The modern day business environment demands increased efficiency, security and regulatory compliance. Therefore, the need for improved and effective identity access management solutions is imperative. The thought of implementing an IAM strategy can make IT executives nervous as the process is known to be complex and costly, making it difficult to achieve the intended goals.

However, when implemented correctly and systematically, identity access management (IAM) can lead to significant benefits such as lower costs, improved security, better compliance and increase user satisfaction and productivity. A decade back IAM solutions were only deployed by leading-edge companies. However, today it has become a compulsory process for most enterprises. Regulations like the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard, Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act and others today requires organizations and its employees to be responsible for any lack in data protection. Enterprises should implement effective security controls for securing critical data, ensure the privacy of confidential data and efficiently manage privileged identities.

Therefore the essential steps that an enterprise should consider whilst planning an effective identity access management strategy are:

  • The risks relates with IAM and the manner in which it is addressed
  • The organization’s requirements
  • The way to approach IAM within an organization and how effective it is
  • The process of identifying its users and the number of users present in an enterprise
  • The process for authenticating users
  • The access approvals given to the users
  • To monitor whether the users are accessing the IT resources appropriately
  • The process for tracking and recording user activities

Whenever an organization undergoes any changes the IAM process deployed should be changed accordingly. To make this process easy, solution providers specializing in information risk management have come up with innovative IAM solutions, offering services such as:

Strategy and Design
Here the service provider offers a methodical requirement analysis and planning essential for setting up the base for an efficient IAM strategy. The company analyzes the end-user needs through several avenues, that includes field assessments and executive workshops that helps in setting up a strategy and IAM route map. The solution also assists in technology evaluation, business case analysis and solution architecture.

Digital Identity and User Lifecycle Management
This includes the design and management of data to identify individuals to approve them for digital transactions. It is also essential to monitor these identities over a period of time.

Access Management
This provides a comprehensive solution for enterprise access management including single sign on, web access management, information rights management and coverage access control.

Advanced IAM solutions help you to optimize and sustain an IAM strategy. IAM is always active; hence the system should also evolve continuously. IAM addresses and fulfills to this need through system enhancements and upgrades.

Read more on- data protection solutions, risk management frameworks




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