Authentic Talks

Authentic Talks is designed to be a raw, unfiltered space where identity professionals — from analysts to CISOs — speak candidly about their journeys, challenges, and breakthroughs. This isn’t polished marketing. It’s real talk about what’s working, what’s broken, and what’s next.

New Tech, Old Problems: The Reality of Modern Identity & Authentication 04/15/2026

New Tech, Old Problems: The Reality of Modern Identity & Authentication How do you secure a world where humans, machines, and autonomous agents all need an identity? In Episode 5 of Authentic Talks, our host Arielle Slama sits down with Simon Moffatt, analyst, advisor, and author, to unpack the biggest identity and cybersecurity themes emerging from the RSA Conference, which Simon attended just a few weeks earlier. Drawing on firsthand insights from the event floor, Simon separates real identity trends from vendor hype, explaining what actually matters for modern IAM and authentication strategy. With over 25 years in identity, Simon brings a pragmatic, deeply strategic perspective on what identity really looks like in 2026, plus where it’s heading. This episode explores the realities that few people say out loud: AI is rewriting the identity threat model faster than enterprises can adapt Passwordless adoption is a cultural challenge, not a technology challenge Identity has moved from “infrastructure plumbing” to the center of business agility A well-defined IAMS strategy sets clear priorities for what IT teams should initiate in the next quarter to keep pace with industry requirements Chapter Guide (0:19) Welcome & introducing Simon Moffatt (2:50) Trends at RSA: AI and the reality behind the buzz (5:02) Zero Trust maturity, legacy systems & the limits of organizational change (7:49) Adoption gaps: why passkeys aren’t rolling out fast (10:50) The timeline mismatch between attacks and adoption (13:07) Tactics vs strategic roadmaps (16:14) Identity convergence: physical + digital worlds collide (17:18) Identity as a business enabler, not a security checkbox (19:20) The Three‑Body Problem: humans, machines, and AI agents (23:16) Securing unpredictable agents: behavior, scale, and life cycle (31:45) The human problem: emotion, phishing, and psychological attacks (36:00) IAM in 2035: identity, data, attribution & intent (41:46) Lightning Round (45:21) Final advice: identity must become strategic Featured Guests Simon Moffatt — Analyst, Founder of Cyber Hut, Author Host: Arielle Slama — Director of Product Marketing, HID Related Resources Download HID’s - Stay up to date on the latest in digital identity, authentication, and enterprise security. /episode/index/show/d8ff5c29-f25a-4a6b-a39b-e1496cc2eb0d/id/40888960

Authentic Women on Security: Bridging Physical Access & Digital Identity 03/06/2026

