Why Identity and Access Management (IAM) Alone Can’t Stop Modern Attacks

The IAM Security Gap

IAM solutions are essential for enforcing access policies and authentication, yet they’re not designed to detect active threats in real time. When attackers hijack accounts, escalate privileges, or traverse hybrid environments, you need purpose-built threat detection to gain the visibility IAM logs don’t provide.

How Attackers Evade IAM

1. Compromised Credentials 

IAM enforces authentication but cannot detect when a legitimate account has been hijacked.

2. Privilege Escalation & Insider Threats 

IAM grants permissions, but it does not detect when attackers misuse access to escalate privileges.

3. Lateral Movement Across Cloud & SaaS 

IAM secures access points, but it lacks visibility into attacker movement once inside.

The Real-World Consequences of IAM Visibility Gaps

In a Scattered Spider–style attack (as illustrated below), IAM enforces who belongs—but cannot distinguish legitimate users from compromised accounts. Preventive controls alone leave room for threats that behave like insiders.

Here’s where Vectra AI’s real-time behavior analytics provide the missing visibility.

IAM Secures Access—Vectra AI Secures What Comes Next

IAM is critical for enforcing access policies, but it doesn’t monitor what happens after a user is authenticated. When attackers leverage stolen credentials or elevate privileges, you need continuous behavior monitoring to catch them in the act.

IAM enforces authentication and authorization policies, but:

• What if an attacker already has valid credentials? IAM treats them as legitimate users.
• What if the attack moves across multiple cloud services? IAM does not track attacker movement across hybrid and SaaS environments.
• What if attackers escalate privileges inside the cloud? IAM grants permissions but does not detect unauthorized privilege escalation in real time.

How Vectra AI Fills the Gap

IAM controls access, but it does not detect active threats or identity abuse. The Vectra AI Platform provides real-time detection of identity-based threats, stopping attackers before they escalate.

• Detects Account Takeovers: AI-driven monitoring uncovers identity compromise and unauthorized access.
• Stops Privilege Escalation & Insider Threats: Tracks attacker activity even when credentials appear legitimate.
• Works alongside IAM: Complements IAM by providing real-time identity threat detection beyond authentication logs.

With Vectra AI, you can stop attackers who exploit identities—before they cause real damage.

How Vectra AI Complements IAM

IAM controls access, while Vectra AI detects active threats beyond authentication. Here’s how they compare:

Vectra AI doesn’t replace IAM, it enhances it by detecting identity-based threats that access policies alone cannot stop.