AI as the New Cybercrime Weapon: A 2025 Briefing for IT Leaders

From Passwords to Prompts: The AI Shift in Identity & IT Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a double-edged sword in IT and identity security. On one side, enterprises deploy AI for automation, fraud detection, adaptive authentication, and anomaly detection. On the other, cybercriminals are weaponizing the same tech to supercharge their intrusions. In 2023, U.S. consumers reported over $10 billion in fraud losses — the highest figure ever recorded. Analysts and regulators increasingly attribute this surge to AI-enhanced cybercrime, where phishing emails, romance scams, and business email compromise (BEC) are crafted by generative models....

August 28, 2025 · 7 min · Jay Klinkowsky

IAM 101: Privileged Access Management – Managing High-Risk Accounts

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....

June 18, 2025 · 4 min · Jay Klinkowsky

Protecting Your Digital Identity: Essential Strategies for 2025

Protecting Your Digital Identity: Essential Strategies for 2025 In today’s interconnected world, our digital footprints extend across countless platforms and services. As we’ve seen throughout 2024, the landscape of digital threats continues to evolve at an alarming pace. With major data breaches affecting millions and increasingly sophisticated phishing campaigns, protecting your personal identity online has never been more crucial. This guide explores comprehensive strategies to safeguard your digital identity, with a particular focus on recent developments and the emerging “Zero Trust Human” approach....

June 18, 2025 · 6 min · Jay Klinkowsky

IAM 101: Authentication Explained – The Front Door to Your Digital World

TL;DR Authentication is the process of verifying that users are who they say they are. It’s the gatekeeper to every digital system, and when done poorly, it becomes the #1 way attackers break in. From passwords to biometrics to FIDO2, authentication has evolved into a key pillar of Zero Trust security. In this post, we’ll explore: How authentication works Different types (and what’s still worth using) Best practices for IT teams How AI, phishing, and automation are shifting the landscape 🔍 Background After 15 years working in Identity and Access Management, I can confidently say: authentication is where security begins—or where it breaks down....

May 14, 2025 · 5 min · Jay Klinkowsky

IAM 101: What is Identity and Access Management (IAM)?

TL;DR Identity and Access Management (IAM) is the framework that ensures secure, efficient control over who (users, devices, or systems) can access what resources within an organization. For IT professionals, IAM is foundational to cybersecurity, compliance, and operational scalability. Core components include authentication, authorization, user lifecycle management, and auditing. Challenges like shadow IT and hybrid environments persist, but solutions like Zero Trust and AI-driven automation are rising. Bonus: Use GPT prompts for SEO to streamline policy documentation and access reviews....

May 7, 2025 · 4 min · Jay Klinkowsky

Passwords in the Wild: Why Credential Hygiene Still Matters in 2025

Passwords in the Wild: Why Credential Hygiene Still Matters in 2025 In today’s digital age, protecting your online identity and personal information has become more crucial than ever. Cyber threats are continually evolving, and one of the most effective ways to safeguard yourself against these risks is by practicing excellent password hygiene. Here’s why it matters and what steps you can take to ensure your passwords are strong and secure....

March 18, 2025 · 2 min · Jay Klinkowsky

The High Cost of Poor Privileged Account Management

The High Cost of Poor Privileged Account Management In the past year, several major security breaches were traced back to basic failures in privileged account management. Weak controls on admin-level accounts – from not using multi-factor authentication (MFA) to poor password hygiene – have proven to be low-hanging fruit for attackers. Microsoft reports that over 99.9% of compromised accounts lacked MFA, making them easy targets for password attacks ( Security at your organization - Multifactor authentication (MFA) statistics - Partner Center | Microsoft Learn )....

March 14, 2025 · 13 min · Jay Klinkowsky

Zero Trust Human: Never Trust a Ping Without the Proof

Zero Trust Human: Never Trust a Ping Without the Proof (Especially in 2025) In today’s hyper-connected world, our devices are constantly vying for our attention. Notifications, emails, and calls flood our screens, each demanding immediate action. A text message claims your package is delayed. An email warns your bank account is locked. A phone call demands payment for unpaid taxes. It’s tempting to react impulsively, but in an era increasingly shaped by sophisticated AI-powered scams, blind trust is a dangerous vulnerability....

March 3, 2025 · 5 min · Jay Klinkowsky