𝐈’𝐀𝐌 𝐂𝐲𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲: 𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬, 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲
Identity and Access Management (IAM) used to be seen as a technical concern — something that lived deep in the IT stack.
In 2025, IAM is front and centre. It sits squarely on the boardroom agenda. And in Australia, it’s increasingly viewed as a first line of defence not just against cyber threats, but against operational risk, reputational damage, and regulatory fallout.
We’re Already Living the Shift
By 2027, we won’t just talk about the convergence of IAM, cybersecurity, fraud and compliance, we’ll be living it. The shift is already in motion, and recent events are accelerating the urgency.
In a recent breach in Australia’s superannuation sector, sensitive personal data was exposed. The damage was immediate — to trust, to customer confidence, and to the brand. The regulators moved quickly. But the breach wasn’t caused by a sophisticated nation-state actor. It came down to something far more fundamental: weak access controls, fragmented systems, and a lack of visibility.
These are exactly the kinds of problems IAM is meant to solve. When done right.
This isn’t just a technology upgrade. It’s a shift in mindset. A strategic reset.
What Needs to Change
The way organisations manage digital identities hasn’t kept up with the way we do business. Real-time payments, remote work, cloud-native infrastructure, and a constantly shifting threat landscape have pushed traditional IAM approaches to the limit.
To adapt, organisations need to move from:
- Disconnected tools → Integrated platforms – Too many businesses still rely on a patchwork of systems that don’t talk to each other. You can’t secure what you can’t see.
- Isolated teams → Aligned governance – IAM isn’t an IT function. It crosses HR, finance, security, compliance, and operations. Governance needs to reflect that.
- Siloed risk domains → Shared intelligence – IAM data needs to feed into broader threat detection, fraud analytics, and risk management systems. We can’t afford blind spots anymore.
IAM ties all this together. It’s not just about provisioning and de-provisioning accounts. It’s about knowing who has access, when they got it, why they have it and whether that access still makes sense today.
In today’s environment, that clarity isn’t optional. It’s foundational.
The Blind Spots I Too Frequently See
Even with increased awareness, many organizations continue to fall short. The top three patterns I frequently encounter are as follows:
- Considering IAM to be merely another IT endeavor – It isn’t. IAM affects every aspect of the business, including compliance, customer data protection, and employee onboarding.
- Using a technological solution without first conducting the necessary research – A lack of strategy cannot be solved by purchasing a flashy IAM platform. You must establish what good looks like, map out your identity landscape, and comprehend your business needs.
- Underestimating the amount of alignment required – IAM projects frequently stop because important stakeholders aren’t on the same page, not because the technology isn’t working. Technical delivery is important, but so are governance, communication, and change management.
What the Board Needs to Hear
IAM isn’t about checking boxes or ticking off compliance requirements. It’s about enabling the business securely, efficiently, and with accountability baked in.
It’s about protecting:
- People — employees, customers, partners
- Reputation — one breach can undo years of brand trust
- Regulatory position — in a landscape of increasing scrutiny, you can’t afford to fall behind
If you’re in the boardroom and still viewing IAM as a backend system or an IT line item, you’re missing the bigger picture. The best-performing organisations in the next two years will be those that made IAM a business capability — not just a technology project.
Where This Is All Heading
Over the next 18–24 months, expect to see:
- Tighter integration between IAM and fraud detection – Identity is now the first battleground for cybercrime. Expect tools that detect suspicious behaviour in real time, not just authenticate logins.
- Increased regulatory scrutiny – Whether it’s APRA, OAIC, or international regimes like GDPR, regulators are getting sharper and faster. Evidence of control matters.
- IAM at the core of Zero Trust – Trust no one, verify everything. But do it in a way that doesn’t frustrate users. IAM will need to balance security with seamless experiences.
- More demand for IAM maturity – Boards will start asking not “do we have IAM?” but “how mature, measurable, and aligned is our IAM program?”
If you’re waiting for someone to give you permission to treat IAM as strategic — this is it. You don’t need a headline-grabbing breach to act. The opportunity is here now, and by 2027 the organisations that lead will be those that start before it’s urgent.
𝐈’𝐀𝐌 ready. Are you?
