Identity governance must extend to physical access in critical infrastructure security

In cybersecurity, much attention is often placed on firewalls, multi-factor authentication, and digital access controls, but in sensitive sectors such as utilities, energy, airports, pharmaceutical plants, and manufacturing, the challenge extends well beyond digital defenses. Physical access plays a critical role, and in many organizations, it remains the weakest link. As digital and physical systems converge, managing identity across both domains has become increasingly complex. What was once considered a facilities matter is now a direct responsibility of security leadership, carrying implications for compliance, safety, and organizational trust. 

In many companies, physical security systems like badge readers, door access points, and turnstiles are treated separately from IT environments. While that may have once been acceptable, the risks today show how flawed this separation is. If an individual no longer employed by the organization can still walk into a sensitive area, or if badge privileges remain after a role change, the organization faces serious vulnerabilities. Facilities such as airports, government offices, data centers, and large manufacturing plants see thousands of individuals moving through them daily, creating countless opportunities for mistakes or misuse. 

The consequences of an insider retaining unnecessary access can be immediate and damaging.

The complexity is magnified by scale. Consider the case of an employee whose role shifted within a company. While IT permissions were updated to r

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