From open standards and authorization management to the future of IAM architecture, here are eight can’t-miss sessions for security leaders shaping identity-first strategies.
An amazing thing about the 2025 Gartner Identity & Access Management Summit (Gartner IAM) is how deeply it dives into the identity fabric that modern enterprises rely on. IAM is more than a backend function—it’s the control plane for security, risk, and business enablement.
For leaders working to unify identity, context, and authorization into a single decision layer, this year’s sessions are a masterclass in what’s next.
With that in mind, here are the sessions we’re most excited about:
Open standards are what make security systems interoperable, scalable, and sustainable. In this session, SGNL’s Atul Tulshibagwale explores how standards like CAEP (Continuous Access Evaluation Protocol) and AuthZEN connect identity signals with authorization logic—showing how enterprises can move from static roles to real-time, policy-driven access. For anyone advancing Zero Standing Privilege, this is the one to watch.
The conversation around authorization is accelerating. This talk looks at how organizations can bring policy-based access to scale without adding complexity. Expect pragmatic guidance on defining authorization boundaries, connecting identity data sources, and improving visibility across your IAM stack.
Sometimes, the most valuable insights come from reflection. This executive session shares lessons from identity veterans—what they learned the hard way and how they’d approach modern IAM challenges differently today. Expect candid stories and wisdom that goes beyond the slides.
While the ones above top our list, several others promise strong takeaways for teams modernizing their IAM strategy:
If your role intersects security strategy, business risk, or data protection, these sessions also deserve a spot on your radar:
Each builds on the same theme: identity is now a business-critical discipline, not just a security control.
Covering everything from CAEP and AuthZEN to data-driven policy design, these sessions highlight how the IAM conversation is shifting away from tool configuration and toward continuous orchestration. Security leaders are realizing that real-time context, not static roles, determines effective control.
For organizations aiming to eliminate standing access, unify fragmented IAM tools, and operationalize Zero Trust through policy-driven automation, the Gartner IAM Summit offers a clear signal of where the industry is heading.
If you’ll be at Gartner IAM this year, let’s connect. We’d love to hear how you’re approaching authorization modernization and Continuous Identity in your enterprise.
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