Digital Identity is Key, But It’s Not a Sexy Field in Cybersecurity. Am I in the Right Specialty?

If you work in cybersecurity and specialize in digital identity, you’ve probably had this feeling:

? You see ethical hackers in movies and TV shows, shrouded in mystery.

? You hear Red Team professionals boasting about how they breached a company’s security in minutes.

? Even malware analysts have epic stories about mutant viruses and multimillion-dollar ransomware attacks.

And then there’s you.

? Fixing authentication issues.

? Auditing access controls.

? Explaining for the hundredth time that 8-character passwords are a game of Russian roulette, with a data breach as the prize.

And you wonder: Am I in the right specialty?

The Paradox of Digital Identity

Here’s the irony: Digital identity is the backbone of cybersecurity.

Without it, any firewall is useless.

Any pentest is just a simulation.

Any Zero Trust strategy is just a fancy PowerPoint.

But no one seems impressed. There’s no action. No explosions. Just logins, MFA, and access permissions.

The problem is that digital identity is like the immune system—you only notice it when something goes wrong.

When a phishing attack succeeds…

When someone gets in with stolen credentials…

When a former employee still has access to sensitive data…

Then, suddenly, everyone wants to talk about digital identity.

But on a daily basis, we remain in the shadows.

The True Value of Digital Identity

The biggest security breaches in recent years didn’t happen because some ultra-sophisticated hacker found an obscure vulnerability.

No.

They happened because someone got in with legitimate credentials.

? SolarWinds: Compromised access.

? Colonial Pipeline: Leaked password with no MFA.

? Twitter 2020: Social engineering and privilege abuse.

So if you think you’re in a boring field, you’re wrong.

You’re in the most critical field of all.

But Why Isn’t It Sexy?

Simple: It’s easier to sell action than prevention.

? The Red Team has thrilling stories.

? The forensic analysts have dramatic cases.

? And you? You ensure compliance with an ISO standard or corporate policy.

But you know what?

The most sophisticated hacker in the world can find a system flaw and exploit a vulnerability.

But if you do your job well, they will never get in. But without credentials, without a valid identity, without access—there is no hack.

You decide whether you want to be the firefighter who puts out the fire or the architect who designs the house so it never burns.

The Future of Digital Identity (And Why You ARE in the Right Specialty)

The world is moving towards:

? Passkeys and passwordless authentication

? Decentralized identity and blockchain

? Advanced biometrics and adaptive authentication

? Zero Trust as the new standard

Every company, every government, every industry needs digital identity experts.

And no, maybe it’s not “sexy.”

But it’s profitable, stable, and growing fast.

And if you’re looking for a challenge, here’s one:

Make digital identity exciting for others.

Become the person who explains, who sells the importance of what you do, who helps others see what you already know

Digital identity is the first and last line of defense in cybersecurity.

And if you understand that, not only are you in the right specialty…

You’re in the specialty of the future.