9 Identity Security Predictions for 2026

The world of identity security is in constant motion. What was once a straightforward matter of usernames and passwords has evolved into a complex ecosystem of biometrics, hardware tokens, and zero-trust architectures. As we look toward 2026, the pace of change is only accelerating. The lines between our digital and physical identities are blurring, and the threat landscape is becoming more sophisticated.

Chief Information Security Officers spend their days on the front lines of this evolution. Staying ahead isn't just about reacting to threats; it's about anticipating them to reduce risk. Based on the trends I'm seeing today, here are 10 identity security predictions for where we'll be in 2026.

1. AI will become the primary identity governance tool.

Manual access reviews and role-based access control (RBAC) models are already showing their age. By 2026, AI-driven identity governance and administration (IGA) will be standard. These systems will continuously analyze user behavior, resource sensitivity, and risk signals to grant, modify, or revoke access in real time. This "just-in-time" access will dramatically reduce the attack surface created by standing privileges.

2. Deepfakes will force a move to "liveness" biometrics.

The rise of convincing deepfakes will render traditional biometric markers like static facial scans and voiceprints unreliable for high-stakes authentication. The focus will shift to "liveness" detection. Think multi-frame facial analysis that tracks subtle muscle movements or voice authentication that analyzes unique vocal cord patterns. Proving you are a live person will become as important as proving who you are.

3. Decentralized identity will gain enterprise traction.

Self-sovereign identity (SSI) and decentralized identifiers (DIDs) will move beyond the crypto community and into the enterprise. Companies will start adopting verifiable credentials, allowing employees and customers to control their own identity data. This will simplify onboarding, reduce data storage risks for businesses, and give individuals unprecedented control over their personal information. Your digital wallet will hold your degree, your employment verification, and your access credentials, all signed and verified on a blockchain.

4. Passwordless authentication becomes the default, not the exception.

The push to kill the password has been a long time coming, but 2026 will be the inflection point. The widespread adoption of passkeys, backed by major players like Apple, Google, and Microsoft, will finally make passwordless MFA the default user experience. The convenience and superior security will be too compelling for organizations to ignore, relegating passwords to legacy systems.

5. Identity becomes the linchpin of OT and IoT security.

As operational technology (OT) and the Internet of Things (IoT) become more connected, securing these devices will be a top priority. The focus will shift from network-level security to device-level identity. Every sensor, actuator, and controller on a factory floor or in a smart building should have a unique, attestable identity. This will enable granular, zero-trust policies that prevent unauthorized devices from communicating or executing commands.

6. The "Identity of Things" will require a new security paradigm.

Beyond enterprise IoT, we will see an explosion of machine identities. Every microservice, API, and container in a cloud-native environment will have its own identity. Managing the lifecycle of these ephemeral, non-human identities will require specialized Cloud Infrastructure Entitlement Management (CIEM) and machine identity management tools that can handle millions of credentials at scale.

7. Quantum computing will drive improved encryption standards.

While full-scale quantum computers capable of breaking RSA and ECC encryption are still on the horizon, the threat will be taken seriously by 2026. "Harvest now, decrypt later" attacks, where adversaries steal encrypted data today to decrypt with future quantum computers, will drive the first wave of adoption for post-quantum cryptography (PQC) in identity systems, particularly for government and critical infrastructure.

8. The CISO role will envelop both Identity and Trust functions.

The scope of the CISO role will expand significantly. As identity becomes the central control plane for all access—employee, customer, machine, and partner—the CISO will become the primary steward of digital trust. Their responsibilities will merge traditional cybersecurity with digital risk, privacy, and identity strategy.

9. Identity security will be fully integrated into the development lifecycle.

The concept of "Shift Left" will fully embrace identity. Securing applications will no longer be an afterthought. Identity and access controls will be defined and embedded directly into code during the development process (Identity as Code). Developers will use standard libraries and APIs to manage authentication and authorization, making secure access a fundamental component of the application architecture from day one.

The Path Forward

The world of 2026 will be more connected, automated, and intelligent than ever before. This brings incredible opportunities, but it also creates a complex and challenging threat landscape. The common thread running through it all is identity. It is the new perimeter, the key to enabling business, and the foundation of digital trust. The organizations that thrive will be those that stop treating identity as a simple IT function and start treating it as a core strategic imperative. The time to prepare is now.

Ready to dive deeper? Discover more detailed trends, practical guidance, and research-backed insights in our latest Horizons of Identity Security report. Read the full report to prepare your organization for the future of identity security.

About the Author: Rex Booth is the Chief Information Security Officer at SailPoint. In this role, he leads the full spectrum of cybersecurity strategy and operations at SailPoint, including enterprise operational security and product security.