Network perimeters still matter, but identity is where many modern breaches begin. Compromised credentials and over-privileged accounts create outsized risk.
For mid-market companies, the answer is not every enterprise control at once. It is a prioritized identity program: SSO, MFA, lifecycle management, privileged access reduction, and governance.
Platforms like Okta, Microsoft Entra, and CyberArk can help—but only when architecture and operating model are clear. Tooling without ownership becomes expensive noise.
Executives should ask: who has access to what, how is access granted and removed, and how quickly can we contain a compromised account?