The SINET Identity Working Group has released “The SINET Risk Executive Handbook on Identity: Managing Identity in the Age of AI,” a guide designed for practitioners to address identity security challenges in environments increasingly impacted by AI adoption and digital complexity. The working group, which includes CISOs and security executives from Fortune 500 companies, is led by Jim Alkove, CEO and Co-Founder of Oleria, a company specializing in identity security solutions.
According to Jim Alkove, the current identity architectures are not scaled for today’s complexity, and the rise of agentic AI threatens to overwhelm conventional security approaches. The handbook aims to provide a unified identity architecture that enables organizations to transition from reactive, fragmented identity management to autonomous, AI-enabled security. The initiative responds to a pressing industry crisis where 80% of breaches originate from compromised identities, with identity-based attacks increasing by 77% year-over-year. Many organizations struggle with disparate systems across on-premise, cloud, and SaaS environments, creating security vulnerabilities.
Key features of the new guide include the introduction of a unified identity and access system architecture, methods to break down data silos, and the establishment of a single source of truth across all identity environments. It also provides a detailed identity maturity model with a clear roadmap for advancement, addresses the unique challenges of AI agent identity management, and highlights the urgent need for organizations to prepare for the exponential growth of AI agents in business operations.
Robert Rodriguez, Chairman and Founder of SINET, an organization dedicated to advancing cybersecurity innovation, and Venture Partner at SYN Ventures, stated that identity is foundational for safeguarding people, organizations, and national critical infrastructure. He noted that many organizations rely on outdated systems unable to contend with current cybersecurity threats, and the framework offers security leaders both strategic vision and tactical guidance to build resilient identity programs that support business innovation.
Carey Frey, Chief Security Officer at TELUS, emphasized the handbook’s practitioner-led approach, describing it as vetted guidance from security leaders who manage complex identity environments. The guide includes practical assessment tools and a maturity model, enabling organizations to systematically progress from fragmented, reactive identity management to unified, autonomous security operations. The complete guide is available for download at https://www.security-innovation.org/risk-executive-handbook-on-identity/.
