What happened
Orchid Security introduced a new Continuous Identity Observability capability that discovers, analyzes, and governs identity usage inside enterprise applications, going beyond traditional identity and access management (IAM) tools to reveal hidden access paths and unmanaged identity behavior.
Who is affected
Large enterprises with complex application portfolios, particularly those relying on IAM, PAM, or IGA tools, are directly affected as they often lack visibility into identity logic embedded in code, APIs, service accounts, and legacy authentication flows.
Why CISOs should care
Traditional IAM solutions typically focus on managed users and directories, leaving “identity dark matter” unmonitored. This gap exposes organizations to unmanaged credential risk, orphaned accounts, and unauthorized access that can be exploited by attackers. Continuous observability provides ongoing insight into actual identity usage and aligns security controls with real-world access behaviors, reducing risk and improving audit readiness.
3 practical actions
- Assess identity visibility gaps by mapping all application-level identity flows, especially for custom-built and legacy applications.
- Integrate continuous observability with existing IAM/PAM/IGA tools to enhance context and enable prioritized risk remediation.
- Automate evidence collection for audits by adopting solutions that maintain up-to-date identity usage data, reducing manual preparation efforts.