This report summary focuses on Identity and Access Management software with data on the following vendors:
Identity and Access Management (IAM) is a critical cybersecurity field seeking to ensure that people and systems can safely and efficiently utilize the resources they need while protecting sensitive data. Surveying the major products in this field of security, we begin with Workforce and Customer Identity Access Management, which focus on real-time, user-level authentication by granting or denying entry to applications and data. Another critical function is Identity Governance and Administration (IGA), which compiles and manages digital identities by defining roles and setting appropriate levels of access across IT systems. Privileged Access Management (PAM) strives to protect high level IT accounts capable of making sweeping changes, which raise the risk of extensive harm from threat actors. Cloud Infrastructure Entitlements Management (CIEM) has risen in tandem with cloud migration to secure these external environments at scale, while Identity Threat Detection and Response (ITDR) works to find and mitigate identity-based threats as they are detected. Finally, Non-Human Identities (NHI), which extend digital access to bots, workloads, and IoT devices, are now a particular concern for many enterprises given they are estimated to vastly outnumber their human counterparts at an estimated ratio of 20 to 50 NHIs per human identity.
The cybersecurity industry has evolved in recent years to meet these persistent problems. Many legacy approaches rely on static role-based access control (RBAC) that fail to match the fluid operations and demands of modern enterprises and complex cloud environments. Even after users authenticate identities, resource access must be controlled, and next generation identity products incorporate context-aware authorization that leverages automation, policy models, and AI-driven tools. Visibility is also a primary concern as enterprises often struggle to discover, categorize, and monitor every identity in their environments. Large organizations may have multiple Active Directory domains, thousands of SaaS applications and APIs, cloud-based workloads, each requiring its own access rules. The rise and rapid adoption of Gen AI tools adds another degree of complexity, particularly around sensitive data.
ETR’s Observatory for Identity and Access Management vendors surveyed 330 IT decision makers. Over three-fifths (63%) represent Large enterprises of more than 1,200 employees, with just under one in six (15%) at Fortune 500 firms and over one-fifth (22%) at Global 2000 enterprises. The results highlight the ongoing adoption of Identity security tools and provide a detailed breakdown of vendor momentum, usage trends, and market positioning. Market position is determined solely by IT decision maker data.
The report categorizes vendors across different categories, reflecting their momentum and presence within the Identity and Access Management Security space:
Cloud computing, decentralized architectures, and on-demand software have transformed cybersecurity, making identity verification across vast networks a top priority. With workforce and customer access spanning numerous applications, integrating critical identity tools is essential for a dynamic defense. Identity-based breaches occur frequently, inflicting financial and reputational damage across industries, while the rise of non-human entities and generative AI amplifies risks. Traditional role-based access is inadequate, driving next-gen IAM solutions that leverage automation, AI-led enforcement, and continuous monitoring. A strategic IAM approach is crucial to safeguarding assets, mitigating threats, and ensuring resilience, reinforcing identity as the cornerstone of enterprise security.
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