From Zero Trust to Sentient IAM_ Evolving Identity for a Secure Future

The transcription discusses the importance of Identity and Access Management (IAM) in cybersecurity. It emphasizes the need for a strong IAM strategy due to the increasing cost of cybercrime and the challenges faced by tech teams. The concept of sentient IAM is introduced, which focuses on empowering people and integrating IAM into the fabric of an organization. The role of communication and leadership in cybersecurity is highlighted, along with the need for a holistic assessment of IAM practices. The presentation provides three recommendations for organizations to improve their IAM approach: developing a holistic view, assessing the current state, and taking incremental steps for progress. The importance of mitigating data breaches and the potential for growth and innovation through sentient IAM are discussed. The presentation concludes with a breakdown of a sentient IAM score and guiding questions for organizations to assess their IAM performance. Overall, the presentation offers pra Hey everyone, welcome back to the Deep Dive. You know how much we love getting your requests, and today we're tackling one that's been coming up a lot, Identity and Access Management in 2024. But we're not just gonna skim the surface. Oh no, we're going deep, deep into the trends, the challenges, and what it takes to truly future-proof your IAM strategy. And to guide us on this Deep Dive, we've got some seriously insightful source material. We do. We're diving into a presentation called From Zero Trust to Sentient IAM, Evolving Identity for a Secure Future. It was given just last week on November 14th by a true leader in the cybersecurity world, Steve Tout. This presentation is packed with insights, but one stat really jumped out at me right from the start. Oh yeah, hit me with it. By 2025, cybercrime is projected to cost the global economy a mind-blowing $10.5 trillion annually. 10.5 trillion. Annually. Oof, that's a number that should make everyone pay attention. It really highlights why a strong IAM strategy is no longer a nice-to-have. It's a must-have. Absolutely. And Steve doesn't shy away from painting a picture of the very real business challenges we're all facing as we head into 2025. He talks about the burnout that so many tech teams are feeling dealing with fragmented processes and outdated systems. Yeah, that resonates with me for sure. Then there's the ever-present threat of costly data breaches. Oh, those horror stories are everywhere. It seems like every other week, another company is making headlines for all the wrong reasons. And then you layer on top of all that the backdrop of global uncertainty and geopolitical unrest. It paints a pretty intense picture. It does. But what I found really insightful is how Steve connects these challenges to the human element. It's not just about technology. It's about people. Yeah, I always say technology is only as good as the people using it. Exactly. He talks about burnt-out engineers, high turnover rates. It all adds up to a perfect storm. And that's where this idea of sentient IAM comes in. Okay, so let's talk about sentient IAM because that's what really caught my eye in the title of this presentation. It's a fascinating concept, right? It's about moving beyond just the nuts and bolts of security and thinking about how IAM can be woven into the very fabric of an organization. So it's not just about preventing hacks. It's about creating a system that actually empowers people and helps organizations thrive. Exactly. He talks about aligning IAM with strategy governance, even culture. And then he drops this bombshell, a sentient IAM score of 72 out of 100. 72 out of 100. Hmm, that got me thinking. Where would my organization land on that scale? Right, where are the gaps between our current IAM practices and this vision of a more integrated, adaptable approach? It's a really provocative question, and I think it's one that every organization should be asking themselves. And he breaks down that 72 out of 100 even further. He shows how it's calculated across four key areas, strategy, governance, people, and culture, and finally, technology. Interesting, so it's not just a tech score. It's a holistic assessment. Right, and here's the kicker. Technology is actually the lowest scoring area for sentient IAM. So it's not just about having the shiniest new tools. Nope, it's about how you leverage technology to achieve broader business objectives. It's about using the right tools in the right way for the right reasons. He really emphasizes that technology is just an implementation detail. The real heart of sentient IAM lies in how we approach strategy governance, and perhaps most importantly, people and culture. So it's about creating a system that empowers people, fosters collaboration, and enables organizations to thrive in a constantly changing world. That's a big shift in perspective. It is, and it gets even more interesting when he starts talking about the specific skills needed for a future-proof cybersecurity career. Okay, lay it on me. What skills are we talking about? He lists the usual suspects, data science, AI, and machine learning and cryptography, you know, the technical stuff. Makes sense. Those are always in high demand. But then