Google Cloud's 2026 Cybersecurity Forecast reveals significant insights into the intertwining of AI, geopolitics, and technology, highlighting the substantial identity implications.

The concept of “systemic maturity” emphasises the need to treat AI not just as a tool, but as a unique category of identity that requires careful governance.

Key highlights include:

• The emergence of the “Agentic SOC,” where Security Operations Centers will be bolstered by AI-driven defense mechanisms, while attackers also leverage these capabilities.

• The rise of "Shadow Agents," a new iteration of "Shadow IT," where unmanaged AI identities within organizations increase the attack surface in ways that must be addressed.

• The necessity for machine identities, including those driven by AI, to undergo the same lifecycle governance as human users, encompassing provisioning, enforcing least-privilege access, credential rotation, and timely da provisioning.

• In Google Cloud, this translates to core practices such as securing service accounts, utilising workload identity federation, and maintaining comprehensive audit logs. Collaborating with an identity provider like Okta is crucial for unified governance and ongoing verification.

As autonomous AI continues to grow, continuous trust evaluation must replace one-time authentication. Implementing dynamic least privilege and monitoring agent behavior are now essential steps.

With AI agents gaining more autonomy, it's vital to assess how prepared your identity strategy is to effectively manage these emerging digital identities.

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