Authentic Women on Security: Bridging Physical Access & Digital Identity What does it take to shape identity systems in a world where physical access and digital authentication are converging faster than ever? In Episode 4 of Authentic Talks, host Arielle Slama sits down with two influential voices in identity and security: Natacha Torres, Marketing Lead for HID’s Physical Access Control Solutions business, and Elizabeth Garber, Digital Trust Leader and advisor to global identity nonprofits. Together, they explore human decisions, leadership moments and structural shifts defining the future of identity. The conversation moves beyond architecture and into the lived experience of building systems that determine who gets access—physically and digitally. It is as much about clarity, courage, and representation as it is about trust. Episode Highlights Women shaping the future of identity and security The convergence of physical access control and digital identity Leadership through vulnerability and courage Why representation in standards bodies impacts global security Tenacity as a defining trait for women in cybersecurity Building inclusive pipelines for the next generation of identity leaders Trust as the foundation of secure systems The conversation highlights several themes shaping the identity landscape today. The convergence of physical and digital access Access control is no longer only about doors and badges. It is a combined ecosystem involving authentication flows, user experience, risk management, and trust. Natacha enters these conversations by grounding complex technical topics through clarity and fundamentals. She often emphasizes that leadership sometimes means “refocusing on what actually matters,” especially when identity ecosystems become increasingly layered. Identity technology is inherently political Elizabeth explains that decisions made in identity systems—attributes, authentication requirements, verification flows—directly determine inclusion and exclusion. As she puts it, identity technology “shapes who has access and how rights show up in real life.” Her work in global standards bodies underscores how much representation matters in these spaces. Representation strengthens outcomes Diverse teams reduce blind spots, improve system design, and expand perspectives on risk and user experience. Both guests highlight that representation is not only important socially—it is a security imperative. Leadership requires vulnerability and courage Both Natacha and Elizabeth have navigated environments where they were the only woman in the room. Their stories show how authenticity, clear communication, and tenacity enable them to lead effectively in technical and standards‑driven discussions. The next generation requires intentional support The future of identity depends on a diverse, global, and well-supported talent pipeline. Both guests call for mentorship, community, visibility, and more accessible pathways into identity roles. Representation and leadership in identity Identity and security remain fields where women are still underrepresented, especially in engineering and standards development. Both guests have experienced this firsthand. Natacha spoke about entering the physical access industry with deep marketing and technology experience but limited exposure to the inner mechanics of access control. Instead of letting that limit her impact, she leveraged her strength in clarity and simplification—skills especially valuable as identity systems become more interconnected, and user expectations rise. Her approach reinforces that identity leadership is not defined solely by technical depth, but by the ability to connect technology to human needs. Elizabeth shared her experience joining global standards meetings early in her identity career and often being the only woman present. These rooms shape how systems will interoperate around the world, yet they often lack the diversity needed to represent all populations. Her work with nonprofit organizations aims to widen participation and invite more practitioners into the ecosystem. Both leaders highlight the importance of: authenticity, even when navigating unfamiliar spaces communication that bridges highly technical and highly human domains recognizing where fresh perspectives can add clarity building confidence and visibility for emerging professionals Building the next generation of identity professionals Demand for identity expertise is growing across industries, yet the field is not always accessible to new entrants. Both guests emphasized that the industry needs: stronger global representation, especially from regions often underrepresented in standards work more early‑career exposure to identity concepts mentorship programs that guide professionals into the field community structures that help practitioners find their voice cross‑disciplinary pathways into identity roles Elizabeth’s work with organizations like reflects this vision. Scholarship programs, volunteer opportunities, and professional networks are key to building a more inclusive global identity ecosystem. Natacha reinforced that organizations must create environments where new professionals feel supported. As identity continues to evolve, diverse perspectives will be essential for guiding the industry forward. Across every part of this conversation—technology, leadership, representation, and standards—trust emerged as the unifying theme. Identity systems protect access, safeguard sensitive information, and enable participation in digital life. That responsibility requires both technological rigor and human leadership. The people shaping identity today influence how secure, inclusive, and fair future systems will be. This episode highlights how women in identity are helping steer that future with purpose, clarity, and tenacity. Chapter guide (00:48) Welcome to Episode 4, and celebrating women shaping identity (01:33) Setting the stage: trust, convergence, and why women’s voices matter (05:54) The truth women in identity need to say out loud (09:19) Natacha’s journey into physical access control and finding her voice (16:17) Elizabeth’s path into digital identity, standards, and nonprofit leadership (26:00) Representation, leadership, and being the only woman in the room (33:31) Why identity technology is inherently political (37:26) Building the next generation: diversity, standards, and talent (45:22) Mentors, leadership habits, and superpowers (53:01) Final reflections on trust and tenacity · · Learn about · Explore the · · Follow /episode/index/show/d8ff5c29-f25a-4a6b-a39b-e1496cc2eb0d/id/40259865

Identity at Scale: Authentication Consistency, IAM Modernization & AI Agents 01/29/2026

