Findings show security teams face complexity and resource challenges in protecting identities, privileged access and credentials

CHICAGO, Aug. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A new survey conducted by Keeper Security, the leading cybersecurity provider of zero-trust and zero-knowledge Privileged Access Management (PAM) software protecting passwords and passkeys, privileged accounts, secrets and remote connections, reveals a concerning disconnect between the urgency of identity security and the pace of real-world implementation. Conducted at the Black Hat USA 2025 cybersecurity conference, the survey found that while zero trust is a priority in name, most organizations still face significant roadblocks in turning strategy into action – especially as AI-driven threats gain ground.

Identity Security Still Playing Catch-Up
Among the 110 cybersecurity professionals surveyed in-person, just 27.3% said their organization had effectively implemented zero trust. Nearly as many reported major gaps, while others cited stalled or partial rollouts due to complexity, integration challenges, limited budgets or a lack of executive buy-in.

Top obstacles to implementation included:

• Complexity of deployment – 30%
• Integration issues with legacy systems – 27.3%
• Lack of leadership support – 20%

As organizations struggle to enforce zero trust, identity-based threats are becoming more sophisticated and more automated. Respondents identified phishing, social engineering and deepfakes as the leading concerns over the next 12 to 18 months. Yet only 16.4% said they felt fully confident in their ability to defend against AI-powered identity attacks.

Privileged Access Controls Remain a Blind Spot
The survey also revealed major gaps in privileged access management. Security leaders pointed to several common missteps:

• Not enforcing multi-factor authentication – 40%
• Failing to remove unnecessary privileges – 33.6%
• Not using a PAM solution – 32.7%

These issues reflect broader challenges with enforcing least-privilege access and maintaining visibility across today's modern hybrid and multi-cloud environments.

A Simpler, More Scalable Approach to PAM
Traditional PAM tools can be expensive, tedious to deploy and difficult to maintain. KeeperPAM^®, Keeper Security's modern privileged access management solution, solves these challenges with a cloud-native, zero-trust architecture that simplifies privileged access security. The platform combines password, secrets, connection and session management in a single, unified interface – making it easier for security teams to automate credential rotation, monitor privileged activity and reduce risk at scale.

Mind the Gap: Awareness vs. Execution
The survey data underscores the persistent gap between intent and execution. While security leaders overwhelmingly agree on the need for zero trust and stronger identity protection, many still struggle with fragmented tools, time constraints and lack of executive support.

"Organizations need solutions that are both effective and practical to deploy across modern and distributed IT environments," said Darren Guccione, CEO and Co-founder of Keeper Security. "Security leaders are aligned on the need for zero trust and better identity protection but many are constrained by the tools, time and support available to them."

Keeper helps organizations close this gap by enabling zero trust adoption, enforcing least-privilege access and defending against modern identity-based threats. Its unified PAM platform delivers the visibility, automation and control needed to meet today's evolving cybersecurity challenges. View the full infographic: Identity Security at Black Hat 2025.

About Keeper Security
Keeper Security is transforming cybersecurity for millions of individuals and thousands of organizations globally. Built with end-to-end encryption, Keeper's intuitive cybersecurity platform is trusted by Fortune 100 companies to protect every user, on every device, in every location. Our patented zero-trust and zero-knowledge privileged access management solution unifies enterprise password, secrets and connections management with zero-trust network access and remote browser isolation. By combining these critical identity and access management components into a single cloud-based solution, Keeper delivers unparalleled visibility, security and control while ensuring compliance and audit requirements are met. Learn how Keeper can defend your organization against today's cyber threats at KeeperSecurity.com.

Learn more: KeeperSecurity.com
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Media Contact
Katherine Benfield
ICR for Keeper Security
KeeperSecurity@icrinc.com

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SOURCE Keeper Security