AI-driven identity security in critical industries: what changes in 2026?

TL;DR: Critical industries are moving toward passwordless authentication, tighter third-party and privileged access, and identity-first workflow control as AI and mobility reshape operations, according to Imprivata. The central challenge is that legacy IAM models still assume stable users, predictable workflows, and manageable credential reuse, which no longer matches how access is actually consumed.

NHIMG editorial — based on content published by Imprivata: Critical industries are reaching a technological inflection point

By the numbers:

• 80% of identity breaches involved compromised non-human identities such as service accounts and API keys.
• Only 5.7% of organisations have full visibility into their service accounts.
• 92% of organisations expose NHIs to third parties, raising concerns about supply chain security.

Questions worth separating out

Q: How should security teams modernize access for mobile critical-industry workforces?

A: They should reduce dependency on reusable credentials, prefer device-bound or phishing-resistant authentication, and align access decisions to the actual workflow.

Q: Why do third-party and privileged accounts create outsized IAM risk?

A: They combine elevated access with weaker lifecycle oversight, which means they can persist longer, be reviewed less often, and reach more sensitive systems than ordinary user accounts.

Q: How do organisations know if identity-driven workflow security is working?

A: They should look for fewer password resets, fewer access exceptions, faster detection of anomalous access, and fewer cases where users need to bypass controls to get work done.

Practitioner guidance

• Prioritise passwordless rollout where reuse risk is highest Start with user groups that depend on shared devices, high-volume access, or frequent resets.
• Re-map identity policy to workflow context Review whether access decisions still depend on static roles when the work itself is time-sensitive and location-aware.
• Tighten privileged and third-party lifecycles Apply the same verification, entitlement scoping, and revocation discipline to contractors and vendors that you apply to internal staff.

What's in the full article

Imprivata's full article covers the operational detail this post intentionally leaves for the source:

• The interview-based reasoning behind each 2026 prediction and how Imprivata leadership connects them to critical-industry operations.
• The specific examples of passwordless, access, and workflow change across healthcare, public safety, and manufacturing.
• The article's full discussion of how AI, mobility, and user experience interact in day-to-day access design.
• The closing perspective on why simplicity and intelligence are treated as a single design challenge.

👉 Read Imprivata's 2026 predictions on identity, access, and intelligent automation →

AI-driven identity security in critical industries: what changes in 2026?

Explore further

View Full Forum →  |  NHI Foundation Course →