Episodes

  • #393 - Breaking the Tyranny of Joiner, Mover, Leaver with Ian Glazer
    Jan 5 2026

    Join Jeff, Jim, and special guest Ian Glazer at the Gartner IAM Summit 2025 as they discuss the Identity and Access Management (IAM) industry, the evolution of IAM practices, and the exciting new concepts like Continuous Identity. They delve into topics such as the impact of AI, shared signals framework, and the struggles and triumphs of identity practitioners. Plus, hear about the Digital Identity Advancement Foundation’s mission and enjoy some lighter moments with tales of 'chuckles' and supper clubs. Don't miss this insightful and entertaining episode of the Identity at the Center podcast.


    Connect with Ian: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iglazer/


    Connect with us on LinkedIn:

    Jim McDonald: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmcdonaldpmp/

    Jeff Steadman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffsteadman/

    Visit the show on the web at http://idacpodcast.com


    Timestamps

    00:00 Introduction and Casual Banter

    00:50 Conference Highlights and Podcast Milestones

    03:00 Introducing Ian Glazer

    05:43 Digital Identity Advancement Foundation (DIF)

    08:09 Challenges in Identity Governance and Administration (IGA)

    13:28 Continuous Identity: A Paradigm Shift

    22:31 Real-World Applications and Organizational Impact

    31:51 Realistic Security Measures

    32:28 Maturity of Identity and Access Management

    34:54 Skills and Challenges in IAM

    36:44 Metrics and Outcomes in IAM

    40:23 Identity Practitioner Skills

    41:19 Solving Problems with AI

    46:21 Continuous Identity and Future Trends

    48:45 Identity Salon and Community

    54:19 Wrapping Up and Future Events


    Keywords

    Ian Glazer, Continuous Identity, Shared Signals Framework, CAEP, Gartner IAM Summit, Identity Security, Joiner Mover Leaver, IGA, Access Certification, Identity Salon, IDAC, Identity at the Center, Jeff Steadman, Jim McDonald, IAM, Cybersecurity, Non-Human Identity, Identity Practitioner, DIAF

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    58 mins
  • #392 - Identiverse DC - Majority Rules
    Dec 17 2025

    Join hosts Jeff Steadman and Jim McDonald for a special live episode recorded on location at Identiverse DC! In this interactive session, Jeff and Jim host a game of "Majority Rules," where the audience competes not to answer correctly, but to guess the most popular answer in the room.

    The game covers a wide range of topics, from the trivial (worst conference swag and the official uniform of an IAM architect) to the technical (securing API keys, the biggest bottlenecks in IGA, and the primary causes of role explosion).

    Things get intense halfway through with the introduction of the Battle Royale rules, where picking the minority answer sends a player's score back to zero. Watch to see who survives the explosions and takes home the grand prize.


    Connect with us on LinkedIn:

    Jim McDonald: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmcdonaldpmp/

    Jeff Steadman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffsteadman/

    Visit the show on the web at http://idacpodcast.com


    Chapter Timestamps

    00:00 Intro to Identity at the Center Live00:36 Explaining the Rules of Majority Rules04:25 Question 1: The Worst Conference Swag06:00 Question 2: Replying to Access Denied07:05 Question 3: AI in Identity Management08:40 Question 4: Favorite MFA Method10:12 Question 5: Least Favorite Auth Factor11:15 Turning up the Heat: Battle Royale Mode12:10 Question 6: Why RBAC is Difficult at Scale13:30 Question 7: The IAM Architect Uniform14:50 Question 8: Best Place to Hide a Secret16:15 Question 9: Protocols You Secretly Miss17:25 Question 10: Most Hated Specialized Key18:40 Question 11: Conference Responsibilities20:00 Question 12: Securing API Keys21:20 Question 13: Secrets to Surviving Keynotes22:55 Question 14: The Biggest Bottleneck in IGA24:45 Question 15: Causes of Role Explosion25:50 Question 16: What Breaks First After a Schema Update26:40 Final Question: Fastest Way to Confuse a User27:40 Crowning the Winner