Identity at Scale: Authentication Consistency, IAM Modernization & AI Agents In Episode 3 of Authentic Talks, we dive deep into the future of identity architecture, from consistent authentication and Zero Trust principles to the rise of AI agent identities that will reshape modern IAM at enterprise scale Our guest, Jeff Hickman, Head of Customer Engineering at Ory, joins hosts Arielle Slama and Rich Gibson for a fast-moving, deeply practical conversation about building consistent authentication experiences, modernizing legacy IAM, and preparing for a world where human and non-human identities both operate at massive scale. With 15+ years of experience in enterprise identity, cybersecurity, and software engineering for the Fortune 500, Jeff explains how organizations can modernize legacy IAM systems, deliver consumer-grade employee experiences, enforce least privilege, and build the groundwork needed for auditable AI identity systems. Whether you're responsible for identity architecture, Zero Trust programs, IAM modernization, or digital trust strategy — this episode will reshape how you think about scale, governance, and the future of authentication. Chapter Guide (01:05) Welcome & today’s topic: scaling trust in identity (03:01) Jeff’s “authentic question”: what scaling trust means in one sentence (04:10) Why inconsistent authentication breaks user trust (06:08) How device-to-device experience gaps open the door to phishing (07:57) Modernizing IAM without compromising experience (09:49) Employees vs. consumers: why the standards should match (11:03) Navigating convenience, security and real-world user environments (12:30) When modernization meets legacy systems: scale challenges (14:01) The logistics of MFA, tokens, provisioning and authenticator rollout (18:39) The signals that it’s time to scale your identity program (19:06) AI as a major inflection point for identity architecture (21:52) Agentic identities: trusted coworker vs. first-class customer (23:03) What a healthy agent lifecycle requires (27:54) The economics of trust: short-lived, verifiable, cheap-to-validate access (29:01) The big question: does AI reduce workload or move it? (30:26) The observability crisis in AI-driven authentication (33:34) Compliance readiness—why most organizations aren’t prepared (34:36) The 5 foundational steps for scaling trust with AI agents (41:47) Lightning round: culture, inflection points, and identity myths Featured Guests Jeff Hickman – Head of Customer Engineering, Ory Arielle Slama – Director of Product Marketing, HID Rich Gibson – Director of Strategic Alliances, HID Related Resources · - Learn how to choose, deploy, and scale passkeys effectively—with ROI insights backed by the FIDO Alliance. · – Discover how ORY and HID deliver unified physical and digital access with FIDO2 security and enterprise-scale capabilities. · - Stay up to date on the latest in digital identity, authentication, and enterprise security. /episode/index/show/d8ff5c29-f25a-4a6b-a39b-e1496cc2eb0d/id/39926865

Identity in 2026: Passkeys, AI & Preemptive Security 12/23/2025

Identity in 2026: Passkeys, AI & Preemptive Security What will identity and access management really look like in 2026? In Episode 2 of Authentic Talks, we explore how identity is evolving from a one-time login control into a continuous trust engine—shaping security decisions across digital and physical environments. Our guest, Brent Vernon, Senior Director of Technology & Product Management at HID Global, joins hosts Arielle Slama and Rich Gibsen for a candid conversation on convergence, passkeys at scale, AI-driven security decisions, and what enterprises are still getting wrong. This episode moves beyond hype to focus on execution: why passkeys work but adoption stalls, how user empathy and operational confidence determine success, and where AI is starting to deliver real value in identity and access management. If you’re responsible for trust, identity, or enterprise security, this episode will challenge how you think about access, risk, and decision-making in a constantly changing threat landscape. Chapter Guide (1:41) Welcome to 2026 & looking back at 2025 (3:13) Brent’s bold predictions for IAM in 2026 (6:15) What enterprises underestimate in authentication and IAM (8:52) Why deployment and user empathy make or break adoption (12:29) The overlooked role of digital identity validation (IDV) (16:18) Did AI deliver real value in IAM in 2025? (21:02) Key takeaways from Gartner IAM Summit (24:29) Why “log in once, trust all day” is over (27:28) What must happen for passkeys to scale in 2026 (32:04) Preemptive cybersecurity and identity as a live risk signal (37:04) Lightning round: bold takes, wrong predictions, and advice for CISOs Featured Guests Brent Vernon – Senior Director of Technology & Product Management, HID Global Arielle Slama – Director of Product Marketing, HID Rich Gibsen – Director of Strategic Alliances, HID Related Resources - Learn how to choose, deploy, and scale passkeys effectively—with ROI insights backed by the FIDO Alliance. - Stay up to date on the latest in digital identity, authentication, and enterprise security. #IdentityManagement #Passkeys #Authentication #Cybersecurity #IAM #DigitalIdentity #EnterpriseSecurity #AIinSecurity #HIDGlobal #AccessControl #PreemptiveSecurity #ConvergedAuthentication /episode/index/show/d8ff5c29-f25a-4a6b-a39b-e1496cc2eb0d/id/39520630

AI and Enterprise Security: Best Friend or Worst Enemy? 12/05/2025

Authentic Talks

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