1. Reinventing Identity Security: A Strategic Cyber Breakthrough The ever-changing cyber threat environment has seen identity emerge as a new warfare zone. Cyber attackers are increasingly focused on the credentials of the user and the device, including non-traditional endpoints, in an effort to break into the systems and databases of an organization. In recognition of this paradigm shift, the world’s cybersecurity leader, CrowdStrike, rolled out a strategic acquisition of identity security provider SGNL in a deal valued at around $740 million. (CrowdStrike) SGNL’s tech is based on continuous real-time verification of identity, which allows organizations to dynamically grant or deny access based on risk signals in real time, rather than traditional privileges. This idea of continuous identity helps reduce the attack surface by removing existing access privileges that are often attacked by an adversary once they have infiltrated a network. This is called “Continuous Identity.” (CrowdStrike) The acquisition illustrates how the security field is moving beyond conventional methods of access control to ones which instantly respond to real-time threats. This means that companies will be able to more effectively defend against contemporary attack methods which see credentials, whether human, robotic, or AI entities, leveraged to pivot stealthfully across environments. 2. Why Identity Security Matters More Than Ever As organizations began to use traditional models of cyber security to monitor their endpoints for malicious threats and exploits, a shift towards cloud-based services and AI driven independently operating systems began. With this shift, cyber criminals began to move towards leveraging compromised user identities as a stealthy yet effective way to gain access to organizations. Using compromised identities has allowed cyber criminals to enter an enterprise’s system without raising an alarm or being stopped until significant damage has occurred to that enterprise. (TechRadar) TechRadar reports on the multiple ways cyber criminals use compromised identities including, but not limited to, compromised or stolen user accounts; improperly configured access permissions; stolen API keys; manipulating machine-learning algorithms; and creating rogue AI agents. Without continuously validating the identity of users, cyber criminals have the potential to take advantage of compromised credentials; gaining access to sensitive data or systems of the enterprise long before they are detected. By combining the SGNL Identity Management Platform with the CrowdStrike Falcon Security Ecosystem, enterprises will now be able to monitor user identities in all environments and dynamically adjust corresponding user access permissions according to their risk context. CrowdStrike states that combining SGNL’s Identity Management Platform with the CrowdStrike Falcon Security Ecosystem means Cyber Security has progressed from a “Reactive” to “Proactive” model. For Security Leaders, the emphasis on moving towards “Proactive Cyber Defense” is a major advancement in decreasing Security Breaches caused by the inappropriate use of compromised user identities. (CrowdStrike) 3. A Broader Trend: Cybersecurity Consolidation and Innovation CrowdStrike is buying SGNL. This deal shows something big that is happening in the cybersecurity market. Companies are putting technologies together to make one strong platform that can handle many kinds of threats. This means the platform can protect us from threats on our computers and networks and from threats to our identities the cloud and now threats that have to do with artificial intelligence, like Pure AI. (Pure AI) Companies are working together to make things easier for their customers. They want to get rid of all the tools that do not work well together. This means businesses will have tools to deal with and they will have a better way to understand the threats they face. They will also be able to respond to problems quickly. Companies like these are going to have to be aware of what’s going on at all times. This is called awareness. It means they will have to look at things like who is doing something what they are doing and what kind of risk they pose, all at the time and in real time. Cyber defenses are going to rely on this kind of awareness more, in the future. Companies and cyber defenses and incident response workflows will have to work to make this happen. Companies like these are going to have to be aware of what’s going on at all times. This is called awareness. It means they will have to look at things like who is doing something what they are doing and what kind of risk they pose, all at the time and in real time. Cyber defenses are going to rely on this kind of awareness more, in the future. Companies and cyber defenses and incident response workflows will have to work to make this happen. This consolidation helps organizations simplify security architectures, reduce vendor sprawl, and improve visibility across digital operations — all essential in an era where cyber threats are more automated, distributed, and intelligent. 4. A National Response to Cyber Risk: The UK’s £210m Cyber Action Plan Although the pace of innovation in the world of business is rapid, governments around the world are also facing increased cyber threats. On January 7, 2026, the UK Government confessed that its “public sector cyber risk is critically high,” along with the launch of its National Cyber Action Plan worth £210 million. (TechRadar) Such a courageous admission is a measure of the magnitude of online threats that exist for public institutions. Even after years of cyber security strategies, there had been weaknesses that made important sectors open to cyber attacks that threatened public services, privacy, and public trust. (TechRadar) However, the committed funds are for the establishment of a Government Cyber Unit, improvement in response to cyber incidents, and imposition of a mandatory cybersecurity standard, a departure from the previous non-binding approach which failed to keep up with emerging threats. (TechRadar) 5. Government Cyber Strategy: What It Means for Businesses Although the UK government’s goal is to enhance the security of its own agencies and departments, it will affect many other parts of the digital ecosystem. For example, national cyber governance policies may impact the way an industry sets standards, expectation for compliance, and the way industry collaborates with