#382 - Sponsor Spotlight - HYPR

#382 - Sponsor Spotlight - HYPR

This episode is sponsored by HYPR. Visit hypr.com/idac to learn more.

In this episode from Authenticate 2025, Jim McDonald and Jeff Steadman are joined by Bojan Simic, Co-Founder and CEO of HYPR, for a sponsored discussion on the evolving landscape of identity and security.

Bojan shares his journey from software engineer to cybersecurity leader and dives into the core mission of HYPR: providing fast, consistent, and secure identity controls that complement existing investments. The conversation explores the major themes from the conference, including the push for passkey adoption at scale and the challenge of securely authenticating AI agents.

A key focus of the discussion is the concept of "Know Your Employee" (KYE) in a continuous manner, a critical strategy for today's remote and hybrid workforces. Bojan explains how the old paradigm of one-time verification is failing, especially in the face of sophisticated, AI-powered social engineering attacks like those used by Scattered Spider. They discuss the issue of "identity sprawl" across multiple IDPs and why consolidation isn't always the answer. Instead, Bojan advocates for a flexible, best-of-breed approach that provides a consistent authentication experience and leverages existing security tools.


Connect with Bojan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bojansimic/

Learn more about HYPR: https://www.hypr.com/idac


Connect with us on LinkedIn:

Jim McDonald: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmcdonaldpmp/

Jeff Steadman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffsteadman/

Visit the show on the web at idacpodcast.com


Chapter Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction at Authenticate 2025

00:23 - Sponsored Episode Welcome: Bojan Simic, CEO of HYPR

01:11 - How Bojan Simic Got into Identity and Cybersecurity

02:10 - The Elevator Pitch for HYPR

04:03 - The Buzz at Authenticate 2025: Passkeys and Securing AI Agents

05:29 - The Trend of Continuous "Know Your Employee" (KYE)

07:33 - Is Your MFA Program Enough Anymore?

09:44 - Hackers Don't Break In, They Log In: The Scattered Spider Threat

11:19 - How AI is Scaling Social Engineering Attacks Globally

13:08 - When a Breach Happens, Who's on the Hook? IT, Security, or HR?

16:23 - What is the Right Solution for Identity Practitioners?

17:05 - The Critical Role of Internal Marketing for Technology Adoption

22:27 - The Problem with Identity Sprawl and the Fallacy of IDP Consolidation

25:47 - When is it Time to Move On From Your Existing Identity Tools?

28:16 - The Role of Document-Based Identity Verification in the Enterprise

32:31 - What Makes HYPR's Approach Unique?

35:33 - How Do You Measure the Success of an Identity Solution?

36:39 - HYPR's Philosophy: Never Leave a User Stranded

39:00 - Authentication as a Tier Zero, Always-On Capability

40:05 - Is Identity Part of Your Disaster Recovery Plan?

41:36 - From the Ring to the C-Suite: Bojan's Past as a Competitive Boxer

47:03 - How to Learn More About HYPR


Keywords:

IDAC, Identity at the Center, Jeff Steadman, Jim McDonald, Bojan Simic, HYPR, Passkeys, Know Your Employee, KYE, Continuous Identity, Identity Verification, Authenticate 2025, Phishing Resistant, Social Engineering, Scattered Spider, AI Security, Identity Sprawl, Passwordless Authentication, FIDO, MFA, IDP Consolidation, Zero Trust, Cybersecurity, IAM, Identity and Access Management, Enterprise Security

Jaksot(392)

#248 - Decentralized Identity with the Identity Woman Kaliya Young

#248 - Decentralized Identity with the Identity Woman Kaliya Young

In episode #248 of the Identity at the Center Podcast, hosts Jim McDonald and Jeff Steadman welcome special guest Kaliya Young, also known as the Identity Woman. They dive into the fascinating world of decentralized identity and explore its challenges and potential. Kaliya shares her journey into the field of identity, her involvement in founding the Internet Identity Workshop, and her work with the Identosphere newsletter. The conversation covers topics such as the hurdles faced by governments in implementing decentralized identity, the definition of decentralized identity, and the competition between decentralized identity standards. Kaliya also discusses her recent blog post on digital wallets and provides insights on the global nature of identity standards and the politics involved in their development. The conversation wraps up on a lighter note, with Kaliya sharing her best and worst water polo moments as a member of the Canadian national team. Connect with Kaliya: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaliya/ Blog “Exploring Approaches to Digital Wallets”: https://medium.com/@identitywoman-in-business/exploring-approaches-to-digital-wallets-c1824c90480a Learn more about Identity Woman: https://identitywoman.net/ Book “The Domains of Identity: A Framework for Understanding Identity Systems in Contemporary Society (Anthem Ethics of Personal Data Collection)”: https://www.amazon.com/Domains-Identity-Understanding-Contemporary-Collection/dp/1785274910/ref=sr_1_2?crid=190EJVT5Q9G6J&keywords=kaliya+young&qid=1700589700&sprefix=kaliya+young%2Caps%2C114&sr=8-2 Book “A Comprehensive Guide to Self Sovereign Identity”: https://www.amazon.com/Comprehensive-Guide-Self-Sovereign-Identity-ebook/dp/B07Q3TXLDP/ref=sr_1_3?crid=190EJVT5Q9G6J&keywords=kaliya+young&qid=1700589700&sprefix=kaliya+young%2Caps%2C114&sr=8-3 Identosphere newsletter: https://newsletter.identosphere.net/ Internet Identity Workshop (IIW): https://internetidentityworkshop.com/ Register for the free NYC and Chicago Identiverse regional events here: https://bit.ly/IDVR23-IDAC Connect with us on LinkedIn: Jim McDonald: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmcdonaldpmp/ Jeff Steadman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffsteadman/ Visit the show on the web at idacpodcast.com and follow @IDACPodcast on Twitter.