    Keywords

    IDAC, Identity at the Center, Jeff Steadman, Jim McDonald, Identiverse, Identiverse DC, IAM, Identity and Access Management, Cybersecurity, InfoSec Game Show, Live Podcast, Majority Rules, MFA, IGA, API Security, RBAC, Role Explosion, Tech Humor, Cyberrisk Alliance

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    29 mins
  • #391 - Live from Identiverse DC with John DelMauro
    Dec 15 2025

    Jeff and Jim come to you live from the expo floor at Identiverse DC 2025. They are joined by John DelMauro, Executive Vice President at Cyber Risk Alliance, to discuss the energy of regional events and how they differ from the massive Las Vegas gatherings.

    The group discusses the current state of the identity industry, the inevitable presence of AI in both marketing and event planning, and the "Identity at the Center" game show that took place earlier in the conference. John provides an exclusive look ahead at what is being planned for Identiverse in Las Vegas, including a new algorithmic approach to one-on-one networking, expanded pavilions, and potentially even puppies.

    Finally, the conversation shifts to a fun hypothetical: if money and logistics were no object, what kind of conference would each of them launch? The answers range from health and longevity in Austin to a technology expo in Japan.


    Connect with John: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-del-mauro/

    Learn more about the CyberRisk Alliance: https://www.cyberriskalliance.com/


    Connect with us on LinkedIn:

    Jim McDonald: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmcdonaldpmp/

    Jeff Steadman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffsteadman/

    Visit the show on the web at http://idacpodcast.com


    Chapter Timestamps00:00 Introduction and vibes from Identiverse DC00:52 Recapping the Majority Rules game show02:00 Introducing John DelMauro from Cyber Risk Alliance03:59 What is Cyber Risk Alliance?05:25 The benefits of regional events vs. Las Vegas09:15 Current themes: AI dominating the conversation13:21 How AI helps in planning and researching events15:50 Previewing Identiverse Las Vegas 202517:10 The new one-on-one networking algorithm22:15 Breaking news: Puppies at the conference?24:45 Hypothetical: What dream conference would you host?27:45 Jim's take on a longevity conference29:18 Jeff's dream of a tech nerd-con31:00 Closing thoughts and wrap up


    KeywordsIDAC, Identity at the Center, Jeff Steadman, Jim McDonald, John DelMauro, CyberRisk Alliance, Identiverse, Cybersecurity, Event Planning, Networking, InfoSec, AI in Events, Washington DC, Conference Trends

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    33 mins
  • #390 - Identity Management for Agentic AI with Tobin South
    Dec 8 2025

    In this episode of the Identity at the Center Podcast, hosts Jeff and Jim sit down with Tobin South, co-chair of the OpenID Foundation's AI Identity Management Community Group, to delve into the intricacies of identity management in the age of agentic AI. They discuss the challenges and solutions related to AI agents, the role of the Model Context Protocol (MCP), and the concept of recursive delegation and scope attenuation. Additionally, the conversation covers practical advice for developers and enterprises on preparing for AI-driven identity management and explores the cultural touchstone of coffee from various global perspectives.


    Connect with Tobin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tobinsouth/

    OpenID Foundation: https://openid.net/

    Identity Management for Agentic AI (OpenID Whitepaper): https://openid.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Identity-Management-for-Agentic-AI.pdf


    Connect with us on LinkedIn:

    Jim McDonald: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmcdonaldpmp/

    Jeff Steadman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffsteadman/

    Visit the show on the web at http://idacpodcast.com


    Chapter Timestamps:

    00:00 – Jeff and Jim banter about unopened iPads and conference season

    05:55 – Introduction to Tobin South and his AI identity background

    07:00 – How AI has evolved from machine learning to generative models

    09:00 – The OpenID AI Identity Management Community Group

    10:30 – ChatGPT’s impact on the AI perception shift

    12:00 – Users vs. Agents: What’s the difference?

