Identity management: The new security perimeter
By: David White, Vice President, Cybersecurity, OMERS
November 17, 2025
In an era where digital transformation, remote work and cloud computing have dissolved traditional network boundaries, the concept of a security perimeter – what once kept the internal systems and data of the company you work or worked for safe from external threats – has fundamentally shifted.
No longer defined by firewalls and physical infrastructure, today’s security perimeter is increasingly centered around identity. This change means organizations must rethink how they protect their digital assets in an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Historically, organizations secured their assets by controlling ingress and egress points (entry and exit points to and from the network), using tools like firewalls and intrusion detection systems. This worked well when everything was contained within a fixed perimeter, but with the rise of cloud services, mobile devices and remote workforces, these boundaries have become porous.
Now, users access applications and data from anywhere, on any device, often through networks outside the organization’s control. The proliferation of software as a service (SaaS), bring your own device (BYOD) and third-party integrations further complicates the security landscape, making it clear the old perimeter-focused model is no longer enough.
In this boundaryless environment, identity is the key to security. Every digital interaction – whether signing into a cloud application, an API call between services, or a device requesting network access – begins with identity verification. This paradigm shift means security controls must now focus on authentication and authorization, and not just the network edge.
Identity management encompasses the processes, technologies and policies used to define, manage and secure access to resources. By ensuring only the right individuals (or machines) have the right access at the right time, identity management forms a new, dynamic security perimeter.
While identity-centric security brings substantial advantages, it also introduces new complexities. Organizations must contend with identities sprawled across multiple platforms, integrate legacy systems and orchestrate seamless user experiences without sacrificing security. Additionally, the growing sophistication of phishing and social engineering attacks continue to test even the best identity systems.
How users interact with authentication tools, respond to security prompts and understand their role in safeguarding credentials remain vital components of effective identity management.
As organizations continue their digital evolution, investing in comprehensive identity management is no longer optional; it is a strategic imperative. The security perimeter has moved from the edge of the network to the heart of the organization: its people, their identities and their access. By reimagining security through the lens of identity, organizations can build resilience against today’s threats and prepare for the challenges of tomorrow.