As cloud computing has permeated the enterprise, the entire complexion of IT services and user interaction with technology has been transformed. The business benefits of cloud are obvious, but many organizations are still trying to find ways to cope with the security implications of increased cloud usage.

While there are a number of security considerations to take into account, perhaps none is more important than identity and strong authentication. As cloud muddles an already crumbling moat-and-castle perimeter security model, identity becomes the front line of defense for securing cloud applications and infrastructure, along with the data residing in them. Here are five reasons why identity is so crucial in this still-evolving cloud era.