The digital security and identity landscape in Canada is undergoing a seismic transformation, and as we move into 2026, identity will solidify itself not only as the cornerstone of security but also as the primary driver for business efficiency and customer experience. My most significant prediction is the emergence of a critical and unprecedented need to manage the Identity of AI Agents.
This is a crucial shift; until now, much of our focus has been on protecting human identities (employees, partners, customers), but the increasing autonomy and decision-making capabilities of AI agents operating within our corporate networks necessitate a paradigm change. Canadian organizations must begin treating these digital workers with the same level of rigor as human employees. This means assigning AI agents verifiable digital identities, enforcing access control based on roles, and establishing comprehensive governance over their activities. Companies will need to know definitively which AI agent is accessing which data and why. However, this focus on AI governance must extend beyond security controls to the execution of AI strategy itself: Canadian enterprises must prioritize implementing feasible and high-impact AI projects and move beyond merely proposing ideas that lack the necessary infrastructure or talent to be executed effectively. SMEs lacking an AI strategy must urgently adopt one and seek partnerships with experienced companies.
We are ready to support these businesses in protecting their AI identity. Businesses must ensure that their AI initiatives, particularly those involving sensitive data, are built on a solid foundation of identity and access management from the outset. This necessity will accelerate the move toward Zero Trust architectures across Canada, as the attack surface expands with every new AI agent and IoT device, compelling businesses to abandon perimeter security models and fully adopt continuous authentication and authorization for every access request, whether it originates from a person or an AI agent.
Finally, Passwordless Authentication (biometrics/passkeys) will become standard for human identities, enhancing security and user experience by minimizing credential compromise. The successful 2026 security strategy must simultaneously protect human and artificial identities, requiring every Canadian enterprise to assume everything has an identity that must be protected, governed, and integrated into executable business strategies.
Ryan Sydor
Area VP, Okta Canada
Ryan Sydor is a sales leader with extensive experience in the technology and enterprise sectors. Currently serving as the Area Vice President of Okta Canada,, Ryan has been instrumental in leading and expanding Okta’s Canadian market presence since June 2022.
Previously, Ryan held several senior roles at Salesforce, including Vice President of Manufacturing, Automotive, and Energy, where he focused on industry-specific solutions. Before joining Salesforce, he served as a Senior Director of Sales at Clio, a legal practice management software company, where he helped scale and train the sales team and establish the Toronto sales office.
