Limits to Growing Identity Management with AI Expansion: 85% of Japanese IT Leaders Cite Challenges (Keeper Survey)
Keeper Security APAC announced a survey report on the challenges of identity management with the expansion of AI. The report highlights that 91% of Japanese IT leaders find identity management difficult, and confidence in real-time detection is the lowest globally at 32%, revealing a delay in security measures. Risks from AI governance and employee AI usage are also pointed out, necessitating urgent strengthening of countermeasures.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 11, 2026 at 18:00
- 🔍 Collected: May 11, 2026 at 09:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 11, 2026 at 10:19 (47 min after Collected)
Keeper Security APAC Co., Ltd. (APAC Headquarters: Tokyo, CEO & Co-founder: Darren Guccione, hereinafter "Keeper"), a cybersecurity provider known for zero-trust and zero-knowledge identity security and Privileged Access Management (PAM), announced its latest research report, "Identity Security in the Age of Machine Speed."
This survey reveals the reality of managing rapidly increasing identities due to the spread of AI and the accompanying security challenges. With the continuous increase in non-human identities (NHI) in addition to employees, traditional security measures are becoming insufficient, creating vulnerabilities for attackers.
The survey was conducted among 3,200 cybersecurity decision-makers and IT leaders in the United States, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East. It analyzes how changes in the identity environment, extending to employees, contractors, external partners, and machine accounts, are impacting corporate security strategies.
The results from Japan revealed a significant gap. While the perception of the severity of threats is relatively low, confidence in real-time detection is the lowest among all surveyed regions, and PAM adoption has not progressed sufficiently.
Key Survey Findings
Challenges in Managing Increasing Identities
91% of Japanese IT leaders feel the difficulty of managing identities due to their increase (global average 88%). Although the percentage who responded "significantly more difficult" (8%) is low, 52% responded "more difficult than a year ago," indicating a definite growing awareness of environmental changes.
Tool Fragmentation Creates Security Gaps
Globally, 96% responded that insufficient integration and lack of cooperation among security tools lead to attacks. In Japan, 46% recognized this as a major challenge, and including minor impacts, 75% perceived it as a risk.
Low Confidence in Real-time Detection
Only 32% of respondents in Japan expressed confidence in real-time threat detection, the lowest level overall (global average 71%). Furthermore, 35% responded that they "lack confidence." 26% of companies take several days or more to detect the misuse of unauthorized credentials or privileged access.
New Challenges Emerging with the Spread of AI
Lack of AI Governance
48% responded that control over AI access and automation is insufficient, the highest result across all regions (global average 44%).
Employee AI Usage Becomes a New Risk
51% of companies believe that employee AI usage leads to risks, with the input of confidential information into AI being cited as the main concern. Additionally, 44% cited malware and automated attacks abused by AI as a threat, exceeding the global average.
PAM Adoption Progressing but Maturity is a Challenge
Only 22% of Japanese companies have fully implemented PAM. However, 41% have partially implemented it, indicating that many companies have started initiatives, but risks related to privileged access still remain.
On the other hand, there are also movements towards the future. 46% of Japanese companies plan to prioritize the adoption of AI security tools in the next 12 months, and 43% are investing in security education. This indicates a simultaneous increase in risk awareness and willingness to strengthen countermeasures.
Darren Guccione, CEO and Co-founder of Keeper Security, stated:
"AI agents, service accounts, and machine identities are growing at a scale far exceeding human users. However, many organizations are not managing them properly. Unmanaged identities are prime targets for attackers. With the rapid increase in AI and machine identities, control centered on real-time detection and the enforcement of least privilege is essential."
Takanori Nishiyama, SVP Sales APAC and Japan Country Manager for Keeper Security APAC, stated:
"Japanese companies are at a critical turning point. Confidence in real-time detection is low, PAM adoption remains in its early stages, and challenges in AI governance persist. However, there is a growing willingness to invest in education and AI security. To translate this willingness into effective measures, strengthening detection and response mechanisms is indispensable. Enhancing identity security is an urgent task."
Keeper addresses the corporate environment where AI adoption is advancing and machine identities are rapidly increasing, with zero-trust.
This survey reveals the reality of managing rapidly increasing identities due to the spread of AI and the accompanying security challenges. With the continuous increase in non-human identities (NHI) in addition to employees, traditional security measures are becoming insufficient, creating vulnerabilities for attackers.
The survey was conducted among 3,200 cybersecurity decision-makers and IT leaders in the United States, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East. It analyzes how changes in the identity environment, extending to employees, contractors, external partners, and machine accounts, are impacting corporate security strategies.
The results from Japan revealed a significant gap. While the perception of the severity of threats is relatively low, confidence in real-time detection is the lowest among all surveyed regions, and PAM adoption has not progressed sufficiently.
Key Survey Findings
Challenges in Managing Increasing Identities
91% of Japanese IT leaders feel the difficulty of managing identities due to their increase (global average 88%). Although the percentage who responded "significantly more difficult" (8%) is low, 52% responded "more difficult than a year ago," indicating a definite growing awareness of environmental changes.
Tool Fragmentation Creates Security Gaps
Globally, 96% responded that insufficient integration and lack of cooperation among security tools lead to attacks. In Japan, 46% recognized this as a major challenge, and including minor impacts, 75% perceived it as a risk.
Low Confidence in Real-time Detection
Only 32% of respondents in Japan expressed confidence in real-time threat detection, the lowest level overall (global average 71%). Furthermore, 35% responded that they "lack confidence." 26% of companies take several days or more to detect the misuse of unauthorized credentials or privileged access.
New Challenges Emerging with the Spread of AI
Lack of AI Governance
48% responded that control over AI access and automation is insufficient, the highest result across all regions (global average 44%).
Employee AI Usage Becomes a New Risk
51% of companies believe that employee AI usage leads to risks, with the input of confidential information into AI being cited as the main concern. Additionally, 44% cited malware and automated attacks abused by AI as a threat, exceeding the global average.
PAM Adoption Progressing but Maturity is a Challenge
Only 22% of Japanese companies have fully implemented PAM. However, 41% have partially implemented it, indicating that many companies have started initiatives, but risks related to privileged access still remain.
On the other hand, there are also movements towards the future. 46% of Japanese companies plan to prioritize the adoption of AI security tools in the next 12 months, and 43% are investing in security education. This indicates a simultaneous increase in risk awareness and willingness to strengthen countermeasures.
Darren Guccione, CEO and Co-founder of Keeper Security, stated:
"AI agents, service accounts, and machine identities are growing at a scale far exceeding human users. However, many organizations are not managing them properly. Unmanaged identities are prime targets for attackers. With the rapid increase in AI and machine identities, control centered on real-time detection and the enforcement of least privilege is essential."
Takanori Nishiyama, SVP Sales APAC and Japan Country Manager for Keeper Security APAC, stated:
"Japanese companies are at a critical turning point. Confidence in real-time detection is low, PAM adoption remains in its early stages, and challenges in AI governance persist. However, there is a growing willingness to invest in education and AI security. To translate this willingness into effective measures, strengthening detection and response mechanisms is indispensable. Enhancing identity security is an urgent task."
Keeper addresses the corporate environment where AI adoption is advancing and machine identities are rapidly increasing, with zero-trust.