Report by ManageEngine
Identity Security Outlook 2026: Philosophy, Perspectives, and Priorities of IAM Leadership
Key Findings
Nearly 3 in 4 organizations in the United States have a fragmented IAM stack.
1 in 5 organizations cite IAM skill shortages and complexity as major challenges.
46% are currently evaluating consolidation toward unified identity platforms.
46% of organizations identify emerging identity complexities as a top investment priority for 2026.
9 in 10 organizations are piloting or using AI in identity and access management (IAM), yet only 7% have organization-wide deployment.
Organizations now manage machine identities at a ratio commonly exceeding 100:1, with some sectors approaching 500:1.
Only 12% of organizations have achieved comprehensive automated life cycle management for machine identities.
49% of organizations identify governance gaps as a top investment priority for 2026.
36% of leaders are actively consolidating toward unified identity platforms.