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

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 *"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.*