Identity Security Posture Management (ISPM)

Identities—whether human, machine, or application—have become the new perimeter for cybersecurity. Identity Security Posture Management (ISPM) is a critical framework for proactively securing access points to minimise risks like credential abuse, misconfigurations, and unauthorised privileges.

With the ISPM market projected to surge from $13.7 billion in 2024 to $33.1 billion by 2029, organisations are prioritising solutions that automate identity governance and enforce real-time visibility across hybrid environments. At Proofpoint, integrating ISPM principles helps enterprises transform identity security from a reactive challenge into a strategic advantage—ensuring resilience against evolving threats while maintaining compliance and operational agility.

Identity Security Posture Management (ISPM) is a proactive cybersecurity framework that continuously assesses, monitors, and optimises an organisation’s digital identities to prevent unauthorised access and mitigate risks like credential theft or privilege abuse.

Unlike traditional perimeter-based security, ISPM treats identities as the primary attack surface, enforcing principles such as Zero Trust and least privilege to reduce exposure in hybrid or multi-cloud environments. By automating identity governance, detecting misconfigurations, and analysing access patterns, ISPM bridges visibility gaps across fragmented identity providers (IDPs) and ensures compliance with evolving regulations like NIST and GDPR.

The urgency for ISPM stems from modern IT complexity: 75% of enterprises now manage identities across multiple IDPs, creating toxic permission chains and orphaned accounts. With ISPM anticipating accelerated growth in the coming years, organisations are prioritising frameworks that unify identity analytics, real-time threat detection, and adaptive authentication. This shift transforms identity security from a reactive compliance task into a strategic resilience pillar, enabling enterprises to secure distributed workforces and cloud-first architectures without sacrificing operational agility.

“When you view the attack chain in its totality, it’s clear that identities play a pivotal role in attacks. As a result, defenders should focus their efforts on proactively protecting them to prevent similar incidents,” as highlighted in a must-read post by Proofpoint’s Ryan Kalember, EVP Cybersecurity Strategy, and Tim Choi, GVP Product Marketing.

“If you want to stop cyber-attackers from escalating their attacks, you need to adopt proactive measures to protect your business against identity-based threats. You also need comprehensive security controls,” the two Proofpoint experts add.

Unlike traditional perimeter-based models, ISPM treats identities as the primary attack surface, addressing vulnerabilities like credential theft, privilege abuse, and misconfigurations that fuel 80% of modern breaches.

Securing Multi-Environment Identity Ecosystems

ISPM unifies visibility and governance in fragmented IT landscapes where 75% of enterprises use multiple identity providers (IDPs). It bridges gaps between:

• Cloud environments: Manages entitlements for SaaS apps, serverless functions, and multi-cloud workloads to prevent toxic permission chains.
• On-premises systems: Secures legacy infrastructure (e.g., Active Directory) against exploits like Kerberoasting, which surged 583% in 2023.
• Hybrid architectures: Synchronises identity policies across mixed environments, ensuring consistent Zero Trust enforcement for remote workers and distributed systems.

Broad Identity Coverage

ISPM safeguards both human and non-human identities, which are increasingly targeted:

• User identities: Employees, contractors, and third-party vendors with varying access levels.
• Machine identities: Servers, IoT devices, and APIs that authenticate via certificates or tokens.
• Service accounts: Automated accounts used by applications, which organisations commonly misuse due to over-privileged permissions.

By continuously mapping relationships between identities, resources, and entitlements, ISPM detects risks like dormant accounts, shadow admins, and AI-driven credential-stuffing attacks.

As identity sprawl accelerates across hybrid and multi-cloud environments, ISPM relies on foundational pillars to secure access, minimise risk, and maintain compliance in dynamic IT ecosystems.

Comprehensive Identity Visibility

ISPM requires end-to-end visibility into all human, machine, and application identities across hybrid, cloud, and on-premises environments. This includes mapping access privileges, detecting dormant accounts, and identifying over-provisioned permissions.

With the ever-present use of IDPs, unified visibility prevents toxic permission chains and orphaned accounts that attackers exploit. Tools like identity analytics and automated discovery ensure no identity or access point remains unaccounted for, closing gaps in fragmented IT ecosystems.

Risk Assessment

Regular risk assessments identify vulnerabilities such as misconfigured permissions, exposed credentials, and inactive accounts. These evaluations prioritise high-risk identities (e.g., privileged users) and analyse potential attack paths adversaries might exploit.