he throws in a couple curveballs. Yeah. What did he say? Communication and leadership. Wait, communication and leadership? Those aren't usually the first things that come to mind when you think about cybersecurity. I know, right? But in this sentient IAM world, it sounds like they're just as critical as technical chops. I'm intrigued. Tell me more. He's recognizing that in this evolving landscape, technical expertise alone isn't enough. You need to be able to articulate complex ideas to non-technical stakeholders, build consensus, and navigate organizational dynamics to drive meaningful change. So you're saying cybersecurity professionals need to be more well-rounded. Exactly. They need to be able to communicate effectively, build relationships, and lead change. It sounds like the role of a cybersecurity professional is evolving. It definitely is. And those who can adapt and embrace these new skills will be the ones who thrive in this sentient IAM future. He even mentions that a whopping 70% of change initiatives fail. And often it's not because of the technology itself. It's about the people, the processes, the overall approach. It's about having a clear vision, a solid plan, and the ability to bring everyone along on the journey. And this leads us perfectly into his next section, three things you can do now. He doesn't jump into specific tech solutions. Oh, really? What does he suggest instead? He challenges us to step back and look at the bigger picture. You know, take a deep breath and assess the situation. I like that approach. Sometimes it's easy to get caught up in the day-to-day and forget to lift our heads up and look at the horizon. Exactly. So what's the first thing he suggests we can do to start moving towards this sentient IAM approach? He encourages us to develop a holistic view of our identity ecosystem. And that goes beyond just knowing what systems you have in place, right? Right. It's about understanding how those systems interact, what data they share, who has access to what, and how it all ties back to your business goals. It's about seeing the forest and the trees. Exactly. It's about understanding the interconnectedness of everything, not just focusing on individual components. And once you have that holistic view, you can start to identify areas for improvement. But he cautions against jumping in and buying a bunch of new tech, right? Right, his second recommendation is all about assessing your current state. So before you even think about solutions, you need to understand your starting point. Precisely. And he provides three really powerful questions to guide this assessment. They all tie back to that idea of alignment with business objectives. Give me an example. How does your IAM strategy enable innovation while ensuring compliance and interdepartmental collaboration? Wow, that's a great question. It really makes you think about how IAM fits into the overall success of your organization. It's a shift from a purely defensive posture to one that's more proactive and enabling. This work is really interesting because he's not just giving us abstract concepts, he's providing a framework for action. His third recommendation is all about taking action, but in a smart, strategic way. And he's not advocating for boiling the ocean. He says, start small, take incremental steps, but start somewhere. So it's about progress over perfection. Exactly. And he makes a really compelling case for why this is so important. He highlights that data breaches are on the rise with the average cost now exceeding $4.8 million. Ouch, that's a big number. And he also points out that a significant portion of these breaches now involve extortion, including ransomware. So it's not just about protecting data, it's about protecting your entire organization from potentially crippling attacks. Right, and those attacks are becoming more sophisticated, more targeted, and more costly every year. Definitely a wake-up call. But he also offers a message of hope. He believes that by embracing this concept of sentient IAM organizations, can not only mitigate risk, but also unlock new opportunities for growth and innovation. Okay, so let's circle back to that sentient IAM score for a second. He actually provides a detailed breakdown of this score, and it gets even more revealing. You're right. He shows a visual with four categories, strategy, governance, people, and culture, and technology, each with its own score. What's striking is the difference between sentient IAM and a generic other category. And how do they compare? Well, the sentient IAM category scores significantly higher in every single area. Hmm, that's pretty telling. It really drives home his point that this approach is about excellence across the board, not just in one particular area. Exactly, and he even provides some guiding questions to help you assess your own organization's performance in each category. Oh, like what? Well, for example, under strategy, he asks, how does your IAM strategy align with broader business objectives and risks? And under people and culture, he asks, does your IAM team have the skills and training to support a sentient IAM approach? Those are great questions. They really get you thinking about the specific areas where you might need to focus your efforts. And I think