State of Identity and Access Management Maturity Report

This research report, conducted by the Ponemon Institute and sponsored by GuidePoint Security, examines the maturity of Identity and Access Management (IAM) practices across organizations. It highlights the current state of IAM maturity, revealing that many organizations remain in the early to mid-stages, which exposes them to identity-based threats. The report details findings from a survey of 626 IT professionals, indicating that IAM is often underfunded and underdeveloped, with only half of the respondents rating their IAM tools as very effective. It outlines the reliance on manual processes, which hinders progress towards maturity. The report identifies high-performing organizations that have adopted advanced IAM technologies and practices, resulting in fewer security incidents. Additionally, it discusses barriers to achieving IAM maturity, such as a lack of resources and prioritization of user experience over security needs. The report concludes with recommendations for organizations to shift towards integrated, automated identity security to enhance their IAM maturity.