For example, 92% of organisations faced an average of six credential compromises caused by email-based social engineering attacks in 2023, highlighting the need for proactive risk scoring and remediation workflows. By simulating breach scenarios and auditing access rights, organisations reduce exposure to insider threats and lateral movement risks.

Continuous Monitoring

Real-time monitoring detects anomalies like unusual login times, privilege escalations, or access to sensitive resources. Continuous analysis establishes a baseline of “normal” behaviour, flagging deviations such as compromised service accounts or unauthorised lateral movements. With 80% of breaches involving credential misuse, automated alerts enable swift responses—like revoking access or triggering MFA challenges—before threats escalate.

Multifactor Authentication (MFA)

MFA adds critical layers to identity verification, requiring users to provide multiple proofs (e.g., passwords, biometrics, or tokens). It mitigates risks from stolen credentials, blocking 99% of hacking attempts and automated attacks.

ISPM frameworks enforce adaptive MFA policies, such as step-up authentication for high-risk transactions or privileged access. For remote workforces, MFA ensures secure access to cloud apps while reducing unauthorised entry points.

Cloud Infrastructure Entitlement Management (CIEM)

CIEM addresses the complexity of multi-cloud environments by managing permissions for identities accessing cloud resources like VMs, databases, and serverless functions. It enforces least privilege principles, reducing risks from over-provisioned entitlements—97% of non-human identities (NHIs) have excessive privileges, making CIEM essential for minimising attack surfaces. Automated tools like permission right-sizing and Just-In-Time (JIT) access ensure compliance while preventing accidental exposure of sensitive data.

ISPM combats pervasive identity-related risks that fuel modern cyber-attacks, focusing on vulnerabilities that traditional security models often overlook.

• Identity misconfigurations: Weak access policies, insecure legacy protocols, and improperly configured identity and access management (IAM) roles create exploitable gaps common in hybrid or multi-cloud environments. ISPM automates configuration audits and enforces least privilege to eliminate toxic permissions.
• Over-privileged accounts: Excessive permissions enable attackers to escalate privileges and move laterally across systems. ISPM reduces standing access through Just-In-Time provisioning and granular entitlement reviews.
• Legacy system exploits: Outdated authentication protocols (e.g., Kerberos) remain vulnerable to credential theft and lateral movement. ISPM modernises defences with Zero Trust policies and adaptive MFA, even for legacy infrastructure.
• Identity sprawl: Fragmented identity providers and cloud services lead to orphaned accounts and inconsistent access controls. ISPM unifies visibility, automates deprovisioning, and consolidates identity governance.
• AI-powered attacks: Phishing, deepfakes, and AI-generated credential-stuffing bypass traditional defences. ISPM counters these threats with behavioural analytics, risk-based authentication, and continuous anomaly detection.

By streamlining identity governance and hardening authentication workflows, ISPM transforms identity security from a compliance burden into a proactive defence pillar.

Attackers increasingly exploit vulnerabilities in the “middle of the attack chain”—where privilege escalation and lateral movement occur—making proactive ISPM implementation critical to closing these gaps. Below are key strategies to fortify identity security frameworks:

AI-Driven Anomaly Detection & Behavioural Analytics

Integrate machine learning (ML) to establish baselines for normal identity behaviour and flag deviations like unusual login times, privilege escalations, or atypical resource access. For example:

• Predictive risk scoring: Assign risk levels to identities based on access patterns, geolocation, and device health.
• Adaptive authentication: Use AI to trigger MFA or block access during high-risk scenarios (e.g., unfamiliar devices).
• Insider threat detection: Analyse historical data to identify potential malicious intent in employee actions.

Best practice: Deploy tools like Identity Threat Detection & Response (ITDR) to automate threat hunting and prioritise remediation.

Unified Identity Governance Across Hybrid Environments

ISPM requires centralised control over identities in multi-cloud, on-premises, and legacy systems:

• Automate lifecycle management: Provision/de-provision real-time access for employees, contractors, and non-human identities.
• Enforce least privilege: Conduct quarterly entitlement reviews to strip unnecessary permissions.
• CIEM integration: Monitor cloud resources to eliminate toxic permission chains.

Best practice: Use identity governance tools to map relationships between identities, resources, and entitlements.

