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08/06/2026 4:13 pm
TL;DR: Remote work is now a structural identity problem, not a temporary operating model, because dispersed users, devices, and certificates widen authentication and access-control gaps according to Axiad. The real challenge is not productivity but whether identity security, MFA, and credential lifecycle processes are built for remote access from the outset.
NHIMG editorial — based on content published by Axiad: Work from anywhere with security and trust
By the numbers:
- 80% of workers in the U.S. say they’d turn down a job that didn’t offer flexible work, with flexible schedules and remote working options cited as the most effective way to retain employees.
Questions worth separating out
Q: How should security teams secure remote access without creating help desk bypasses?
A: Use MFA, device verification, and controlled self-service recovery so users can restore access without bypassing identity policy.
Q: Why do remote workers change identity risk for IAM teams?
A: Remote work removes the office boundary that once supported informal trust decisions.
Q: What breaks when certificate lifecycle management is fragmented across portals?
A: Fragmented certificate management creates delays, inconsistent access decisions, and blind spots when credentials expire or need renewal.
Practitioner guidance
- Harden remote authentication paths Require MFA for all remote access and verify the device before granting application reach.
- Replace ad hoc recovery workflows Use controlled self-service recovery with challenge steps, device checks, or conditional access instead of temporary passwords sent by email.
- Centralise credential issuance and renewal Consolidate certificate and credential lifecycle tasks into a single workflow so renewals, expirations, and revocations are visible.
What's in the full article
Axiad's full blog post covers the operational detail this post intentionally leaves for the source:
- Practical handling of remote-worker identity authentication and device verification steps.
- A closer look at emergency access workflows, including self-service recovery and controlled access gating.
- Operational guidance on credential issuance and lifecycle management for dispersed teams.
- The article's examples of how identity controls reduce IT burden without weakening remote access policy.
👉 Read Axiad's analysis of identity security for remote workers →
Remote work identity security: what IAM teams still miss?
Explore further
08/06/2026 5:44 pm
Remote work turns identity from a perimeter control into the primary trust boundary. Once users operate outside the office, the office network no longer does the filtering work that many programmes silently depended on. That changes the governance problem from device location to session assurance, credential handling, and recovery discipline. Practitioners should treat remote access as a standing identity design requirement, not a temporary exception.
A few things that frame the scale:
- 97% of NHIs carry excessive privileges, increasing unauthorised access and broadening the attack surface, according to Ultimate Guide to NHIs.
- Only 5.7% of organisations have full visibility into their service accounts, which shows how easily remote identity exceptions can become invisible governance debt.
A question worth separating out:
Q: How do identity teams balance remote work convenience with security control?
A: By designing convenience into governed workflows instead of exceptions. Self-service recovery, conditional access, and device checks can reduce friction without removing oversight. If the process makes users bypass MFA or support policy to stay productive, the security model is already failing.
👉 Read our full editorial: Remote work exposes identity gaps in human and device access