that's what makes this presentation so valuable. He's not just giving us a bunch of high-level concepts. He's actually providing actionable steps we can take to start moving in the right direction. I love that about this presentation. It's both insightful and practical. He gives us a vision for the future of IAM, but he also gives us the tools to start building that future today. And that's what we're all about here on the Deep Dive. We don't just explore ideas. We equip you to take action. So stay tuned, because in the next part, we'll delve into the practical implications of this sentient IAM approach. What does it actually look like in practice? How can organizations start to implement these principles? We'll explore all of that and more after a quick break. Welcome back to the Deep Dive. Picking up right where we left off, you know, assessing your current IAM state, aligning it with your business goals, that whole deal. Now let's see what Steve Tout suggests as the next step toward achieving sentient IAM. He throws out this idea of taking a deep dive into your organization's identity fabric. I like the sound of that. Sounds kind of like a high-tech superhero suit. Well, maybe not a superhero suit, but it definitely is pretty high-tech. It's basically the whole interconnected web of all the people, systems, and data within your organization. And understanding how these elements all interact, that's key to truly effective IAM. So we're talking about seeing the connections, dependencies, the flow of information, like mapping out the circulatory system of your organization, but for identity. That's a perfect analogy. And Steve actually encourages us to visualize this fabric to actually create a dynamic map of how identity flows through your organization. He even suggests leveraging data visualization tools to really bring it to life. Okay, now that's a game changer. Imagine having x-ray vision for your organization's identity system. If you could spot potential vulnerabilities, see the ripple effects of changes before they even happen. That's some next-level stuff. Absolutely. And once you have that clear picture of your identity fabric, then you can start to identify those areas where you need to strengthen your IAM posture. That's where Steve's deep expertise really shines. He provides a ton of practical advice grounded in his real-world experience. Okay, so let's get into the nitty-gritty. What are some of the key takeaways? Well, one thing he really emphasizes is the importance of data quality in achieving sentient IAM. And it's not just about the volume of data. It's about its accuracy, its completeness, its consistency. So it's like building a house. If you start with shoddy materials, the whole structure is compromised. Precisely. And he highlights the power of automation in ensuring data quality. He talks about using AI and machine learning to automate things like data cleansing validation and enrichment. Oh yeah, this is where those technical skills we were talking about earlier really come into play. Absolutely. Yeah. But it's not all about algorithms and robots. Steve also talks about the human element. You know, clear roles and responsibilities within the IAM team, strong communication and collaboration across different departments, that sort of thing. It sounds like he's describing a new breed of IAM professional. One who's not just a tech whiz, but also a skilled communicator, a problem solver, a change agent. Exactly. Someone who can bridge the gap between the technical and the business side of things. And that communication piece is so critical because let's be honest, IAM can be a pretty complex topic. It can be. And if you can't explain it in a way that non-technical folks can understand, you're gonna have a hard time getting buy-in from the people who hold the post strings. He has a great quote in the presentation that really sums this up. IAM is not an IT problem. It's a business problem that IT can help solve. That's such a great way to put it. It reframes the whole conversation. Right. It shifts the focus from technology for technology's sake to leveraging technology to achieve those core business objectives. And that's what it's all about, right? Aligning your IAM strategy with your business goals and measuring success in terms of tangible business value. So it's not just about reducing security incidents or checking compliance boxes. It's about showing how IAM contributes to the bottom line. How does it improve customer satisfaction? How does it accelerate time to market for new products and services? How does it boost employee productivity? Those are the questions we should be asking. Exactly. And Steve actually gives some concrete examples of how to measure these outcomes, which is super helpful. It takes the guesswork out of the equation. It's like he's giving us a roadmap for turning IAM from a cost center into a strategic asset. Exactly. And this is where it gets really exciting because we start to see how sentient IAM can actually drive innovation and growth within organizations. It's not just about mitigating risks. It's about unlocking potential. Absolutely. And that leads to his big call to action. Don't wait for a breach to happen. Start building a more sentient approach to IAM today. Love it. So what's the