    14:00 – Letting the right bots in: AI agents vs. bad bots

    17:00 – AI impersonation, delegation, and the risk of shared credentials

    20:00 – Impersonation vs. Delegation – what practitioners need to know

    23:00 – Governance, oversight, and delegated authority for agents

    26:00 – Liability and “who is responsible” in agentic systems

    30:00 – How developers can prepare for agent identity and access management

    32:00 – Explaining the Model Context Protocol (MCP)

    36:00 – Enterprise use cases for MCP and internal automation

    38:00 – Is MCP the next SAML?

    42:00 – Recursive delegation and scope attenuation explained

    46:00 – The one key takeaway for IAM professionals

    48:00 – Lighter note: Coffee talk – from Sydney to San Francisco

    54:00 – Wrap-up and where to find more IDAC content


    Keywords:

    IDAC, Identity at the Center, Jim McDonald, Jeff Steadman, Tobin South, OpenID Foundation, AI Identity Management, Agentic AI, Delegated Authority, Impersonation vs Delegation, Model Context Protocol (MCP), Recursive Delegation, Scope Attenuation, Identity Access Management, IAM, AI Governance, AI Standards, Enterprise AI, AI Agents, Identity Security

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    56 mins
  • #389 - Sponsor Spotlight - Aembit
    Dec 3 2025

    This episode is sponsored by Aembit. Visit aembit.io/idac to learn more.

    Jeff and Jim welcome David Goldschlag, CEO and Co-founder of Aembit, to discuss the rapidly evolving world of non-human access and workload identity. With the rise of AI agents in the enterprise, organizations face a critical challenge: how to secure software-to-software connections without relying on static, shared credentials.

    David shares his unique background, ranging from working on The Onion Router (Tor) at the Naval Research Lab to the DIVX rental system, and explains how those experiences inform his approach to identity today. The conversation covers the distinction between human and non-human access, the risks of using user credentials for AI agents, and why we must shift from managing secrets to managing access policies.

    This episode explores real-world use cases for AI agents in financial services and retail, the concept of hybrid versus autonomous agents, and practical advice for identity practitioners looking to get ahead of the agentic AI wave.


    Visit Aembit: https://aembit.io/idac

    Connect with David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidgoldschlag


    Connect with us on LinkedIn:

    Jim McDonald: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmcdonaldpmp/

    Jeff Steadman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffsteadman/

    Visit the show on the web at idacpodcast.com


    Timestamps

    00:00 - Intro00:51 - Pronunciation of Aembit and the extra 'E'01:56 - David's background: From NSA to Enterprise Security04:58 - The meaning behind the name Aembit06:00 - David's history with The Onion Router (Tor)10:00 - Differentiating Non-Human Access from Workforce IAM11:39 - The security risks of AI Agents using human credentials14:15 - Manage Access, Not Secrets16:00 - Use Cases: Financial Analysts and Retail24:00 - Hybrid Agents vs. Autonomous Agents30:38 - Will we have agentic versions of ourselves?36:45 - How Identity Practitioners can handle the AI wave38:33 - Measuring success and ROI for workload identity43:20 - A blast from the past: DIVX and Circuit City52:15 - Closing


    Keywords

    IDAC, Identity at the Center, Jeff Steadman, Jim McDonald, Aembit, David Goldschlag, Non-human access, Workload Identity, AI Agents, Machine Identity, Cybersecurity, IAM, InfoSec, Tor, DIVX, Zero Trust, Secrets Management, Authentication, Authorization

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    54 mins
  • #388 - Fraud Reduction Intelligence Platforms with John Tolbert
    Dec 1 2025

    In this episode of The Identity at the Center Podcast, hosts Jim McDonald and Jeff Steadman catch up with John Tolbert, Director of Cybersecurity Research at KuppingerCole Analysts, to talk about the rapidly evolving world of Fraud Reduction Intelligence Platforms (FRIP).

