Identity breaches are on the rise, and are only getting worse - so how can your business stay safe?

Date:
Thu, 14 May 2026 14:05:00 +0000

Description:
A unified, automated identity security approach is needed, CyberArk says as
it warns about AI agents' access to sensitive files.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Four in five UK enterprises suffered identityrelated breaches in 2025 Machine identities now outnumber humans 100:1, with many AI agents accessing sensitive financial systems CyberArk urges unified, automated identity security as identity complexity outpaces traditional controls Almost all enterprises experienced at least one identity-related breach in 2025, new research has claimed, in incidents where criminals logged into existing, legitimate accounts, instead of using a bug
or a vulnerability to gain access.

The Identity Security Landscape Report 2026 from Palo Alto Networks CyberArk notes the problem is only going to get worse since the number of identities
in the enterprise is also spiking, and through it - the attack landscape grows. In fact, almost three quarters (74%) of enterprises in the UK experienced at least three successful identity-related breaches in the last
12 months. Latest Videos From You may like 'In 2026, cybercrime has reached a point of total convergence': New research claims AI attacks are taking over so how can your business stay safe? Identity is the new perimeter: The shift from breaking in to logging in AI-created malware is on the rise here's what your business needs to stay safe The rise of the machines There are multiple factors contributing to this significant rise in risk. The first one is the sheer number of accounts enterprises are handling. Today, UK organizations expect a steep rise in the number of accounts across human identities,
machine identities, and AI identities.

AI & LLMs, IoT devices and bots, as well as humans using more cloud applications , are all contributing to the mushrooming of digital identities.

At the same time, more and more organizations are allowing AI agents and machine identities access to sensitive data.

Today, 34% of AI agents and 37% of machine identities can access financial records and high-value systems while at the same time, only a minority use behavioral monitoring and credential revocation for their autonomous AI agents, conversational AI agents, and GenAI agents. Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

CyberArk says that today, machine identities outnumber humans 100 to 1 in the UK alone. At the same time, organizations are not rethinking how identity
risk is managed, resulting in increasing pressure to extend visibility, control, and governance.

Businesses must now transition from fragmented, manual oversight, to a unified, automated identity security approach, the researchers conclude. Having 100 machine identities to every human one requires a platform-driven strategy, they argue.

The explosion of machine identities represents a fundamental shift in the enterprise attack surface, says Rich Turner, Senior Vice President EMEA - Identity Security at Palo Alto Networks. With AI-driven identities projected to continue accelerating in the next year, organizations are facing a reality where identity complexity is rapidly outpacing traditional security controls. The best antivirus for all budgets Our top picks, based on real-world testing and comparisons

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