Identity is one of the most attractive target areas for cybercriminals. In fact 97% of identity attacks are password attacks, and identity-based attacks surged 32% in the first half of 2025 alone.1 Today’s attackers are less focused on breaking through firewalls and more focused on compromising user accounts, service accounts, devices, and AI-powered tools to gain access to sensitive data and systems.
As organizations adopt more cloud services, automation, and AI, the number of identities they must secure continues to grow. Identity is no longer just another layer of cybersecurity. It has become the foundation of modern cybersecurity, making identity protection one of the most critical priorities for businesses today.
The security perimeter has changed
Gone are the days where cybersecurity teams could protect the business by focusing on a clear network perimeter. Today, that perimeter is gone. Employees work from anywhere, applications live in the cloud, and AI tools are accessing business data in new ways.
As a result, identity has become the new cybersecurity boundary. Every person, device, application, and AI agent needs access to something. For partners and cybersecurity solution providers, that creates a major opportunity to help customers secure and manage every identity across their environment.
Identity is no longer just about humans
Identity isn't just about who's logging in anymore. It's about everything that's connecting to your environment. From employees and contractors to applications, devices, and AI copilots, every interaction starts with an identity requesting access. And every one of those identities needs the right permissions, oversight, and security controls in place.
The challenge is that the number of identities keeps growing. As companies add more cloud services, automation, and AI technologies, they also create more opportunities for attackers to exploit overlooked accounts or excessive permissions. That's why organizations are shifting their focus to identity security. The more identities you have, the larger your attack surface becomes, and the more important it is to know exactly who or what has access to your resources.
Why attackers target identity first
Attackers usually take the easiest path in, and that path is often a compromised identity. Whether it's a phishing email, stolen password, misused service account, or vulnerable AI workflow, the goal is simple: Use a trusted identity to gain access and avoid detection.
Once inside, attackers can move across systems, access sensitive data, and expand their reach. That's why identity security has become a top priority. Today, it's often the identity — not the device or network — that organizations need to protect first.
Identity security creates a managed services opportunity
Identity security is about more than enabling multifactor authentication or meeting compliance requirements. It's an opportunity for MSPs and cybersecurity partners to help customers protect and manage every identity across their environment, including users, devices, applications, and AI agents.
Because identities, permissions, and applications are constantly changing, identity security isn't a one-time project. Customers need ongoing support to monitor risk, manage access, and stay ahead of new threats. For partners, that creates an opportunity to deliver long-term value, build stronger customer relationships, and grow recurring revenue.
Start the conversation. Expand the relationship.
Identity has become the foundation of modern cybersecurity. As organizations adopt more cloud services, applications, and AI tools, securing identities is one of the most effective ways to reduce risk and protect critical business resources.
For MSPs and channel partners, this is an opportunity to deliver ongoing value while strengthening customer relationships.
Ready to help your customers build an identity-first security strategy? Contact us or your Arrow representative to learn more.
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