first step? Assess your current state, figure out where you need to improve, and then create a roadmap for achieving your sentient IAM goals. Sounds like a solid plan. And of course, there's no one-size-fits-all solution. Each organization needs to find its own path based on its specific needs, culture, and business objective. So it's about finding what works for you. Exactly. But Steve does provide a valuable framework for approaching this journey. He emphasizes that sentient IAM isn't a destination. It's a journey, a continuous process of evolution and adaptation. So we're all in this together. We're all learning and growing and figuring things out as we go. Right, and he stresses the importance of continuous learning. You know, IAM professionals need to stay ahead of the curve, keep up with the latest trends and technologies. And don't forget those soft skills we talked about earlier, communication collaboration, problem-solving leadership. Absolutely. He's painting a picture of a well-rounded IAM professional who has both the technical chops and the people skills to make a real impact. To wrap up this section, he shares a really inspiring quote. The future of IAM is not about technology. It's about people. It's about empowering people to make better decisions, to work more effectively and to create a more secure and resilient future for their organization. It's a powerful message that really captures the essence of sentient IAM. It's about people, not just systems. And you know what else really struck me about Steve's presentation? His emphasis on the importance of trust in a digital world. Oh yeah, he talks about that a lot. Yeah. And he's not just talking about trust between people, but also trust between people and technology. Right, because in a world where we rely on technology for pretty much everything, it's essential to design and implement systems that are trustworthy, transparent and accountable. So it's not just about protecting data from bad guys. It's about making sure the systems themselves are ethical and aligned with human values. Exactly. And Steve sees sentient IAM as a key enabler of this more ethical and responsible approach to identity and access management. It's a vision that goes beyond just the technical aspects of IAM and into the realm of social impact. It really makes you think about the bigger picture. It does. And I think that's a perfect note to end on for now. Yeah. So we're gonna take a quick break, but when we come back, we'll wrap things up and talk about what you can do to embrace this future of IAM. Stay tuned. And we are back, wrapping up our deep dive into Steve Tout's sentient IAM. It's been a wild ride exploring the future of identity and access management. But I bet some of you are thinking, okay, great, but what does this actually mean for me? I think we all wanna know how to put this into practice. Exactly. So where do we go from here? Well, Steve reminds us that sentient IAM isn't just about organizations, it's about people. We're all part of the equation. Exactly. And he actually encourages us to become change agents. Do you remember that part? I do. But honestly, being a change agent sounds kind of intimidating. Where do we even start? Start with awareness. You're already here listening to the deep dive, engaging with these ideas. That's a huge first step. Okay, so awareness checked. What's next? Think about your sphere of influence. You know, maybe start a conversation with your manager about how your team can better align IAM practices with those bigger business goals we talked about. So it's about finding those opportunities to bring sentient IAM into the conversation. Exactly. Or maybe you wanna level up your technical skills by exploring data visualization or AI. There's so many ways to get involved. It doesn't have to be this huge, overwhelming thing. It's about taking small steps, making incremental progress. Right, those small steps can create a ripple effect. Yeah. Imagine if everyone listening today took just one action inspired by what we've discussed. The collective impact could be massive. It's about changing the conversation, shifting the mindset and building momentum towards a more sentient future for IAM. And remember what Steve said, you are what you measure. So let's track our progress, celebrate our wins and learn from any missteps along the way. This isn't a solo mission. We're all in this together. Couldn't agree more. So as we wrap things up, I wanna leave you with one final thought, a question to ponder. If sentient IAM is about weaving identity into the very fabric of an organization, what threads are you contributing to that tapestry? Ooh, that's a good one. How are you shaping the future of identity in a digital world? Because the future isn't something that just happens to us. It's something we're actively creating together. And if you're ready to dive even deeper into this world, I highly recommend checking out Steve Tout's work. His podcast, Nonconformist Innovation is full of amazing insights. And his company, Identient, helps organizations navigate this whole IAM landscape. We'll be sure to include links in the show notes. This has been a fantastic exploration of sentient IAM. Thanks for joining us on the Deep Dive. Remember the future of IAM is in your hands.