    They explore:

    • The six capabilities of modern fraud reduction systems
    • How AI and machine learning are both helping and hurting fraud prevention
    • Why shared signals and orchestration are critical for financial and e-commerce use cases
    • How identity verification, device intelligence, and behavioral biometrics work together
    • The role of usability and integration in FRI adoption

    Plus, stick around for a fun discussion about concerts, classic rock, and which legendary bands they wish they’d seen live.

    Listen now to learn how identity, fraud, and AI are colliding — and what’s next for fraud intelligence.


    Connect with John: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-tolbert/

    Fraud Reduction Intelligence Platforms - Finance (KuppingerCole Report): https://www.kuppingercole.com/research/lc80841/fraud-reduction-intelligence-platforms-finance

    Fraud Reduction Intelligence Platforms - eCommerce (KuppingerCole Report): https://www.kuppingercole.com/research/bc81030/fraud-reduction-intelligence-platforms-ecommerce


    Connect with us on LinkedIn:

    Jim McDonald: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmcdonaldpmp/

    Jeff Steadman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffsteadman/


    Visit the show on the web at http://idacpodcast.com


    Chapter Timestamps:

    00:00 – Jim’s passwordless rant and setup woes

    05:00 – Introducing guest John Tolbert

    06:30 – Catching up: four years since John’s last appearance

    07:30 – What is CIAM and how has it evolved?

    09:30 – Understanding Fraud Reduction Intelligence Platforms (FRIP)

    10:00 – The six core capabilities of FRI solutions

    13:00 – Are most vendors point solutions or full platforms?

    14:00 – How identity verification is improving

    16:00 – SaaS and API-driven fraud detection models

    18:00 – What kinds of fraud can (and can’t) FRI prevent?

    21:00 – The growing problem of bots and automation

    22:00 – Fraud trends in finance: scams, account takeovers, and synthetic identities

    25:00 – Information sharing and the role of shared signals

    28:00 – Collaboration vs. competition in fraud prevention

    31:00 – Fraud in e-commerce: bots, loyalty points, and returns abuse

    34:00 – Streaming and citizen fraud use cases

    36:00 – Where do FRI capabilities fit within IAM platforms?

    43:00 – The importance of orchestration and integration

    44:30 – The role of AI and ML in fraud prevention

    47:30 – Smart questions for evaluating FRI vendors

    50:30 – Concert talk: Pink Floyd, Metallica, and the ones that got away

    58:00 – Wrap-up and where to find John Tolbert’s reports


    Keywords:

    Fraud Reduction Intelligence, FRI Platforms, John Tolbert, KuppingerCole, Identity at the Center, IDAC, IAM, CIAM, Cybersecurity Research, Fraud Prevention, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Behavioral Biometrics, Device Intelligence, Identity Verification, Risk Orchestration, API Security, Financial Fraud, E-Commerce Fraud, Shared Signals, Jim McDonald, Jeff Steadman, IDAC Podcast

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    59 mins
  • #387 - InfoSec World 2025 - Trust, Transparency, and Technology: Building Better MSP Partnerships
    Nov 24 2025

    Jim McDonald and Jeff Steadman sit down with Mike Reiring of RSM at InfoSec World 2025 to explore how managed service providers are reshaping IT and identity operations. They dig into the differences between MSPs and MSSPs, how to choose the right partner, and how AI is transforming help desks, problem management, and security monitoring. The conversation closes with a fun dive into Mike’s passion for photography and how creativity ties into continuous learning in tech.


