SailPoint’s newly released Horizons of Identity Security report, published on November 20, delivers a clear message for IT leaders and security teams: identity security is now producing the strongest return on investment across the cybersecurity landscape. In a time when budgets are scrutinized and boards want measurable outcomes, identity-focused protections are standing out as one of the few areas where organizations can point to tangible, business-wide value.
What makes the findings especially striking is the gap between results and adoption. Even with identity security delivering top-tier ROI, the report indicates that 63% of enterprises still haven’t fully embraced it. That disconnect highlights a growing risk for organizations that continue to treat identity as a secondary concern rather than the front line of modern cyber defense.
Identity has become the new perimeter. As more companies operate in hybrid environments, support remote work, and rely on cloud services and third-party access, attackers are increasingly targeting user accounts, credentials, and permissions instead of attempting to break through traditional network defenses. That shift is exactly why identity and access management, privileged access controls, and governance around who can access what are becoming essential pillars of a strong cybersecurity strategy.
For businesses, the appeal goes beyond blocking threats. Strong identity security can also reduce operational friction by streamlining access requests, improving visibility into permissions, and cutting down on the costly cleanup that follows over-provisioned accounts or unmanaged access. Done well, it helps teams prevent breaches, meet compliance requirements, and improve day-to-day efficiency—all factors that can contribute to the “double ROI” message highlighted by the report.
Still, the statistic that nearly two-thirds of companies remain behind on identity security adoption suggests persistent barriers. Some organizations may be relying on outdated tools that were built for an earlier era of on-premise systems. Others may be dealing with complex environments where accounts, roles, and permissions have grown messy over time. In many cases, companies may understand identity security is important but struggle to prioritize it against other security investments—despite evidence that it pays off.
The report’s findings reinforce a key takeaway for 2025 planning: organizations looking to improve cybersecurity outcomes while maximizing ROI should treat identity security as a core investment, not an optional add-on. As cyber threats continue to focus on credential abuse and access exploitation, closing identity gaps is quickly becoming one of the most practical ways to strengthen defenses, reduce risk, and demonstrate measurable value to stakeholders.
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