27 Marras 20231h 1min

#247 - Big Areas of Identity to Solve with Matt Caulfield of Cisco

#247 - Big Areas of Identity to Solve with Matt Caulfield of Cisco

In this episode of the Identity at the Center Podcast, hosts Jim McDonald and Jeff Steadman are joined by special guest Matt Caulfield, Founder and CEO of Oort (now part of Cisco). They dive into various topics related to identity and discuss the big areas that need to be addressed in the field. They explore the challenges in Identity Threat Detection & Response (ITDR), the data plane side of identity, machine identity, and entitlement entropy. Matt shares his insights and expertise on these subjects, shedding light on the key issues and potential solutions. The conversation also touches on Matt's journey into the field of identity and how his role at Cisco has evolved with the acquisition. They wrap up the episode on a lighter note, asking Matt about his dream business related to outdoor adventures. Connect with Matt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mcaulfie/ Learn more about Oort: https://oort.io/ Register for the free NYC and Chicago Identiverse regional events here: https://bit.ly/IDVR23-IDAC Connect with us on LinkedIn: Jim McDonald: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmcdonaldpmp/ Jeff Steadman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffsteadman/ Visit the show on the web at idacpodcast.com and follow @IDACPodcast on Twitter.

20 Marras 20231h 4min

#246 - IDAC Mailbag - Halloween 2023 Edition

#246 - IDAC Mailbag - Halloween 2023 Edition

In this episode of the Identity at the Center Podcast, hosts Jim McDonald and Jeff Steadman dive into the world of Identity and Access Management (IAM) with their mailbag segment. They answer thought-provoking questions from listeners around the globe, discussing topics such as integrating IAM with legacy systems, emerging trends in IAM, the role of artificial intelligence in IAM, user-friendly IAM solutions, inclusive and accessible IAM, and managing machine identities at scale in microservices and containerized environments. Jim and Jeff also share interesting experiences from their week, including showcasing the differences in IAM consulting between them and conducting an IAM workshop for those seeking to learn more about IAM. They also touch on the new AI Beatles song and wrap up the episode with a lighthearted discussion on favorite backyard BBQ party games. Connect with us on LinkedIn: Jim McDonald: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmcdonaldpmp/ Jeff Steadman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffsteadman/ Visit the show on the web at idacpodcast.com and follow @IDACPodcast on Twitter.

13 Marras 202355min

#245 - Taking IAM to the Bank with Dave Middleton of Bank of America

#245 - Taking IAM to the Bank with Dave Middleton of Bank of America

In this episode of the Identity at the Center Podcast, Jim and Jeff welcome Dave Middleton, Senior Vice President at Bank of America responsible for IAM and Cryptography Product Management. Dave shares his insights on various topics related to identity and access management (IAM). The episode begins with a discussion on how Dave got into the field of identity and the role of a product manager. Dave also talks about his conference experiences and the importance of balancing security and usability in IAM solutions. The conversation then delves into the difference between digital identity and IAM, as well as the evolving landscape of Identity Governance and Administration (IGA). Dave provides his thoughts on risk-based access governance and the role of technologies like Zero Standing Privilege (ZSP) and User Behavior Analytics (UBA). To wrap up the episode on a lighter note, Dave is asked to choose a universe to live in between The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, and The Matrix. Connect with Dave: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmidd/ Learn more about Year Up: https://www.yearup.org/ Connect with us on LinkedIn: Jim McDonald: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmcdonaldpmp/ Jeff Steadman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffsteadman/ Visit the show on the web at idacpodcast.com and follow @IDACPodcast on Twitter.

