The rapid evolution of artificial intelligence agents has transformed business security, making identity management an essential component to protect organizations from modern threats. As these agents perform tasks autonomously and without supervision, the risk of catastrophic errors increases significantly. A logic failure or unauthorized access can turn effective automation into an operational disaster, highlighting the vulnerability posed by poorly regulated AI implementations.
The transformation of business security
Currently, less than 40% of AI agents have identity security policies. This leaves organizations exposed to a range of potential attacks, as these systems operate with access privileges to sensitive data. According to the SailPoint Horizons of Identity Security 2025-2026 report, the situation has become critical, as old security measures, such as firewalls, are no longer sufficient against the new identity-driven threat models.
The report highlights that 63% of organizations are at early levels of maturity in identity security, which increases their risk of attacks. Companies that implement mature identity security programs not only achieve a higher return on investment but also benefit from better operational efficiency and transformative business capabilities.
However, only 25% of organizations consider identity management as a strategic enabler. This limited view prevents many companies from harnessing the full transformative potential that identity security can offer. As the threat landscape continues to evolve, it is imperative that organizations assess their current position regarding identity security and seriously consider their readiness to manage access from automated systems and AI agents.