Identity Security Trends in 2024: Insights from My Recent Travels Across India

I’ve just returned from an enlightening trip across India, where I had the privilege of meeting with customers, prospects, and partners. During my travels, I had the opportunity to engage with leading organizations that are making significant strides in advancing their identity security strategies. What I found was both exciting and insightful: there is a growing and urgent focus on identity security, driven by the need to protect data, meet regulatory compliance demands, and effectively manage digital transformation.

A key observation during my visit was the rapid growth of the Indian economy and the increasing international expansion of Indian businesses. These factors are not only driving demand for more robust identity security solutions but are also positioning identity security as a critical competitive differentiator. In this blog, I’ll explore some of the key identity security trends I observed, including the growing impact of SEBI’s new cybersecurity and data protection regulations, and how organizations can stay ahead of these challenges.

1. The Cloud Shift Is Driving Complex Identity Security Challenges

One of the major themes I encountered during my trip was the accelerated migration to cloud environments. Indian companies are increasingly adopting cloud technologies to drive business agility, reduce costs, and scale rapidly. However, this shift to the cloud is creating new identity security challenges.

As more data and applications move to the cloud, managing access to these resources has become increasingly complex. Traditional security models, which rely on a well-defined perimeter, are no longer sufficient. Organizations need robust Identity Access Management (IAM) and Identity Governance and Administration (IGA) solutions to manage user access, ensure appropriate permissions, and protect sensitive data.

This demand is particularly evident among organizations with significant international operations, which must adhere to the regulatory frameworks of the countries where they operate. These companies need IAM solutions that provide granular visibility into who is accessing critical assets and ensure compliance with increasingly complex global regulations.

2. Zero Trust Is Gaining Momentum

The Zero Trust security model is gaining widespread attention in India, and for good reason. As cyber threats grow more sophisticated and organizations adopt cloud-first strategies, Zero Trust has emerged as the defacto security architecture with Identity Security front and center. The core principle of Zero Trust is simple: never trust, always verify. Every user, device, and transaction must be continuously authenticated before being granted access to any resource.

This model is particularly relevant for businesses that are embracing remote work and expanding into cloud-based services. Identity and access management is foundational to implementing a Zero-Trust approach, ensuring that organizations can limit potential attack surfaces and mitigate the risk of breaches.

At Saviynt, we’re working closely with organizations to integrate Zero Trust principles into their identity security strategies, providing tools that assess risk in real-time and verify access based on user context.

3. AI and Machine Learning Are Revolutionizing Identity Security

Another key trend I observed during my travels was the increasing interest in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) to strengthen identity security. As organizations scale their operations and adopt more complex technologies, the need for intelligent, automated security measures has never been more urgent.

AI and ML are transforming how businesses approach identity security by automating threat detection, improving risk assessments, and providing insights into user behavior. These technologies can quickly identify anomalous activity and help organizations respond to potential threats before they escalate.

At Saviynt, we’re integrating AI-driven capabilities into our identity governance solutions, enabling advanced anomaly detection, real-time risk analysis, and dynamic, risk-based access control. These capabilities help organizations protect sensitive data while staying ahead of evolving threats.

4. SEBI’s New Cybersecurity Regulations Are Changing the Landscape

One of the most significant regulatory developments in India is the SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) cybersecurity and data protection guidelines. Recently, SEBI issued new directions requiring listed companies, market intermediaries, and stock exchanges to adopt stronger cybersecurity measures. These regulations place increased responsibility on firms to safeguard critical data, protect investor information, and ensure the security of digital assets.

These new controls underscore the importance of managing identities and access across digital platforms. They mandate that organizations implement robust identity governance practices and ensure proper monitoring of user access to sensitive financial data. Compliance with these regulations is not just a technical challenge—it is a critical business requirement.

As businesses expand internationally, many organizations in India are increasingly turning to Identity Governance and Administration (IGA) and Identity Access Management (IAM) solutions to automate compliance reporting, track user activities, and ensure secure access to sensitive systems. This shift is helping organizations meet SEBI’s requirements while strengthening their overall security posture.

5. Identity Security as a Competitive Differentiator

The rapid growth of the Indian economy and the international expansion of Indian businesses are creating new demands for identity security. As Indian companies expand into global markets, they face a complex regulatory landscape and increased competition. In this environment, a strong identity security strategy is not just about protecting data—it’s also about creating a competitive edge.

By implementing robust identity governance solutions, organizations can gain a trusted reputation with customers and partners, while also ensuring compliance with international regulations. Companies that prioritize identity security differentiate themselves by demonstrating their commitment to data protection and customer privacy, building trust in their digital interactions.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Identity Security in APJ

My journey across India reinforced what we at Saviynt have known for some time: the future of identity security in the APJ region is bright. The rapid adoption of cloud technologies, the growing importance of Zero Trust models, and the increasing focus on AI-driven security solutions are shaping the future of identity management in India and beyond.

At Saviynt, we are committed to helping organizations across the region build resilient identity governance solutions that address these challenges and ensure that sensitive data remains secure. Our platform offers advanced identity management solutions that help enterprises stay ahead of evolving security threats, comply with regulations like SEBI’s new guidelines, and create a more secure and user-friendly environment.

As always, feel free to reach out to continue the conversation, share your thoughts, or connect with me on LinkedIn.