Are You Really Protected? 10 Proven Identity Security Steps You Need in 2025

Transition From Passwords to Advanced Multi-Factor Authentication

Passwords are a persistent vulnerability, making accounts and data susceptible to unauthorized access. To reduce risk, consider implementing the following:

• Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) on all accounts. Give preference to phishing-resistant options including:
• Authentication apps (e.g., Authenticator, Duo)
• Security keys (FIDO2, WebAuthn-compliant devices)
• Biometric logins (fingerprint, facial recognition)
• Prioritize MFA for critical accounts such as email, financial portals, and administrative control panels.
• Apply MFA not only to employees, but also to contractors, clients, and machine/service accounts that have access to sensitive data or systems.

Why this matters: MFA creates additional hurdles that help prevent unauthorized access, even if a password is compromised.

Applying Zero Trust Principles to All Resources

The Zero Trust security model operates on the principle of “never trust, always verify.”

• Adopt Zero Trust architectures throughout your organization. Require every user and device to verify identity and risk level before granting access.
• Extend Zero Trust to both legacy and cloud-based infrastructure. Use automation and entitlement management tools to enforce least-privilege access.
• Continuously monitor and re-verify identities. Real-time behavioral analysis can help detect unusual or risky activities more effectively than static rules alone.

Zero Trust practices limit the scope of any breach by introducing ongoing validation checkpoints and restricting privileges throughout the environment.

Securing Non-Human (Machine, Service, API) Identities

Non-human identities, such as service accounts and API keys, are increasingly common and must be managed carefully:

• Identify and maintain an up-to-date inventory of all machine and service identities.
• Remove unnecessary or excessive privileges from these entities.
• Regularly rotate credentials, using strong authentication where possible.
• Monitor all machine identity activity, as lapses in oversight can lead to unauthorized access. Industry surveys indicate a significant number of organizations have experienced incidents involving machine identity compromise.

Managing machine identities has become a key component of a secure operational environment.

Utilizing Multiple Identity Providers (Multi-IDP)

Dependence on a single identity provider can present significant risk:

• Consider deploying multiple identity providers (IDPs) to improve flexibility and resilience.
• Use orchestration tools to harmonize security policy and access controls across different providers, particularly during organizational changes such as mergers.

Benefit: A multi-IDP strategy helps maintain access continuity and enhances overall resilience in case of an issue with a primary provider.

Conditional and Adaptive Access With Real-Time Risk Assessment

Static access policies are often insufficient for dynamic risk environments:

• Implement Conditional Access policies that factor in location, device health, behavior, and other risk indicators before authorizing access.
• Adopt protocols such as Continuous Access Evaluation Protocol (CAEP), which enable quick response to shifts in context or detected risk, such as temporarily tightening access if suspicious activity arises.

Adaptive access controls can help ensure only authorized users gain entry—based on comprehensive, current risk assessments.

Monitoring and Reviewing Identity Activity and Privileged Access

Continuous oversight is essential for rapid threat detection:

• Conduct regular audits of all account and identity activity.
• Apply Privileged Access Management (PAM) controls to regulate and log the use of high-level accounts.
• Utilize alerts for unusual or unauthorized access attempts, and routinely review logs for suspicious activity or privilege elevation.

Removing Outdated, Orphaned, or Noncompliant Accounts and Applications

Inactive accounts and unused applications can be exploited as entry points:

• Identify and delete obsolete user accounts, applications, and credentials on a regular schedule.
• Automate reviews of user and device directories to streamline the process.
• Industry example: Microsoft reported deleting large volumes of unused applications and identity accounts as part of efforts to reduce vulnerability.

Personal Information Security: Digital and Physical Measures

Individuals can take practical steps to help protect their own identities:

• Create and maintain strong, unique passwords for every account; reputable password managers may assist with this.
• Be selective about sharing personal information online, especially on social media platforms.
• Avoid conducting sensitive activities on public Wi-Fi. When necessary, a trusted VPN can add protection.
• Shred sensitive documents before discarding them; this includes statements, unsolicited credit offers, and tax materials.
• Provide only essential information during in-person or phone transactions.

Monitoring Credit and Financial Activity

Ongoing monitoring of your financial records can help identify concerns early:

• Request your credit report from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion annually. U.S. consumers are generally entitled to one free report per bureau each year.
• Carefully review reports for unfamiliar accounts or errors, and promptly file disputes when discrepancies are observed.
• Consider placing a freeze on your credit report for additional security.
• Regularly inspect bank and credit card statements for any unusual activity.

Keeping Informed on Scams and Security Trends

As threat actors change their techniques, staying informed is important:

• Sign up for updates from organizations like the Federal Trade Commission on emerging fraud schemes and security news.
• Take part in security awareness training either individually or as part of an organizational program.
• Report suspected identity theft using legitimate government resources, such as identitytheft.gov.

Costs and Implementation Considerations

A variety of MFA solutions, password managers, and monitoring services are available at various price points, including both free and subscription-based options. Organizations may need to budget for enterprise-level IAM, PAM, and orchestration solutions, while individual users can benefit from free or low-cost options paired with secure practices.

Conclusion

In 2025, effective identity security practices in the United States prioritize proactive, continual verification and attentive management of digital and physical identities. Implementing multi-factor authentication, Zero Trust principles, machine identity controls, adaptive risk-based access, and strong personal security routines can significantly enhance protection against identity theft and compromisation. Reviewing and updating security measures regularly and staying informed about emerging risks are key steps for both organizations and individuals.

Sources

• Exploring identity security in 2025: key trends and best practices – Strata
• Microsoft Issues 2025 Identity Security Best Practices – RCPMag
• Identity Theft Prevention: Steps to Safeguard Your Information in 2025 – Utah DCP

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