The 2026 State of Security and Identity Report by HID Global suggests a significant transformation in how organisations manage identity and access. The report reveals that security leaders are prioritising trust, protection, and user choice amidst the convergence of physical and digital identity environments.
“Security leaders are clearly under pressure to modernise access and identity infrastructure, but our research shows they're equally focused on the governance, protection, and transparency that build lasting trust,” stated Ramesh Songukrishnasamy, senior vice president and chief technology officer at HID.
“The organisations succeeding in 2026 are those providing meaningful choices while maintaining robust security.” Ramesh Songukrishnasamy
The report identifies seven interrelated trends shaping identity management strategies:
- Identity nanagement as a strategic priority: Nearly 73% of respondents rank identity management as their highest priority, transitioning from standalone credential systems to unified governance.
- Mobile credentials at critical mass: Adoption is now primarily driven by security improvements (50%) rather than convenience (34%), with 84% of users utilising both physical and mobile credentials.
- Expanding role of biometrics: Biometric technologies are increasingly viewed as strategic (45%), with fingerprints (71%) and facial recognition (50%) leading the way. However, ethical concerns have surged from 31% to 67%, pushing organisations to adopt safeguards.
- Rise of real-time location solutions (RTLS): RTLS adoption is particularly prominent in healthcare and logistics, with 42% considering it a strategic priority, despite challenges like costs (33%) and integration complexity (29%).
- Accelerating physical-digital identity convergence: 75% of organisations are either deploying (29%) or evaluating (46%) unified identity solutions, although cost (51%) and complexity (37%) remain barriers.
- Steady growth of RFID Technology: 54% of respondents actively use RFID for asset tracking and inventory management, signalling its maturation as essential infrastructure.
- Shift towards integrated platforms: There is a decisive move away from point solutions towards integrated identity and security platforms, with integration complexity cited as a major barrier (52%).
The report also highlights elevated ethical and privacy concerns surrounding identity management, particularly related to biometrics. Organisations are increasingly developing comprehensive policies and governance frameworks to address these challenges, demonstrating a maturing approach to security decisions.
Overall, the 2026 report presents a multifaceted view of the identity landscape, offering insights into how businesses are navigating operational constraints and prioritising security investments.
For security and IT leaders, it underscores the centrality of identity in establishing trust and ensuring robust protection while providing user choice.
