IAM 101

Introduction: Why Zero Trust, Why Now? In 2023, attackers breached a major global financial services company by compromising a single VPN account. That one set of stolen credentials gave them access deep into the network, exposing millions of customer records. The organization had spent millions hardening its perimeter firewalls—but once the attacker got inside, there were few controls to stop them. This is the reality of today’s threat landscape: the perimeter is porous, and identity is the true control point....

#The Future of IAM: AI & Automation TL;DR Identity and Access Management (IAM) is evolving fast. AI and automation are moving IAM from static, rules-based controls to adaptive, intelligence-driven systems. Machine learning powers real-time anomaly detection, behavior-based authentication reduces reliance on passwords, and identity orchestration unifies workflows across multi-cloud and legacy systems. But with innovation comes new risks: AI agents, machine identities, and autonomous threats demand fresh governance and continuous monitoring....

Delegated Admin & Just-In-Time Access: Reducing Standing Privileges TL;DR Standing (always-on) admin privileges are a top target for attackers—and a pain point for compliance. By shifting to delegated admin roles and “just-in-time” access, organizations reduce risk, limit attack surfaces, and enforce true least privilege in practice. This post unpacks how to design and run these controls, practical pitfalls, and the benefits for audit, security, and business agility. Why Standing Privileges Are a Problem Standing privilege means an account (often admin) always has elevated rights, even when not in use....

#IAM in the Cloud & SaaS Era: Tackling Shadow IT, API Sprawl, and Access Chaos TL;DR As enterprises shift further into cloud and SaaS ecosystems, identity and access management (IAM) becomes a tangled web of apps, permissions, and overlooked risks. This post outlines the top threats—like Shadow IT and API sprawl—and offers strategies to maintain control. The Identity Challenge in a Cloud-First World Modern enterprises are no longer running a single stack—they’re running hundreds....

IAM 101: The IAM Backbone – A Unified and Secure Foundation TL;DR Directories and identity federation are the backbone of any modern IAM program. They serve as the new security perimeter, enable Zero Trust, and automate lifecycle management. Misconfigurations here can undermine your entire security posture. Background: The Shift to Identity as the New Perimeter Not long ago, enterprise security meant big firewalls and locked-down networks. Today, those barriers are porous—thanks to remote work, SaaS, and hybrid environments....

Access Reviews & Certifications: Why and How Everything you need to know about periodic reviews, compliance value, and common traps to avoid TL;DR Access reviews and certifications are your IAM safety net. Done right, they ensure that users have only the access they need—no more, no less. In this post, we’ll explain the what, why, and how, along with real-world examples and common mistakes to avoid. What Are Access Reviews?...

IAM 101: Zero Trust and Identity – Continuous Verification in Practice EverydayIdentity TL;DR Zero Trust isn’t a product—it’s a security philosophy. At its core is continuous verification: a principle that access decisions should never rely on a one-time check. This post breaks down how identity, context, device posture, and dynamic access policies form the foundation of Zero Trust, and how IAM teams can implement this model in practice. What Is Zero Trust?...

IAM 101: Why Identity in the Cloud Must Be Your #1 Security Priority for AWS, Azure, and Google TL;DR Identity is the real cloud perimeter. As businesses move to AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud, old security assumptions vanish—and identity becomes the #1 target for attackers. This post explains why managing cloud identities (not just passwords!) is the key to surviving in a world of SaaS, hybrid work, and zero trust....

IAM 101: Common Misconfigurations – Avoiding the Hidden Identity Traps TL;DR Misconfigured identity systems are among the most overlooked risks in cybersecurity. From unreviewed admin roles to open SSO bypasses, these missteps aren’t always malicious—but they are dangerous. In this post, we break down: The top IAM misconfigurations seen in real environments How small errors can lead to major breaches Audit and automation strategies to catch them early Lessons from recent incidents 🔍 Background I’ve audited dozens of IAM environments, and one thing is consistent: The biggest risks aren’t from what’s missing—they’re from what’s configured wrong....

TL;DR Privileged Access Management (PAM) helps you secure the accounts that matter most—those with elevated permissions and the keys to your most sensitive systems. In 2025, attackers are still targeting admin accounts, service accounts, and infrastructure consoles. This article covers: What PAM is and why it matters Real-world breaches involving privileged accounts Best practices for securing high-risk access Tools and controls to implement PAM effectively 🔍 Background In my early IAM years, I saw developers with full domain admin rights—and no session logging....