Real-World Breaches Show That Identity Tools Alone Aren’t Enough

As cyber threats grow in scale and sophistication, organisations must now operate under the assumption that a security breach is a matter of when, not if. Industry observations and case studies consistently reveal that even organisations with mature cybersecurity programmes and substantial investment in modern Identity and Access Management (IAM) tools can still experience critical gaps. These are not entities short on expertise or resources - they have committed significant financial and operational effort to strengthen their IAM capabilities. So why do material vulnerabilities continue to surface, sometimes with the potential for far-reaching consequences?

The False Sense of Security

Too often, we see organisations equating tool adoption with complete protection from external threats. “We’ve implemented an IAM solution, so we must be secure.” This mindset is not only flawed, it’s dangerous and leaves organisations vulnerable. A whopping "80% of breaches involve compromised credentials" (Verizon DBIR) - this isn't a small scale, one-off situation. It's a high profile and high risk disaster waiting to happen.

IAM tools, whether focused on Access Management, Identity Governance, or Privileged Access Management, are powerful in their own right. But tools alone are not the solution. It’s how they’re implemented, maintained, and continuously optimised that determines their effectiveness. In many of the breaches hitting the headlines, the tools were present but they weren’t correctly configured, weren’t aligned with business processes, or had been left to drift without proper updates or expert oversight. Organisations need real-time visibility with the ability to take action as threats emerge.

The Rise of Non-Human Identities (NHIs)

Another consideration is that modern organisations are no longer managing just employees and partners. Thousands, sometimes millions, of NHIs, including service accounts, APIs, applications, bots and IoT devices, all require authentication, authorisation and lifecycle governance. These identities don't take breaks or work a typical 9-5 - they're working at high scale and are often overlooked in traditional IAM strategies. They can introduce a significant amount of risk when not properly managed, due to excessive and unmanaged permissions, as well as privilege escalation.

We help organisations to identify and control the sprawl of NHIs through Identity Security Posture Management (ISPM), ensuring you have complete visibility and control over the growing list of Non-Human Identities in your business. This can form part of an ongoing cybersecurity strategy; NHIs are important to help you benefit from efficiency gains and automation, but the vulnerabilities they can bring must be addressed.

Security Isn’t Static

Cybersecurity, and especially identity security, is not a one-time project, it’s a continuous journey. As your organisation grows, as roles change, as systems evolve and attackers adapt and utilise more modern tools to discover your vulnerabilities, your IAM ecosystem must evolve with it.

That’s where many organisations struggle. Implementation partners may help you launch a solution, but are rarely employed to stay and ensure its ongoing alignment with your business. Internal teams are often stretched thin, juggling competing priorities, lacking the skills required to ensure a holistic approach. Gaps widen quietly, until they become headlines.

Why Intragen?

At Intragen, we specialise in bridging that gap. We work with CISOs to address this critical gap, ensuring that IAM becomes a resilient foundation for security and business growth, not a weak link for your organisation. Our expertise spans the entire identity lifecycle, from Access Management and Governance to Privileged Access Management and IAM Managed Services. We don’t just deploy tools. We help you build a sustainable identity strategy that protects your business today, and prepares you for the threats of tomorrow. To further reduce your risk, explore our Breach Protection solutions.

We offer a Maturity Assessment, a deep dive into your current IAM environment. It’s more than a gap analysis; it’s a strategic diagnostic, uncovering where you are now, where you need to be, and how to get there with a clear, tailored strategic roadmap. A Maturity Assessment acts as a refresh for your organisation to step back and consider the entire end-to-end security strategy you have in place.

Intragen also offer an Identity Security Posture Management (ISPM) solution, which aims to provide you with the end-to-end visibility of NHIs, excess privilege across your estate, and much more. It works by uncovering misconfigurations, orphan accounts, SSO exceptions and MFA bypass, and other identity security risks. Get a free ISPM assessment with our team using the form here.

The Takeaway

The growing complexity of digital identities and the environments they operate in has made IAM a strategic priority for every organisation. But even with the significant investment in IAM tools, many businesses are discovering that technology alone doesn't guarantee complete protection. If your IAM strategy is based on the presence of tools alone, you're exposed. Don’t wait for a breach to reveal your blind spots. The question isn't if attackers will test your defences, it’s when. Make sure you’re ready.

Book a Maturity Assessment with Intragen today and uncover the hidden risks in your organisations before attackers do.