Identity in the News – Week of March 5, 2018

Selections from the top news items this week in the world of identity and application security.

Cloud computing is eating the world: Should we be worried?

Warning: Video may autoplay

From ZDNet: The days of securing data physically on mainframes is over. New research from Cisco predicts that by 2021, 628 'hyperscale' data centers will exist, compared to 338 in 2016. This represents a major evolution in how businesses buy and manage computing power.

Most healthcare organisations have been breached, report shows

From Computer Weekly: According to the 2018 Thales healthcare data threat report, only 30% of global healthcare organizations have not been hit by a data breach. 1005 of respondents globally are using cloud technologies, and 54% are using three or more cloud suppliers for infrastructure (IaaS) rather than deploying on-premise solutions.

Feds move to secure mobile devices with machine learning, biometrics

From Computerworld: Amid the growing use of mobile devices for work by federal employees, U.S. defense and intelligence agencies are fast adopting biometrics and other alternative ways of computers, smartphones and tablets, according to a new report. The U.S. government is outpacing the private sector in deploying the latest endpoint mobile security technology, a study of the survey revealed.

KPMG ups its cybersecurity game

From Accounting Today: KPMG has partnered with Okta, which provides single sign-on capabilities across platforms, to strengthen its client cybersecurity offerings. The Big Four firm plans to use the alliance to design, implement, and automate identity and access management (IAM) processes using Okta’s cloud identity platform, the Okta Identity Cloud, to help clients manage, control, and secure enterprise and consumer access, while identifying areas for cost savings.

2018 Security 100: 20 Coolest Identity Management And Data Protection Vendors

From CRN: CRN’s Security 100 features the top 20 Identity and Access Management and data protection vendors. “Identity and access management is expected to dominate the data protection market over the next half-decade due to its centralized nature and cost-effectiveness, according to research firm MarketsandMarkets.”

Businesses under pressure to allow easier access to cloud

From ComputerWeekly: Nearly two-thirds of IT leaders admit their security teams are considering implementing consumer-grade access to cloud service for employees, a study has revealed. This is as a result of the proliferation of cloud applications and the use of a disparate range of devices in businesses, according to Gemalto’s 2018 identity and access management index.

What the Next Era of Cloud Computing Means for AppSec & the SDLC

From Security Boulevard: As cloud applications and infrastructure evolved from the exception to the norm, the movement created a series of secondary issues. Legacy on-prem solutions could no longer deliver their primary benefits in the cloud era. Hence, the third wave of cloud adoption has been about cloud management. Okta, New Relic, Mulesoft, Docker, Mesosphere, CASBs and others were founded to either deliver traditional benefits from the on-prem era in cloud environments or solve new problems created by widespread cloud adoption.

Developers Can Lead Change In Their Organization

From DZone: I had the opportunity to speak with Alex Salazar, VP Products, Nate Barbettini, Sr. Developer Evangelist, and Randall Degges, Sr. Developer Evangelist at Okta Iterate 2018. I also had plenty of opportunities to meet with the two hundred developers that attended the conference. Alex, Nate, and Randall all worked together at Stormpath prior to its acquisition by Okta. Their vision for Iterate 2018 was to provide developers with a different experience than they received at other conferences - have a vendor-neutral conference that provides information of value that helps developers professionally and personally.

Australian government seeking digital identity credential-proofing

From ZDNet: The Digital Transformation Agency (DTA) is aiming to provide everyone in Australia with a digital identity, expected to make the process of proving who an individual is to government "simple, safe, and secure" online, with the idea to create a "tell us once" approach to government service delivery. The platform was revealed last week during Senate Estimates as being in final beta stage, with the next step to take it live and the first service transaction being the process of applying for a tax file number.

Eight Ways Blockchain Will Impact The World Beyond Cryptocurrency

From Forbes: From banking and secure communications to healthcare and ride-sharing, blockchain will have a huge impact on our future. Of course, to understand how blockchain will change the world, you first need to understand how it works. Have you ever purchased coffee or produce that is labeled as a fair trade product? How can you trust that information? What about when you meet someone on a dating website? How do you know they’re really the 35-year-old startup founder and wakeboarder that they say they are?

Connected medical device security, AI battle health hackers

From TechTarget: The state of healthcare cybersecurity technology largely reflects an ever-growing target for hackers created by an IT network that has extended connections to multiple organizations and devices through mergers and affiliations. In response, better use of cloud computing and further exploration of artificial intelligence and blockchain will bolster patient data protection. But even with a flush of technology investments -- as well as improved antimalware, anti-phishing and security products with extensive intelligence features -- healthcare organizations will still suffer from a high number of cyber attacks this year, predicted Lynne Dunbrack, a research vice president at IDC Health Insights.

JetBlue Opts for Okta Identity Platform in Loyalty Program’s Digital Transformation

From Find Biometrics: JetBlue is preparing a digital transformation program and has selected Okta to provide support. In announcing the collaboration, the companies did not go into detail about what it would entail, but did indicate that it will revolve around Okta’s Identity Cloud. Elaborating further, JetBlue Chief Digital & Technology Officer EVP Eash Sundaram suggested that the platform will be used to authenticate customers enrolled in the airline’s customer loyalty program, asserting, “Okta will enable us to make our customers’ experience with the TrueBlue program not only more personal, helpful and simple, but secure.”

Finding Ways to Protect Your Online ID Through Blockchain Innovation

From Nasdaq: Identity fraud affects millions of Americans every year. NBC News reports that, according to an analysis run by ID Analytics of 290 million social security numbers, the odds that someone else has used your social security number is one in seven. As financial transactions move online, the need for comprehensive online security is greater than ever since the internet makes it easy to commit fraud once a scammer has the information required.

Business Insider: The CEO of $4.3 billion Okta explains why he wishes he had gone public sooner — and all of the surprising perks of life after an IPO

From Business Insider: On April 7, the identity management platform Okta will celebrate one full year as a publicly traded company. Todd McKinnon — CEO of Okta and the 14th fittest man in the world for his age— was able to celebrate a little early, after announcing 62% annual revenue growth in the company's first-ever full-year earnings report on Wednesday.