Two landmark events transformed the identity security market in 2025. Palo Alto Networks announced a $25B acquisition of CyberArk, merging the PAM market leader into a network security giant. SailPoint returned to public markets at a $12.8B valuation. Meanwhile, non-human identity (machine identities, service accounts, AI agent credentials) has emerged as the critical next frontier, with CrowdStrike’s $740M SGNL acquisition signaling the direction. The market grew from $28.5B in 2024 to $33.1B in 2025, with 60% of enterprises expected to adopt Zero Trust identity frameworks by 2026.
How We Evaluated
We assessed workforce IAM capabilities including SSO, MFA, adaptive access, and user lifecycle management. Privileged Access Management mattered, covering vault, session recording, and just-in-time access. Identity Governance was key, including access certification, separation of duties, role management, and compliance. Non-human identity management for service accounts, API keys, machine identity, and AI agent credentials factored in. We looked at integration with directory services, cloud providers, SaaS applications, and DevOps tooling, plus Zero Trust alignment through continuous verification, risk-based access, and least privilege enforcement.
1. Microsoft Entra ID
Score: 95/100
Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) is the default IAM platform for the Microsoft ecosystem and has expanded into a comprehensive identity portfolio covering workforce, external, and machine identities. The Entra suite now includes ID, ID Governance, Permissions Management (CIEM), Verified ID, and Internet Access (ZTNA).
It serves as the default IAM for Microsoft 365, Azure, and over 15,000 SaaS integrations. Conditional Access policies provide risk-based, context-aware authentication. Entra Permissions Management provides CIEM across AWS, Azure, and GCP. Entra ID Governance delivers access reviews, entitlement management, and lifecycle workflows. Copilot for Security integration enables natural language identity investigation. The value proposition is strongest for Microsoft-centric organizations due to E5 bundling.
Best for: Microsoft-centric enterprises wanting comprehensive IAM bundled with their existing E5 licensing
2. Okta Workforce Identity Cloud
Score: 93/100
Okta retains its position as the independent IAM leader, named a Leader in Gartner’s 2024 MQ for Access Management. The platform’s strength is its neutrality, integrating equally well with every cloud provider and SaaS application without favoring a particular ecosystem.
Vendor-neutral SSO and MFA span over 7,500 pre-built integrations. Okta Identity Governance provides lifecycle management and access certification. Advanced Server Access handles SSH and RDP privileged access management. Okta AI leverages identity graph data for risk-based access decisions. FastPass provides passwordless authentication with device trust. Customer Identity Cloud (Auth0) handles external and customer-facing identity.
Best for: Multi-cloud, multi-vendor enterprises wanting vendor-neutral IAM with the broadest SaaS integration ecosystem
3. CyberArk Identity (Palo Alto Networks, Pending)
Score: 92/100
CyberArk’s pending acquisition by Palo Alto Networks ($25B, FTC cleared September 2025, expected to close H2 FY2026) will merge the privileged access management leader with a network security giant. Until the deal closes, CyberArk operates independently. The platform remains the gold standard for privileged access management and secrets management.
Industry-leading Privileged Access Management includes session recording and vault. Secrets Manager handles DevOps pipelines, CI/CD, and application credentials. Endpoint Privilege Manager enforces least privilege on workstations. Identity Security Intelligence provides behavioral analytics and threat detection. Conjur handles cloud-native secrets management. Pending Palo Alto integration will connect PAM with Cortex XDR and Prisma Cloud.
Best for: Organizations with mature PAM requirements and enterprises wanting privileged access integrated with network and cloud security
4. SailPoint Identity Security Cloud
Score: 90/100
SailPoint returned to public markets in February 2025 at a $12.8B valuation, validating the identity governance market. The platform leads in identity governance and administration, providing AI-powered access recommendations, certification campaigns, and compliance reporting.
Industry-leading Identity Governance and Administration includes AI-powered recommendations. Access certification campaigns use risk-based prioritization. SaaS, on-premises, and hybrid deployment options are all available. AI-driven role discovery and anomalous access detection improve over time. Strong compliance reporting covers SOX, HIPAA, and regulatory frameworks. Non-human identity governance handles service accounts and machine identities.
Best for: Regulated enterprises with complex identity governance requirements including access certification, separation of duties enforcement, and compliance
5. Ping Identity (Thales)
Score: 87/100
Following the Thales acquisition in 2023, Ping Identity operates as part of Thales’ cybersecurity division. The platform specializes in complex enterprise federation, API security, and customer identity use cases where fine-grained authorization is critical.
