Identity event review is the process of checking account activity, login records, privilege changes, and access events for signs of misuse. It focuses on identity data such as user sign-ins, password resets, new device enrollments, failed logins, MFA prompts, and role changes.
This matters because many intrusions begin with stolen credentials or abuse of legitimate accounts. A careful review can reveal impossible travel, unusual logon times, unexpected admin activity, or access to systems that do not match normal behavior. In an extortion case, even an unverified victim claim can push defenders to review identity events first, since account compromise may be the earliest reliable signal. Security teams use these reviews to confirm whether a threat is real, measure scope, and decide whether to reset credentials, revoke sessions, or disable suspicious accounts. It is a basic but critical step in verifying compromise.