Identity at the Center Identity at the Center #52 - Jackson Shaw, IAM Jedi
Jul 13, 2020
In this discussion, Jackson Shaw, a veteran identity and access management professional, shares his fascinating journey from chemistry to IAM over 36 years. He dives into his experiences launching Active Directory at Microsoft and the skepticism he faced. Jackson highlights the evolving standards in IAM, the future of identity solutions like biometrics, and the importance of integrating IAM with ITSM platforms. He also provides valuable insights on simplifying IAM processes and offers recommendations for conferences and resources to deepen understanding in the field.
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From Fortran To Active Directory
- Jackson Shaw described moving from chemistry to computer science after a Fortran course flipped a switch for him.
- He recounted building early account-creation systems and later joining Zoomit and Microsoft to work on directories and Active Directory.
Zoomit, Microsoft, And The AD Launch
- Jackson told how Zoomit was acquired by Microsoft and how he joined to help launch Active Directory.
- He described skepticism at launch and later proving AD's scalability in large customer tests.
Passwords Still Unsolved; Apple As Market Maker
- Jackson emphasized we still haven't solved the password problem despite ongoing efforts.
- He sees Apple's adoption of biometrics and FIDO as a market-making force that can push passwordless forward.