Advanced federation and SSO handle complex multi-domain enterprise environments. PingAuthorize provides fine-grained, attribute-based access control. Strong API security and gateway integration come standard. Customer Identity and Access Management handles external-facing applications. DaVinci enables no-code identity orchestration. Decentralized identity and verifiable credentials support is included.
Best for: Complex enterprises with advanced federation requirements, fine-grained authorization, and API security needs
6. Google Cloud Identity
Score: 85/100
Google Cloud Identity provides enterprise IAM tightly integrated with Google Workspace and GCP. The BeyondCorp Enterprise Zero Trust framework extends identity-aware access controls beyond Google’s ecosystem to third-party applications and on-premises resources.
Deep integration with Google Workspace and Google Cloud Platform comes standard. BeyondCorp Enterprise provides identity-aware proxy and device trust. Context-aware access policies use device posture, location, and risk signals. Strong SAML/OIDC federation enables third-party application SSO. Admin Console provides unified user lifecycle management. Pricing stays competitive for Google-centric organizations.
Best for: Google Workspace and GCP-centric organizations wanting zero trust access integrated with their existing Google ecosystem
7. CrowdStrike Identity Protection
Score: 84/100
CrowdStrike’s identity protection extends the Falcon platform to detect and prevent identity-based attacks including credential theft, lateral movement, and privilege escalation. The SGNL acquisition ($740M, 2025) adds continuous authorization and non-human identity security.
Identity Threat Detection and Response integrates with Falcon XDR. Active Directory and Entra ID attack surface assessment is included. Real-time lateral movement detection and blocking come standard. The SGNL acquisition adds continuous authorization for non-human identities. Falcon Identity Protection requires no additional agent, using the existing Falcon sensor. Charlotte AI provides natural language investigation of identity-based threats.
Best for: CrowdStrike Falcon customers wanting identity threat detection and non-human identity security integrated with endpoint and cloud protection
8. Delinea
Score: 82/100
Delinea (formerly Centrify plus Thycotic) focuses on privileged access management with a cloud-native approach. The platform provides password vaulting, just-in-time privilege elevation, and session management with less complexity than CyberArk for mid-market deployments.
Cloud-native PAM offers simpler deployment than traditional vault solutions. Secret Server provides enterprise password vaulting with automatic rotation. Privilege Manager handles endpoint least privilege and application control. Server PAM provides just-in-time SSH and RDP privileged access. DevOps Secrets Vault manages CI/CD pipeline credentials. Pricing stays competitive for mid-market PAM deployments.
Best for: Mid-market organizations wanting privileged access management without the complexity and cost of enterprise PAM solutions
9. IBM Security Verify
Score: 80/100
IBM Security Verify provides IAM integrated with IBM’s broader security portfolio including QRadar SIEM and Guardium data security. The platform’s strength is in regulated enterprise environments where compliance-driven identity governance is critical.
AI-powered access decisions use risk-based authentication. Strong integration with IBM QRadar enables identity-centric threat detection. Adaptive access policies use behavioral analytics. Identity governance includes compliance-focused reporting. FIDO2 passwordless authentication support is included. On-premises and cloud deployment options suit regulated industries.
Best for: IBM-centric enterprises in regulated industries requiring compliance-focused IAM with SIEM integration
10. OneSpan Identity Verification
Score: 78/100
OneSpan focuses on identity verification and digital agreements, particularly relevant for financial services where identity proofing, transaction signing, and regulatory compliance intersect with traditional IAM.
Identity verification includes document validation and biometric matching. Digital agreement signing uses strong authentication. Risk analytics detect transaction fraud. FIDO-certified authentication solutions are available. Strong financial services vertical expertise informs the product. Regulatory compliance covers KYC, AML, and PSD2 requirements.
Best for: Financial services organizations requiring identity proofing, transaction signing, and regulatory-compliant authentication
Where the Market Is Heading
Several trends are reshaping IAM in 2026.
Non-human identity is the next battleground. Machine identities, service accounts, API keys, and AI agent credentials outnumber human identities 40:1, and most IAM platforms don’t manage them.
Platform absorption continues. Palo Alto (CyberArk), CrowdStrike (SGNL), and Microsoft (Entra suite) are absorbing IAM into security platforms. Standalone IAM vendors face consolidation pressure.
Passwordless is accelerating. FIDO2, passkeys, and phishing-resistant MFA are replacing password-based authentication across enterprise and consumer applications.
Identity has become the new perimeter. With network perimeters dissolved, every security decision is becoming an identity decision. ITDR (Identity Threat Detection and Response) is the fastest-growing IAM sub-category.
AI agent identity is unsolved. As organizations deploy AI agents that act autonomously, managing and governing agent identity, authorization, and audit trails remains an open problem.