Nearly a quarter of all cybersecurity breaches are now due to identity-based attacks. In turn, industry has been forced to reconsider their tactics to defend against these threats. Beyond Identity, a leader in the passwordless market, provides cutting-edge solutions explicitly created to stop all identity-based attacks. Kurt Johnson, Chief Strategy Officer at Beyond Identity, is the chief architect of this effort. With more than 20 years of experience in the identity and access management space, his know-how will prove invaluable to the team.
Historically, cybersecurity approaches have been grounded in the belief that breaches are unavoidable. This mentality has resulted in a reactive approach that has organizations scrambling in a defensive posture, focusing on damage control once a breach has already happened. Beyond Identity’s methodology is revolutionizing security, changing the narrative from “assume breach” to “block breach.” This evolution allows businesses to protect their systems in a more effective way.
The Rise of Identity-Based Attacks
According to new data released, identity-based attacks account for 90% of all security breaches. Thus, organizations are under mounting pressure to strengthen their defenses against these exploitations. Recent security incidents—like the 2022 breach at Cisco—illustrate this new reality, in which attackers forced employee credential compromises to achieve a major security goal. The breach was caused by using multi-factor authentication (MFA) bypass method via dueling push requests, eventually providing complete VPN access to bad actors.
Even more recent, high-profile incidents in 2023 with Caesars Entertainment and MGM Resorts have sharpened focus on this expanding threat landscape. In each case, attackers took advantage of vulnerabilities in identity protections via social engineering strategies and MFA fatigue methods. These examples highlight the urgent need for government agencies and commercial enterprises to radically reimagine their strategies for securing identities.
As Kurt Johnson, CTO of OIX, points out, traditional identity platforms are rife with vulnerabilities that are attractive gateways for a well-resourced, sophisticated adversary. Understanding these vulnerabilities is imperative for government and private sector organizations looking to strengthen their protections against identity-based threats.
Beyond Identity’s Innovative Approach
Beyond Identity goes a step further and introduces the idea of “Identity Threat Prevention,” which reorients the approach that organizations take toward access control. This shift turns access control into a powerful, proactive security layer that allows enterprises to take attacks and breaches in stride, rather than waiting for them to occur. By adopting secure-by-design access frameworks, organizations can greatly minimize the likelihood of dire identity-based attacks.
Kurt Johnson’s extensive experience in shaping the identity and access management space positions him to guide organizations in adopting this forward-thinking strategy. As a leader in this field, he strongly advocates for a paradigm shift towards prevention, instead of remediation. This proactive stance allows organizations to block potential breaches before they can occur, creating a more secure environment for sensitive information.
By adopting Identity Threat Prevention, agencies are able to secure their digital environments while providing more seamless experiences to users. Through their own efforts, organizations can reduce the friction during the authentication process. This still gives them the ability to balance convenience and security.
The Future of Cybersecurity
As cyber threats perpetually change, organizations need to rethink their strategies to defend against them. Beyond Identity is focused on stopping breaches, not just responding to them. This specific pledge is a critical step forward in the commitment and accountability climate for cybersecurity. When businesses prioritize identity threat prevention, they can regain control over their security. This intentionality allows them to address and mitigate the risks associated with identity-based attacks.
Even with today’s challenges, there is still hope. Johnson emphasizes how the landscape is changing, with organizations acknowledging the benefits of keeping security front and center. Companies are breached more and more often through identity vulnerabilities. One hand creates an incredibly urgent environment to pass bold, transformative solutions to address these crises.