Zero Trust & Continuous Verification

Assume breach and validate every access request:

• Micro-segmentation: Limit lateral movement by isolating sensitive data and systems.
• Just-In-Time (JIT) access: Grant temporary privileges for specific tasks instead of standing access.
• Session monitoring: Audit privileged sessions in real time to detect credential misuse.

Best practice: Apply Zero Trust principles to legacy systems via protocol modernisation (e.g., replacing Kerberos with OAuth 2.0).

Closing the “Middle of the Attack Chain” Gap

Proofpoint Cybersecurity Strategist Matthew Gardiner warns, “It’s this middle part where many organisations have major gaps in their existing security defences. Initially, this part of security seemed foggy in the minds of many attendees of our sessions. But I think the sessions provided some important clarity for why it’s so critical.”

Strengthen defences where attackers linger longest:

1. Active Directory (AD) hardening: Audit group policies, disable legacy protocols, and monitor for Golden Ticket attacks.
2. Lateral movement detection: Flag abnormal SMB/NTLM traffic or unexpected RDP connections.
3. Credential theft prevention: Deploy endpoint detection for tools like Mimikatz and enforce phishing-resistant MFA.

Best practice: Leverage products like Identity Threat Defense and simulate attack paths using red team exercises to identify exposure points. “AD is a security mess at every organisation that uses it,” Gardiner emphasises, underscoring the “need for improved AD hygiene.”

Policy Automation & Compliance Alignment

Dynamic access policies: Update rules automatically based on role changes or regulatory shifts (e.g., GDPR, NIST).

• Audit-ready reporting: Generate real-time compliance dashboards for access certifications and risk assessments.
• Third-party access controls: Enforce time-bound permissions and session recording for vendors.

Best practice: Align ISPM workflows with frameworks like MITRE ATT&CK to address evolving adversary tactics.

By blending AI-driven insights with rigorous governance and identity threat defence tools, organisations can transform ISPM from a reactive compliance tool into a strategic resilience engine. Regular updates to access policies, coupled with cross-team training, ensure sustained protection against identity-centric threats.

ISPM transforms how organisations secure digital identities, offering strategic advantages that strengthen security, streamline compliance, and drive operational resilience. Key benefits include:

• Enhanced security posture: Proactively identifies and mitigates risks like over-privileged accounts, misconfigured permissions, and credential exposure through continuous monitoring, reducing opportunities for attackers to exploit identity-related vulnerabilities.
• Simplified compliance: Automates audit trails, access certifications, and policy enforcement to align with evolving regulations, minimising compliance gaps and accelerating reporting for frameworks like GDPR and NIST.
• Reduced breach risk: Addresses common attack vectors linked to compromised credentials and lateral movement by enforcing least privilege access, adaptive authentication, and real-time threat detection.
• Operational efficiency: Streamlines identity lifecycle management (e.g., onboarding/offboarding) and centralises governance, reducing manual tasks and administrative overhead while ensuring consistent policy enforcement.
• Cost savings: Optimises resource allocation by eliminating redundant tools, minimising breach-related financial impacts, and avoiding penalties for non-compliance.
• Adaptive threat prevention: Leverages behavioural analytics and machine learning to detect anomalies and emerging threats, enabling faster responses to sophisticated attacks like credential stuffing or insider threats.
• Unified visibility: Provides a single pane of glass for managing identities across cloud, on-premises, and hybrid systems, ensuring no identity or permission slips through the cracks.

By integrating these benefits, ISPM empowers organisations to turn identity governance into a competitive advantage, balancing security with agility in dynamic digital environments.

Proofpoint delivers advanced ISPM solutions designed to address modern identity risks, combining proactive vulnerability remediation, real-time threat detection, and adaptive access controls. Proofpoint’s Identity Threat Defense platform continuously discovers and remediates identity misconfigurations, over-privileged accounts, and attack paths across hybrid environments—integrating seamlessly with Active Directory, Entra ID, and Okta.

For organisations navigating multi-cloud complexity, Proofpoint’s Posture Management solution automates identity governance and enforces least privilege principles to prevent lateral movement. Additionally, their strategic partnerships, like CyberArk, enhance protections against credential-based attacks through unified threat intelligence and deception-based detection. By prioritising Zero Trust frameworks and AI-driven analytics, Proofpoint transforms identity security into a resilient, adaptive defence layer. Contact Proofpoint to learn more.