Machine identities now dwarf human ones by a staggering 82 to 1. CyberArk's 2025 research revealed this imbalance, exposing critical security vulnerabilities. Legacy Identity and Access Management (IAM) systems, designed for human users, are struggling to keep pace.
The explosion of AI agents is the primary driver. Microsoft Copilot Studio users created over 1 million AI agents in a single quarter of 2025. This represents a 130% increase from the previous period. These AI agents don't just authenticate; they act, creating new risks.
Enterprises are scrambling to adapt. ServiceNow invested approximately $11.6 billion in security acquisitions in 2025. This move signals a shift towards identity-centric security for AI. The focus is on controlling enterprise AI risk through robust identity management.
Traditional IAM systems are failing. Built for a human-centric world, they lack the speed and flexibility needed for machine identities. Cloud IAM is often too slow, and security reviews don't align with AI agent workflows. This forces builders to prioritize speed, sometimes at the expense of security.
Gartner predicts that by 2028, 25% of enterprise breaches will originate from AI agent abuse. The industry must evolve beyond legacy architectures. The future demands identity solutions designed for the age of AI.
Discussion
Join the conversation
Be the first to comment