The Verizon 2025 Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR) highlighted two key factors that contributed to some of the worst breaches this year: third-party exposure and machine credential abuse. Third-party involvement in breaches doubled year-over-year, reaching 30%, while attackers increasingly exploited machine credentials to gain access and exfiltrate data.
Organizations are facing a growing challenge in managing third-party identities, with breaches often stemming from poor lifecycle management of contractor and business partner accounts. This trend is accelerating across various industries, emphasizing the need for robust identity governance for non-employees.
Machine identities are becoming a significant risk, with credential-based attacks remaining a top method for attackers. The 2025 DBIR highlighted the targeting of ungoverned machine accounts in major breaches and ransomware attacks. Organizations must move towards a more structured and automated approach to managing machine identities to mitigate these risks effectively.
Fragmented identity governance leaves organizations vulnerable to breaches, with inconsistent management of human, non-employee, and machine identities creating opportunities for attackers. A unified approach to identity governance is no longer optional, as it is essential for closing critical gaps and strengthening defenses against evolving threats.
SailPoint offers solutions designed to secure the full spectrum of identities, including employees, contractors, partners, service accounts, bots, and AI agents. By adopting a unified identity security strategy powered by the SailPoint Atlas platform, organizations can enhance visibility, accountability, and security across all identity types to protect against modern threats effectively.
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