Why Identity is the New Perimeter: Rethinking Security in a Cloud-First World
In today’s environment, where users, devices, applications, and data exist beyond the traditional network boundaries, identity has become the new perimeter.
Boundaries are now defined by individuals rather than by location or specific geography. Because of cloud adoption, remote work, B2B collaboration, and device and app sprawl, identity is now the logical place to enforce security controls.
The core pillars of identity-centric security—authentication, authorization, governance, and monitoring—enable granular, contextual, and adaptive security. However, organizations often face challenges when shifting their security strategy. For example, the complexity of maintaining least privilege, governing non-human identities, and properly managing identities throughout their entire lifecycle are all common roadblocks.
This article, the first in a series exploring Microsoft Entra’s key identity components, discusses the shift from traditional network-based security to identity-centric strategies. Learn about the core pillars of an identity-centric security strategy, get a real-life example, and finally, where to start.