Most CIAM selection decisions get made on features at evaluation time. Six-figure migration projects 18 months later are the result. Here's the stage-fit framework that prevents it.
An annual research piece based on 12 months of monitoring 200+ CIAM vendor changelogs. The 14 trends shaping customer identity in 2026 and the vendors leading each shift.
The five CIAM contenders in 2026 don't compete head-on. Each wins for a different stage and buyer. Here's the framework I use, with the honest tradeoffs each carries.