The rising bar for identity security maturity: Why it matters now

A mature identity security program used to mean managing users and access and making sure the right people could reach the right resources, and that nothing slipped through the cracks. But the definition of “maturity” is changing as fast as the digital world itself. Today’s organizations face a new reality: non-human identities and AI agents are everywhere, and the thresholds for maturity have been set higher than ever.

As highlighted in the latest Horizons of Identity Security Executive Summary, what worked a year or two ago is no longer enough. Now, the ability to adapt and advance is a marker of true maturity, and the organizations that keep pace are securing a significant strategic advantage.

The new face of identity: People, bots, and beyond

In modern enterprises, identities don’t just belong to people. Service accounts, bots, automated workflows, and AI agents now access sensitive systems and data continuously. Each one is a potential entry point for risk, requiring the same diligence and oversight as human users. Managing this expanded identity universe, with its rapid creation and decommissioning of non-human identities, challenges even the most mature organizations.

Horizons research shows that leading organizations are rapidly developing new frameworks for visibility, governance, and control putting robust guardrails in place to monitor and secure every kind of identity. This includes deploying advanced detection and automation tools to keep pace with constant changes and complexity.

The challenge: Keeping up with shifting maturity standards

As the bar for maturity rises, organizations often find themselves struggling to keep up. Yesterday’s “good enough” quickly becomes outdated. New types of users, devices, and AI agents add exponential complexity.

Some common challenges include:

• Fragmented data: Siloed systems make it nearly impossible to get a holistic view of all identities and their entitlements.
• Manual processes: Reliance on hand-offs and manual checks delays response times and increases risk.
• Inconsistent policies: Teams working across different environments face policy gaps and unpredictable enforcement.

The Horizons report makes it clear: these challenges expose gaps that threat actors are eager to exploit. And every gap is both a security risk and a business bottleneck.

Automation: The key to advancing maturity

One clear theme emerges from the latest research: automation is no longer a nice-to-have. It’s essential. To reach higher maturity, organizations need to automate not just access provisioning and deprovisioning, but also monitoring, risk scoring, and policy enforcement across every identity—human and non-human alike.

Automation enables:

• Scalability: Seamlessly managing millions of identity changes with speed and consistency.
• Proactive defense: Automatic detection and remediation of suspicious behavior across all access points.
• Reduced friction: Delivering quick, secure access helps employees and digital agents stay productive without unnecessary obstacles.

A program powered by automation is dynamic and iscapable of adapting to new threats and complexities and empowering the organization to move at the speed of business.

Strategic positioning: Staying ahead, not just keeping up

Ultimately, the organizations earning a higher score for identity maturity are those that embrace automation and invest in strategic positioning. This means designing programs with flexibility in mind, ensuring visibility across every identity type, and fostering a culture of improvement, not complacency.

As the bar rises, standing still isn’t an option. Leaders are embedding continuous improvement practices, regular maturity assessments, and cross-functional collaboration into their identity strategies.

The takeaway: Maturity is a moving target

Identity security maturity isn’t a finish line, but a continuous pursuit. With non-human identities and AI agents reshaping the digital environment, organizations must meet a higher standard or risk falling behind. By doubling down on automation and strategic vision, you empower your organization to keep pace, stay secure, and turn identity security into a catalyst for growth.

Ready to dive deeper?
Explore the full Horizons of Identity Security 2025-2026 report to uncover more insights, benchmarks, and strategies for advancing your identity maturity. See how leading organizations are transforming identity into a strategic advantage and how you can, too.