Machine identities now dwarf human identities by a staggering 82 to 1. CyberArk research confirmed the widening gap in December 2025. This imbalance strains legacy Identity and Access Management (IAM) systems. These systems were originally designed for human users.
AI agents are the fastest-growing segment of machine identities. Microsoft Copilot Studio users created over 1 million AI agents in a single quarter of 2025. This represents a 130% increase. These AI agents don't just authenticate; they actively perform tasks.
This explosion of machine identities creates significant security risks. Gartner predicts 25% of enterprise breaches will stem from AI agent abuse by 2028. ServiceNow invested heavily in security acquisitions in 2025, signaling a shift towards identity-centric AI risk management.
Traditional IAM struggles to manage this scale. Cloud IAM is often slow. Security reviews don't easily adapt to agent workflows. Production pressures prioritize speed, leading to over-permissioned accounts and shadow agents.
Enterprises must modernize their IAM strategies. They need solutions designed for the age of AI. The future of cybersecurity depends on effectively governing machine identities.
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