6 Marras 202356min

#244 - Authenticate 2023: Identity at the Center Live

#244 - Authenticate 2023: Identity at the Center Live

In this special episode of the Identity at the Center podcast, hosts Jim and Jeff take the stage in front of a live audience as part of the opening keynote at Authenticate 2023. Joined by three esteemed identity product managers, Mahendar from Ebay, Daniel from TikTok, and Christiaan from Google, they delve into a captivating discussion on the adoption of FIDO authentication, with a particular focus on passkeys. The hosts and guests share valuable insights into their roles at their respective organizations and provide firsthand experiences with implementing FIDO. The conversation covers a range of topics, from the early adoption of WebAuthN by Ebay to Google's recent transition to passkey by default. The audience gains exclusive access to the guests' perspectives on TikTok's decision to embrace FIDO and the roadblocks encountered during passkey adoption. Additionally, the hosts and guests explore the potential impact of AI on authentication in the future. Amidst the insightful conversation, the hosts also lighten the atmosphere with some lighthearted banter, discussing their hobbies and sharing personal experiences such as hiking Yosemite's half-dome. Tune in to discover which song Daniel would perform to go viral on TikTok and automatically enroll everyone in passkeys, and find out which of the three hosts found it most challenging to learn guitar, play golf, or navigate the world of digital identity. Christiaan Brand from Google: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christiaan-brand-57373a5/ Daniel Grube from TikTok: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-grube-b5118993/ Mahendar Madhavan from Ebay: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mahendarmadhavan/ Connect with us on LinkedIn: Jim McDonald: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmcdonaldpmp/ Jeff Steadman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffsteadman/ Visit the show on the web at idacpodcast.com and follow @IDACPodcast on Twitter.

3 Marras 202327min

#243 - Authenticate 2023: UX with Ori Eisen of Trusona

#243 - Authenticate 2023: UX with Ori Eisen of Trusona

In this episode of the Identity at the Center Podcast, hosts Jim McDonald and Jeff Steadman dive into the world of passkeys with special guest Ori Eisen, Founder & CEO at Trusona. They explore the importance of user experience (UX) in passkeys, Trusona's role in the IAM market, and the significance of FIDO in the industry. Ori also shares insights on his philanthropic initiatives, Thorn and Ball to All. Tune in for a fascinating discussion on passwordless authentication and more. Connect with Ori: https://www.linkedin.com/in/orieisen/ Learn more about Trusona: https://www.trusona.com/ Thorn: https://www.thorn.org/ Ball to All: https://www.balltoall.org/ Connect with us on LinkedIn: Jim McDonald: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmcdonaldpmp/ Jeff Steadman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffsteadman/ Visit the show on the web at idacpodcast.com and follow @IDACPodcast on Twitter.

1 Marras 20231h 4min

#242 - Authenticate 2023: Passkeys with Pedro Martinez of Thales Group

#242 - Authenticate 2023: Passkeys with Pedro Martinez of Thales Group

In this episode, Jim McDonald and Jeff Steadman host a discussion on passkeys with Pedro Martinez, the Business Owner for Digital Banking Authentication at Thales Group. They explore the concept of passkeys and their potential to replace passwords in authentication. Pedro shares insights on the security and user experience benefits of passkeys, as well as the challenges and benefits for different industries, particularly the financial sector. The conversation also touches on the control and synchronization of passkeys by major tech companies like Apple, Microsoft, and Google. Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of passkeys and their implications for identity and access management. Connect with Pedro: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pedro-martinez-038338/ Learn more about Thales Group: https://www.thalesgroup.com/ Connect with us on LinkedIn: Jim McDonald: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmcdonaldpmp/ Jeff Steadman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffsteadman/ Visit the show on the web at idacpodcast.com and follow @IDACPodcast on Twitter.

30 Loka 202342min

#241 - Authenticate 2023: Standards & Entra with Pam Dingle of Microsoft

#241 - Authenticate 2023: Standards & Entra with Pam Dingle of Microsoft

In this episode of the Identity at the Center Podcast, hosts Jim McDonald and Jeff Steadman dive into the world of identity standards and Microsoft Entra with their special guest, Pam Dingle, Director of Identity Standards at Microsoft. They explore Pam's identity origin story and discuss Microsoft's stance on standards. The conversation takes an in-depth look at Microsoft Entra, its target audience, and its differentiation from B2C Azure AD. AI is also a topic of discussion. Ending on a lighter note, Jim and Jeff chat with Pam about her experience renovating a Victorian house. Connect with Pam: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pameladingle/ Connect with us on LinkedIn: Jim McDonald: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmcdonaldpmp/ Jeff Steadman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffsteadman/ Visit the show on the web at idacpodcast.com and follow @IDACPodcast on Twitter.

27 Loka 202354min