SailPoint's 2025 Horizons of Identity Report reveals identity security is the highest-ROI security investment

Core Insights - SailPoint's Horizons of Identity Security 2025-2026 report highlights the transformation of identity security from a back-office function to a strategic platform essential for enterprise agility, efficiency, and AI enablement [2][3] - Identity security is now recognized as the top ROI generator in the security stack, helping organizations reduce costs and accelerate growth [3][4] Industry Trends - The report indicates a rising maturity bar in identity management, evolving from manual IAM to automation and now to AI agent lifecycle governance [4][6] - Organizations treating identity as a strategic priority are 40% more likely to maximize ROI, with IAM delivering twice the return of other security domains [4][12] Organizational Maturity - Approximately 63% of organizations remain in the early stages of their identity journey, relying on manual processes, while only 10% have reached advanced maturity stages [6][8] - The complexity of deployment and poor data management are significant challenges hindering progress for many organizations [5][11] Advanced Capabilities - Mature organizations are adopting AI-enabled identity controls at four times the rate of their peers, leading to significant productivity gains [8][12] - Best practices such as data cleanup before migration and standardized app onboarding are crucial for organizations to advance their identity maturity [9][11] ROI and Strategic Focus - Identity security delivers the highest ROI of any security investment, with enterprises treating it as a strategic enabler reporting typical ROI multiples of up to 10x [12][13] - The report emphasizes the importance of unifying identity, data, and security to achieve higher ROI and greater AI readiness [9][12]