#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

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 #233 - Another Garbage Plate of IAM

#233 - Another Garbage Plate of IAM

In this episode, Jim and Jeff serve up a "garbage plate" of IAM (Identity and Access Management) topics. They discussed Jeff's week 1 Chicago Bears pick, Delta's SkyMiles program changes, their YouTube Channel, and the upcoming Oktane and Identity Week America events. They also touch on the issue of fragmented identity data, referencing an article by Lasse Andersen, CEO of IndyKite. Forbes Article discussed: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2023/09/06/fragmented-identity-a-modern-business-nightmare/ Identity Week America - use code IDAC30 for a 30% discount on your conference pass: https://www.terrapinn.com/exhibition/identity-week-america/index.stm Use the code OKTNIDAC30 for 30% off your Oktane 2023 registration at https://www.okta.com/oktane/ Authenticate Conference - use code IDAC15PODCAST for a 15% discount on your registration fee: https://authenticatecon.com/event/authenticate-2023/ 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.

2 Loka 202347min

#232 - Just in Time Access with John Morton of Britive

#232 - Just in Time Access with John Morton of Britive

In this episode of Identity at the Center, Jim and Jeff talk with John Morton, Field CTO and Cloud Solutions Engineering Leader at Britive about Just in Time (JIT) Access. The hosts ask Morton about his work at Britive and how JIT access works, including its relationship to zero standing privileges. The conversation also covers what business problems JIT access solves, whether it's just for cloud or on-prem, and how it might help organizations that use Snowflake or in DevOps automation. Connect with John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmortonnotromnhoj/. Learn more about Britive: https://www.britive.com/ Identity Week America - use code IDAC30 for a 30% discount on your conference pass: https://www.terrapinn.com/exhibition/identity-week-america/index.stm Use the code OKTNIDAC30 for 30% off your Oktane 2023 registration at https://www.okta.com/oktane/ Authenticate Conference - use code IDAC15PODCAST for a 15% discount on your registration fee: https://authenticatecon.com/event/authenticate-2023/ 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.

25 Syys 202354min

#231 - Authorization 2.0 with Rich Dandliker of Veza

#231 - Authorization 2.0 with Rich Dandliker of Veza

In this episode of the Identity at the Center Podcast, Jim and Jeff speak with Rich Dandliker, Chief Strategist with Veza, about the topic of Authorization. They cover several questions, including the rise of authorization in the past year, the importance of the human element in being successful with authorization, and the impact that AI is having on the authorization space. Additionally, they discuss the early XACML standards which have shaped how authorization is conducted today and some use cases where an authorization tool solved a real-world business problem. Connect with Rich: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rich-dandliker-591381/ Learn more about Veza: https://www.veza.com/ Identity Week America - use code IDAC30 for a 30% discount on your conference pass: https://www.terrapinn.com/exhibition/identity-week-america/index.stm Use the code OKTNIDAC30 for 30% off your Oktane 2023 registration at https://www.okta.com/oktane/ Authenticate Conference - use code IDAC15PODCAST for a 15% discount on your registration fee: https://authenticatecon.com/event/authenticate-2023/ 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.

18 Syys 20231h 4min

#230 - Quantum IAM with Teresa Wu and Olivier Nora of Idemia

#230 - Quantum IAM with Teresa Wu and Olivier Nora of Idemia

In this episode of the Identity at the Center Podcast, Jim McDonald and Jeff Steadman discuss quantum computing and its impact on identity and access management (IAM) with guests from Idemia, Teresa Wu and Olivier Nora. The main topics covered in the episode are how Wu and Nora got into the field of identity, and what is their role at Idemia, an explanation of quantum computing and its differences from standard computing, the term "Y2Q" and what it means for the future of computing, the problems quantum computing poses for IAM and which roles or sub-disciplines should be most concerned, and how someone in the IAM field can prepare for quantum, including whether new algorithms or IAM technologies will be needed. The episode ends on a lighter note with Wu and Nora sharing their favorite meals to prepare and the most underrated spice. Connect with Teresa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/teresawu/ Connect with Olivier: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliviernora/ Learn more about Idemia: https://www.idemia.com/ Cybersecurity Midwest Summit 2023: https://whova.com/web/2sOogdl3cIdo76LNOJrtUFRNXxvO%40kakipZlQHyewIA%3D/ Identity Week America - use code IDAC30 for a 30% discount on your conference pass: https://www.terrapinn.com/exhibition/identity-week-america/index.stm Use the code OKTNIDAC30 for 30% off your Oktane 2023 registration at https://www.okta.com/octane/ Authenticate Conference - use code IDAC15PODCAST for a 15% discount on your registration fee: https://authenticatecon.com/event/authenticate-2023/ 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.

