Identity and Access Management (IAM)

Ensuring that right people have access to the right information at the right time in order to make the right decisions. This sounds simple. So, why do we still read about leaks, industrial espionage and the wrong information ending up in the hands of the wrong people for all the wrong reasons?

Strong identity and access management relies on technology solutions, processes and policies, but without the right people to design, install and maintain them you still risk falling foul.

The areas we work in 

Our specialists work with seasoned experts in the fields of privileged user management, digital rights management and single sign on.

Identity and Access Management (IAM) governs the proper handling and use of information by identifying users (both internal employees and external customers or vendors) and verifying their identities so that each can access only the appropriate information according to need and internal approval. As you might expect, regulating information access of your “friendlies” inside your company carries with it all the headaches and complexities that come with clearance – variances across personnel to some but not all access levels, etc.  It tends to be far more complex than the much simplified access levels typically setup for external parties.

COMPLIANCE AND GOVERNANCE

IAM is not just smart practice – in many industries a sound IAM system is a requirement.  In many industries, compliance and regulatory policies legally require companies to have regularly audited IAM systems in place in order to meet industry compliance standards.  In other industries, inter-organizational accreditation and key commerce-related memberships require a minimum level of data security often accomplished by having a baseline IAM system in place.

Challenges of IAM

Planning and developing a credible and effective IAM strategy can be very difficult especially for small- to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) since the overhead and complexities involved with establishing an IAM system often exceed the bandwidth and capabilities of internal IT teams. In addition, the following elements make accomplishing the setup and management of an IAM system even more challenging:

• Users who work from or supplement company-supplied equipment (such as personal smartphones, laptops and tablets) on company premises. An effective Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) strategy should include knowing which devices are brought to work, their data storage and transmission capabilities, and how those devices are used.
• Users who work remotely. A complete cybersecurity plan must be able to regulate employees who are working offsite.
• Organizations with many information access points.  Any and all terminals that can be used to access information should be properly secured.
• Managing cloud accounts. Information coming to and from cloud computing platforms should be encrypted.

Be Your Own Identity Provider

There are four steps that your company can follow when it’s time implement an IAM system.

1. Determine any and all potentially transferable data and information that your company has.
2. Understand and document how your company and its employees use the information and data.
3. Develop metrics, controls, and policies that govern the use of that information.
4. And monitor the performance of those controls and policies (and make changes if necessary).

Cloud IAM

If businesses keep pace with current trends, most will have fully converted to the cloud within the decade. Identity and Access Management for cloud services will require the same oversight and attention as traditional systems. Organizations have the option of employing advanced access management tools such as Identity-as-a-Service (IDaaS) solutions that will keep up with your users’ passwords, permissions and access levels across all connected systems. IDaaS providers can save your company a good bit of time and trouble managing user identities, with added bonuses of reduced capital and overhead expenditures, leading to lower operational costs.

IAM Deployment Essentials

There are three qualities an IAM solution must possess to ensure that it can provide the maximum benefit to your organization.

1. It must not hamper performance. The implementation of the IAM should not prevent information users from working at their usual productivity levels.
2. It must not have permanent restrictions. The IAM system should have an approval process for cases when users have a demonstrated need for obtaining elevated access to information.
3. Robust audit capabilities. Any and all changes to the IAM should be tracked along with relevant user and approval information, such as the user/users who have had access-level changes or approved changes to user access levels.

Identity and Access Management, just like any business process that leads to better cybersecurity, should be made a priority consideration but should also be approached planfully to ensure IAM onboarding and roll-out is seamless and painless.  If you have any questions regarding IAM systems, whether it might be time for your company to setup an IAM, or have any other technology or tech-biz questions, we’re here to help.  Just click the  button below to submit a question or request, and we’ll get right back to you with an answer.