    Connect with Mike: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mreiring/


    Connect with us on LinkedIn:

    Jim McDonald: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmcdonaldpmp/

    Jeff Steadman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffsteadman/

    Visit the show on the web at http://idacpodcast.com


    Chapters

    00:00 Intro – Live from InfoSec World 2025

    02:00 Meet Mike Reiring of RSM

    04:30 Evolution of Managed Service Providers

    06:30 Shared Accounts, Identity, and Security Maturity

    09:00 Vendor Gaps and Federated Access Challenges

    11:30 What Makes a Good MSP Partner

    13:00 The Cost and Effort of Changing Providers

    16:30 MSP vs MSSP – Key Differences

    18:30 Coordination Between Managed Providers

    21:30 Top 3 Questions to Ask Your MSP

    25:00 Identity Ownership: IT or Security?

    27:30 Licensing, Active Directory, and Hidden Accounts

    30:00 RFP Challenges and Procurement Pitfalls

    32:00 Measuring Risk and Reducing Identity Exposure

    34:30 Vendor Management and Shadow IT Risks

    35:00 How AI Is Transforming MSP and MSSP Operations

    38:30 AI, Problem Management, and the Future of Help Desks

    42:30 Photography, Creativity, and Continuous Learning

    48:00 Closing Thoughts and IDAC Outro


    Keywords

    IDAC, Identity at the Center, Jeff Steadman, Jim McDonald, Mike Reiring, RSM, InfoSec World 2025, Managed Service Provider, MSP, MSSP, AI in Cybersecurity, Help Desk, Identity Management, Managed Identity, Partner Transparency, IT Outsourcing, Risk Reduction, Problem Management, Active Directory, DaVinci Resolve, Photography in Tech, Identity Governance, Cybersecurity Podcast

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    50 mins
  • #386 - InfoSec World 2025 - CISO Tradecraft for IAM
    Nov 17 2025

    In this episode of the Identity at the Center podcast, hosts Jeff and Jim broadcast from InfoSec World 2025, sharing lively discussions on identity management, AI security, and identity's evolving role in information security. They are joined by Ross Young and G Mark Hardy, co-hosts of the CISO Tradecraft podcast, who share their journeys into cybersecurity, illuminating how identity intersects with cybersecurity topics like deep fakes, AI implications, and non-human identities. The conversation also covers practical advice for securing budget approvals for identity projects and speculations on the role of AI in cybersecurity's future. The episode wraps up with each guest sharing personal ideas for potential new podcast ventures.


    The CISO Tradecraft podcast: CISOTradecraft.com

    Connect with Ross: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrrossyoung/

    Connect with G Mark: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gmarkhardy/


    Connect with us on LinkedIn:

    Jim McDonald: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmcdonaldpmp/

    Jeff Steadman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffsteadman/

    Visit the show on the web at http://idacpodcast.com


    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction and Welcome

    00:16 Live from InfoSec World 2025

    00:52 Shoutouts and Day Jobs

    01:37 Meeting Ross and G Mark from the CISO Tradecraft podcast

    02:22 Ross's Journey into Cybersecurity

    04:24 G Mark's Cybersecurity Career Path

    07:44 Top Concerns for CISOs Today

    09:53 The Role of Identity in Cybersecurity

    16:18 Challenges and Trends in Identity Management

    24:33 Pitching Identity Projects to CISOs

    32:21 The Role of AI in Automating SOC Operations

    33:23 AI's Impact on Developer Efficiency

    35:48 The Future of AI-Assisted Coding

    37:42 Challenges and Opportunities in AI and Cybersecurity

    39:46 The Importance of Human Expertise in AI Development

    48:17 The Role of Identity in Information Security

    49:44 Introduction to CISO Tradecraft Podcast

    55:24 Podcasting Tips and Personal Interests

    01:00:48 Conclusion and Final Thoughts


    Keywords:

    Identity at the Center, IDAC, CISO Tradecraft, InfoSec World 2025, cybersecurity leadership, identity security, IAM, AI security, Jeff Steadman, Jim McDonald, Ross Young, G. Mark Hardy, InfoSec, CISOs, cyber career development, non-human identity, deepfakes, security automation

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    1 hr and 2 mins
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