11 Syys 202358min

#229 - Cryptography 101 for Identity Practitioners with Dr. Andrew Stern of Revive Labs

#229 - Cryptography 101 for Identity Practitioners with Dr. Andrew Stern of Revive Labs

In this episode of the Identity at the Center podcast, hosts Jim McDonald and Jeff Steadman invite Dr. Andrew Stern, Founder & CEO at Revive Labs, to give a primer on cryptography. The conversation focuses on encryption and security, covering topics such as symmetric and asymmetric encryption, levels of encryption, hashing, and certificates. Dr. Stern also shares his background and experience, including his work as an Activate DARPA Fellow and his founding of Revive Labs. The episode concludes with a discussion on how encryption factors into quantum computing. Connect with Andrew: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewcstern/ Learn more about Revive Labs: https://revivelabs.io Cybersecurity Midwest Summit 2023: https://whova.com/web/2sOogdl3cIdo76LNOJrtUFRNXxvO%40kakipZlQHyewIA%3D/ Identity Week America - use code IDAC30 for a 30% discount on your conference pass: https://www.terrapinn.com/exhibition/identity-week-america/index.stm Use the code OKTNIDAC30 for 30% off your Oktane 2023 registration at https://www.okta.com/octane/ Authenticate Conference - use code IDAC15PODCAST for a 15% discount on your registration fee: https://authenticatecon.com/event/authenticate-2023/ 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.

4 Syys 20231h 7min

#228 - How IAM Standard Sausage Is Made with Heather Flanagan of Spherical Cow Consulting

#228 - How IAM Standard Sausage Is Made with Heather Flanagan of Spherical Cow Consulting

In this episode of the Identity at the Center Podcast, hosts Jim and Jeff chat with Heather Flanagan, Principal at Spherical Cow Consulting, about the process of standards development in IAM. They cover her background in IAM, her work with IDPro, and the momentum the organization has seen in the past few years. Heather shares insights into the development of CIDPro, the Body of Knowledge, and other projects taken on by IDPro. They also discuss how interested contributors can get started, what makes a good standard, and how to get support from management. The episode ends on a lighter note with a Scotch whisky tutorial & tasting. Check out the links below and for more information about the Cybersecurity Midwest Summit 2023, Identity Week America, Oktane 2023, and the Authenticate Conference. Connect with Heather: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hlflanagan/ Learn more about Spherical Cow: https://sphericalcowconsulting.com/ Spherical Cow?: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spherical_cow Government-issued Digital Credentials and Privacy: https://idpro.org/government-issued-digital-credentials-and-privacy/ IDPro Body of Knowledge: https://bok.idpro.org/ IDPro GitHub: https://github.com/idpros Find out more about the Cybersecurity Midwest Summit 2023 at https://whova.com/web/2sOogdl3cIdo76LNOJrtUFRNXxvO%40kakipZlQHyewIA%3D/ Use the code IDAC30 for a 30% discount on your conference pass for Identity Week America at https://www.terrapinn.com/exhibition/identity-week-america/index.stm Use the code OKTNIDAC30 for 30% off your Oktane 2023 registration at https://www.okta.com/oktane/ Use the code IDAC15PODCAST for a 15% discount on your registration fee for the Authenticate Conference at https://authenticatecon.com/event/authenticate-2023/ 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.

28 Elo 20231h 9min

#227 - Behind the Golden Arches of IAM with Ebony Love of McDonalds

#227 - Behind the Golden Arches of IAM with Ebony Love of McDonalds

In this episode, Jim and Jeff interview Ebony Love, Director of Cybersecurity Deployments with McDonald's. Ebony talks about a big project she did at McDonald's and how Identity is done on behalf of the business. She discusses the challenges of identity management for a large, decentralized network with legacy technology and how to solve these issues with management support. Ebony also shares her experience with management who may not be familiar with Identity and if they see the importance of it. Additionally, Ebony explains the role of onboarding in retaining talent and where McDonald's is in the journey to improving onboarding. Connect with Ebony Love on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/ebonylove/. Find out more about the Cybersecurity Midwest Summit 2023 at https://whova.com/web/2sOogdl3cIdo76LNOJrtUFRNXxvO%40kakipZlQHyewIA%3D/ Use the code IDAC30 for a 30% discount on your conference pass for Identity Week America at https://www.terrapinn.com/exhibition/identity-week-america/index.stm Use the code OKTNIDAC30 for 30% off your Oktane 2023 registration at https://www.okta.com/oktane/ Use the code IDAC15PODCAST for a 15% discount on your registration fee for the Authenticate Conference at https://authenticatecon.com/event/authenticate-2023/ 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/X/Whatever.

21 Elo 20231h 5min

#226 - Board Conversations with Baber Amin of Veridium

#226 - Board Conversations with Baber Amin of Veridium

In this episode of the Identity at the Center Podcast, Baber Amin, Chief Product and Operating Officer at Veridium, discusses communicating IAM to the board. The main topics covered include how to approach the conversation about identity with the board or other senior leadership at an organization, what kind of questions about identity the board asks, how to get buy-in from senior leaders to invest in identity people, process, and technology, and where AI is taking the identity space. The episode ends on a lighter note with Amin discussing his recent completion of an Ironman 70.3 in Oregon and his least favorite candy. Connect with Baber: https://www.linkedin.com/in/baberamin/ Learn more about Veridium: https://veridiumid.com/ What Directors Think 2023: https://www.diligentinstitute.com/research/what-directors-think-2023/ Cybersecurity Midwest Summit 2023: https://whova.com/web/2sOogdl3cIdo76LNOJrtUFRNXxvO%40kakipZlQHyewIA%3D/ Identity Week America - use code IDAC30 for a 30% discount on your conference pass: https://www.terrapinn.com/exhibition/identity-week-america/index.stm Authenticate Conference - use code IDAC15PODCAST for a 15% discount on your registration fee: https://authenticatecon.com/event/authenticate-2023/ 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.

14 Elo 202357min