Fabrics Deep Dive I - Why "Fabric"? The term, the idea and how to use it | Analyst Chat 307

Seven years ago, KuppingerCole Analysts introduced the Identity Fabric concept and it has shaped how organizations structure identity management ever since. In this episode, Matthias sits down with Martin Kuppinger, co-founder and distinguished analyst at KuppingerCole Analysts, to revisit the origins of the Fabric paradigm, explain why it still holds today, and preview where it's headed next into cybersecurity, AI security, and beyond. Key Topics: ✅ Why the Identity Fabric concept emerged in 2019 — tool sprawl, siloed IAM, and the collapse of the perimeter ✅ What "fabric" actually means: a capability-driven layer connecting all identities to all services ✅ Why capabilities should define tools — not the other way around ✅ How the fabric concept scales to cybersecurity and AI security architectures ✅ The fabric in practice: maturity assessments, requirements analysis, and target operating models ✅ A look ahead to 2040: why the core principles are built to last 00:00 Welcome & Series Introduction 01:29 Looking Back: The Origins of the Identity Fabric in 2019 04:50 Tool Sprawl, IDaaS & the Need for a New Paradigm 06:33 What Is the Actual Job of Identity Management? 07:40 What the Identity Fabric Actually Is 10:04 From Identity to Cybersecurity & AI Security Fabrics 11:37 How KuppingerCole Analysts Uses the Fabric in Research & Advisory 12:40 Capabilities Over Tools: The Core Architectural Principle 15:06 The Identity Fabric for the 2040s: Built for the Future 17:01 Wrap-Up & What's Coming Next in This Series 🧵 "The job of identity management is to provide seamless access for everyone and everything to every service" — seven years on, that definition still holds. Find out why in this episode. 📅 This is the first episode of a new series on the fabric paradigm, covering Identity Fabric, Cybersecurity Fabric, and AI Security Fabric. Subscribe to our podcast! Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/ku... Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3leKXJ9... Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/us/show/1848172 TuneIn: https://tunein.com/podcasts/Technolog... [email protected] www.kuppingercole.com Follow us on social media: Facebook:   / kuppingercole   Twitter:   / kuppingercole   LinkedIn:   / kuppingercole   Instagram:   / kuppingercole