Today’s threat actors rarely try to break in anymore. Instead they find ways to simply log in. Identity has become the primary attack surface, and artificial intelligence is accelerating this shift faster than most organisations can respond.

What is identity security?

Digital identity underpins almost every modern business operation. Cloud platforms, SaaS applications, remote access tools, APIs and automation all rely on identity to grant access. When an identity is compromised, attackers gain legitimate entry, allowing them to bypass traditional security controls and blend into normal user behaviour. At that point, many security tools struggle to detect malicious activity because nothing technically appears wrong.

Identity-based attacks are now the default

Threat actors have moved decisively away from malware-heavy attacks towards identity abuse. Phishing, credential harvesting, session hijacking and token theft are now among the most effective and scalable attack techniques. These methods exploit human trust and weaknesses in authentication rather than software vulnerabilities.

Business Email Compromise, account takeover and ransomware campaigns all rely heavily on compromised identities. Once an attacker controls an account, they can escalate privileges, access sensitive data, disable security controls and move laterally across environments with minimal resistance. In many breaches, the initial compromise is simple, but the impact is severe because identity controls fail to contain the attacker.

AI is pushing identity verification to breaking point

Artificial intelligence has fundamentally changed how identity attacks are executed. AI-driven tools can generate highly convincing phishing emails, replicate writing styles and automate social engineering at scale. Attacks that once required time, effort and specialist skills can now be launched in minutes.

More concerning is the rise of deepfakes and synthetic identities. Research  shows that humans can only reliably spot deepfake images and videos around 40%of the time. As the technology advances, that figure will likely fall further, making traditional verification methods such as ID checks, selfies or video calls increasingly unreliable.

This erosion of trust has serious implications. Voice cloning allows attackers to convincingly impersonate executives, finance teams or IT staff. Deepfake video can be used during live calls to manipulate  employees into approving payments or sharing credentials. Identity verification processes that rely on visual or audio confirmation alone are no longer fit for purpose.

Organisations are already seeing the impact with 76% reporting an increase in identity attacks powered by AI, while 69% fear the technology will enable highly sophisticated social engineering or machine-speed attacks that significantly weaken identity security. AI is not just improving attacker efficiency. It is actively undermining the trust models organisations depend on.

Cloud environments amplify identity risk

Cloud adoption and hybrid working have dramatically expanded the identity attack surface. Organisations now manage thousands of identities across employees, contractors, partners, service accounts and non-humanworkloads. Each identity represents a potential entry point.

The traditional network perimeter no longer exists. Users authenticate from multiple locations and devices, applications sit outside corporate infrastructure, and access is granted dynamically. In this model, identity becomes the control plane for security decisions.

AI-driven attacks thrive in this complexity. Large identity estates with inconsistent policies, excessive permissions and limited visibility create ideal conditions for automation and abuse. Without continuous monitoring and strong identity governance, attackers can remain undetected for long periods.

Privileged access remains a critical weakness

Privileged identities continue to be one of the most valuable targets for attackers. AI makes them easier to identify and exploit. Over-privileged accounts, standing access and shared credentials allow attackers to achieve maximum impact quickly once initial access is gained.

Compromised privileged access enables attackers to disable security tools, access critical systems and establish persistence. Many high-profile breaches involve attackers using legitimate privileged credentials rather than exploiting technical vulnerabilities. Despite this, many organisations still rely on outdated assumptions about trusted users and internal access.

Effective identity security must enforce least privilege,remove standing access and continuously monitor privileged activity. Without this, even advanced detection capabilities can be undermined.

Identity is the foundation of zero trust in the AI era

Zero Trust has become a widely adopted security model, but it only works if identity security is strong. The principle of never trust,always verify depends on continuous authentication and risk-based accessdecisions.

In an AI-driven threat landscape, one-time authentication is no longer sufficient. Identity security must incorporate behavioural analysis, contextual signals and continuous evaluation. Access decisions need to adapt in real time based on risk, not static credentials alone.

AI can help defenders here, but only if identity data is central, accurate and actively monitored. Without strong identity foundations, Zero Trust becomes ineffective against automated and adaptive attacks.

Identity security is now a business imperative

Regulators and boards are paying closer attention to identity risk. Frameworks such as NIS2 and DORA place clear emphasis on access control, accountability and resilience. When breaches occur, organisations are expected to demonstrate that identity risks were understood, monitored andmanaged.

AI has permanently altered the threat landscape. Identity verification methods that once appeared robust are now easily manipulated. Organisations must assume identities will be targeted and design security controls accordingly.

How Integrity360 can help

Identity security demands a joined-up approach. Integrity360 delivers holistic identity security solutions built around people, processes and technology, helping organisations protect identities across modern, cloud-driven environments. Our capabilities span Managed Detection and Response alongside core identity technologies including Privileged Access Management,Access Management and Identity Governance and Administration, aligned through modern Identity Fabric principles.

We work closely with security, infrastructure and development teams to ensure identity security is embedded into the wider cybersecurity strategy, reducing risk, strengthening compliance and improvingresilience against AI-driven threats.

If identity is now the frontline of cyber defence, itneeds the right partner.

Talk to Integrity360 today to assess your identity security posture beforeattackers do.