{"id":25986,"date":"2026-07-16T11:28:36","date_gmt":"2026-07-16T15:28:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sherweb.com\/blog\/?p=25986"},"modified":"2026-07-16T11:28:36","modified_gmt":"2026-07-16T15:28:36","slug":"ispm-identity-security-msps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sherweb.com\/blog\/security\/ispm-identity-security-msps\/","title":{"rendered":"What is ISPM and why does it matter for MSPs?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Identity is now the\u00a0<\/span>front door to almost every client environment<\/span><\/a>\u00a0you manage. Attackers know it, which is why stolen credentials and over-permissioned accounts turn up in so many breaches. Identity security posture management (ISPM) gives MSPs a way to see that risk clearly and act on it before it becomes an incident.\u00a0Here’s\u00a0what ISPM is, the risks it\u00a0catches\u00a0and where it fits in your service offering.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What is\u00a0ISPM?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

ISPM<\/span>\u00a0is a way to continuously understand and improve how identities are set up and used across systems. Identities include users, service accounts, applications<\/span>\u00a0and anything else that can log in or access data. ISPM tools look at how those identities are configured and how much access they have, then point out where things are too open or risky.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For an MSP just getting familiar with the concept, it helps to think of ISPM as a constant health check for identity and access. Instead of only setting up permissions once and hoping they stay correct, ISPM keeps watching for problems as environments change.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As we know,\u00a0identities and access\u00a0change\u00a0for multiple reasons.\u00a0<\/span>Roles change.\u00a0<\/span>Issues need to be troubleshooted.\u00a0<\/span>AI agents get tested or created.\u00a0\u00a0New applications\u00a0get\u00a0installed.<\/span>\u00a0These changes\u00a0aren\u2019t\u00a0always permanent<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>so<\/span>\u00a0we need the ability to not only detect the change but\u00a0to also\u00a0make sure those changes\u00a0which are permanent\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0cause adverse effects.<\/span><\/p>\n

For MSPs, the most common identity management system covered by popular ISPMs is Entra ID (i<\/span>.<\/span>e<\/span>.,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Microsoft 365<\/span><\/a>).\u00a0<\/span>Anyone familiar with\u00a0Entra and\u00a0<\/span>who<\/span>\u00a0us<\/span>es<\/span>\u00a0it for<\/span>\u00a0identity and access<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>management<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>(<\/span>IAM<\/span>)<\/span>\u00a0understand<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0how complex and sometimes confusing identities, role<\/span>–<\/span>based access controls<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0application access can get.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What are the capabilities of the most common ISPMs<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Most ISPM tools focus on\u00a0<\/span>a handful\u00a0<\/span>of areas:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n