Digital identities today do far more than provide access to applications and data – they have become a core component of business operations. Yet while firewalls, endpoint security and network segmentation are well established, one crucial area often remains overlooked: the security posture of the identities themselves. 

Identity Security Posture Management (ISPM) addresses exactly this gap. Rather than relying on periodic checks, ISPM provides continuous visibility, assessment and optimization of identity and entitlement landscapes. Platforms like NEXIS 4 bring this level of transparency and control into everyday operations. 

Why ISPM has become indispensable 

Identity risks are growing – faster than most organizations realize 

Identity-based attacks are now the most common entry point: 

• Attackers compromise accounts that are under-managed or unused.  

• NHIs (Non Human Identities) slip into critical roles unnoticed.  

• Privilege creep grows silently over time. 

ISPM helps detect these issues early – not only once the damage is done. 

From “check once or twice a year” to continuous monitoring 

Traditional governance routines rely on cycles: annual recertifications, audit snapshots. But identity-related risks emerge in real time. 

With ISPM, the focus shifts toward:  

• Real-time visibility of current identity posture  

• Historical analytics and trend monitoring  

• Automated detection of outliers and anomalies 

NEXIS 4 integrates these principles directly, enabling proactive control over identity security. 

Knowing is good – acting is better 

Making risks visible is essential, but reacting to them is what truly reduces exposure. 

ISPM means: 

• Findings are assessed and prioritized 

• Automated workflows trigger tasks, recertifications or notifications  

• Responsibilities and progress become transparent 

NEXIS 4 provides these automation pathways out of the box – turning identity security into an actionable discipline. 

Key ISPM use cases – where the real impact lies 

Independent of any specific product, the following core use cases are central to an effective ISPM approach: 

• Orphaned & shadow accounts – Accounts without ownership quickly become a security liability. 

• Over-privileged service accounts – Machine accounts gain critical roles, often without oversight. 

• Unusual or outdated role assignments – Legacy role models often contain risky entitlements. 

• Multi-account owner detection – Users holding multiple accounts, especially privileged ones, create inconsistencies. 

• Unused roles and permissions – They add unnecessary attack surface. 

• Segregation-of-Duties conflicts – Not just detected during audits, but at the moment of assignment. 

• Anomalies in entitlement changes – Sudden privilege spikes or unusual patterns can be early signs of compromise. 

How NEXIS 4 brings ISPM to life 

NEXIS 4 demonstrates how ISPM can be implemented elegantly and effectively: 

• Use-case-based categories such as service accounts, role hygiene, attribute quality or anomalies provide clear structure. 

• A policy-driven framework offers flexibility and reusability. 

• Risk scoring & prioritization ensures teams focus on what truly matters. 

• Dashboards and trend analytics visualize developments over time, not just the current status. 

• Automation & workflows connect detection with action – from creating tasks to launching recertifications. 

Conclusion: ISPM is not a “nice-to-have” – it's the new security foundation 

In a landscape where identities are the primary attack vector, ISPM provides the transparency and governance organizations urgently need. The key question is no longer “Who has access?”, but rather “How secure, correct and risk-aware is our identity ecosystem?”. 

NEXIS 4 shows how ISPM can be systematically embedded – technically robust, organizationally accessible and operationally impactful. 

If you want to elevate your identity security to the next level, ISPM is the answer – and today is the time to start.