New research finds identity security is key to cost savings, productivity, and AI readiness

SailPoint has released its Horizons of Identity Security 2025–2026 report, revealing that identity security now delivers the highest return on investment (ROI) across the security stack. Once viewed as a back-office control, identity has evolved into a strategic platform that fuels business agility, productivity, and AI enablement—all while reducing risk.

“The report shows that identity has become the central control point for modern enterprises,” said Matt Mills, President, SailPoint. “It is where policies are enforced, critical decisions are made, and security operations converge. With advances in AI, threat detection, and governance, identity security is delivering unified visibility and resilience, enabling enterprises to manage every identity—human, machine, or AI agent.”

Identity Leaders Pull Ahead

The research highlights a widening maturity gap. Nearly two-thirds of organizations (63%) remain stuck at basic levels, relying on manual processes, while only 10% have advanced to higher maturity stages where ...