contentKeywords:IDAC, Identity at the Center, Jim McDonald, Jeff Steadman, Tobin South, OpenID Foundation, AI Identity Management, Agentic AI, Delegated Authority, Impersonation vs Delegation, Model Context Protocol (MCP), Recursive Delegation, Scope Attenuation, Identity Access Management, IAM, AI Governance, AI Standards, Enterprise AI, AI Agents, Identity Security