The Top 12 Identity And Access Management Solutions
Our list of the best identity and access management solutions that allow you to manage your users’ digital identities and ensure all users have access to the resources they need to perform their roles.
Written by Mirren McDade
Technical Review by Laura Iannini
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Identity and Access Management (IAM) solutions allow organizations to protect data, ensure regulatory compliance, reduce costs, and provide a simplified and enhanced experience for users. Identity management systems are designed to protect enterprise assets by ensuring that only the right people, under the correct circumstances, can access specific data and resources. They let authorized users have access to company resources and data, while maintaining security and compliance processes.
Identity and Access Management (IAM) is a foundational part of cybersecurity and refers to the practice of putting identity-based controls at the center on your organization’s security architecture. This type of identity governance can operate across an entire organization, restricting access to those who don’t need it, while permitting authorized users to access sensitive information.
IAM is an umbrella term given to the range of technical solutions, policies, and processes that organizations can implement to manage user privileges and regulate user access.
According to this summary of the Gartner Identity & Access Management Summit, 75% of cyber insurance providers will mandate the use of just-in-time privileged access management principles by 2025. There is also projected to be significant growth in the IAM market, from USD 12.26 billion in 2020 to around USD 34.52 billion by 2028, according to Fortune Business Insights. This demonstrates how seriously organizations treat IAM, and that cybersecurity is entering an identity-first era.
To help you find the right platform for your businesses, we’ll take you through the top Identity Access Management Solutions on the market today. We’ll explore the key features like role-based account controls, single sign-on (SSO), user monitoring, and compliance. In each case we’ll identify the type of organization that would benefit most from implementing a particular solution.
JumpCloud
JumpCloud is an open directory platform that provides a comprehensive and integrated suite of identity and access management (IAM) solutions. It connects an organization’s employees to virtually any resource and configures and secures their remote devices across Windows, Linux, or macOS.
Why We Picked JumpCloud: We like JumpCloud’s ability to deliver zero-touch onboarding and its robust Zero Trust security capabilities, which ensure users can only access resources they need from trusted devices and networks.
JumpCloud Best Features: Key features include directory services, single sign-on (SSO), privilege account management (PAM), multi-factor authentication (MFA), and adaptive secure remote access. Integrations span on-premises and cloud resources, supporting remote, hybrid, and traditional work environments.
What’s great:
- Zero-touch onboarding for seamless user and device provisioning
- Zero Trust security model for enhanced access control
- Supports a wide range of operating systems and work environments
- Cloud-based solution for easy management and scalability
- Used by over 200,000 organizations worldwide
What to consider:
- May require initial setup time for complex environments
- Some advanced features might need additional configuration
Pricing: For detailed pricing, visit JumpCloud directly.
Who it’s for: JumpCloud is ideal for organizations seeking a flexible, secure IAM solution that supports remote, hybrid, or traditional work environments. It is particularly beneficial for businesses looking to streamline user onboarding and enhance security with a Zero Trust approach.
JumpCloud
Rippling IT
Rippling IT is a comprehensive platform integrating identity and access management, device management, and HRIS into a single cloud directory service. It streamlines user lifecycle management from onboarding to offboarding across all enterprise applications.
Why We Picked Rippling IT: We appreciate its ability to manage user identities across HR, devices, and third-party apps with granular access controls. Its seamless integration and automation capabilities enhance enterprise security and efficiency.
Rippling IT Best Features: Key features include single cloud directory service, automated user lifecycle management, role-based access controls, federated identity management with 600+ integrations, multi-factor authentication, enterprise password management, and Device Trust security controls. It integrates with all major enterprise applications for unified management.
What’s Great:
- Consolidated management of user identities across HR, devices, and apps
- Automates user onboarding and offboarding processes
- Supports over 600 enterprise application integrations
- Offers customizable, real-time reporting for compliance
- Modular design allows for flexible deployment options
What to Consider:
- May require time to configure for complex enterprise environments
- Advanced features might necessitate additional setup
Pricing: For detailed pricing, contact Rippling IT directly.
Who it’s for: Rippling IT is ideal for organizations of all sizes, from SMBs to large enterprises, seeking a unified solution for managing identities, devices, and HR processes across their entire application ecosystem.
Rippling IT
UserLock is an access management solution from ISDecisions designed to secure Windows Active Directory and cloud environments. It combines multi-factor authentication (MFA), single sign-on (SSO), and session management to protect both on-premise and remote user access to corporate systems and cloud applications.
Why We Picked UserLock: We selected UserLock for its robust MFA capabilities across various access points and its comprehensive compliance support, which is critical for businesses adhering to standards like GDPR, PCI-DSS, and HIPAA.
UserLock Best Features: UserLock offers MFA for Windows logins, remote desktops, IIS apps, VPNs, and cloud apps, supporting authentication via authenticator apps and hardware tokens like YubiKey and Token2. It includes configurable rules based on contextual factors such as machine, time, session type, and concurrent logins. Admins can enable SAML-based SSO for seamless access to cloud apps like MS365, and the management console provides insights into user access activity with audit reports, compliance reports, and real-time session monitoring.
What’s Great:
- Supports compliance with major data protection standards
- Flexible MFA across multiple access points
- Real-time session monitoring and control
- Seamless integration with SAML-based SSO
- Comprehensive audit and compliance reporting
What to Consider:
- May require initial setup time for complex environments
- Advanced features might necessitate additional configuration
Pricing: For detailed pricing, contact ISDecisions directly.
Who it’s for: UserLock is ideal for SMBs and larger enterprises needing a scalable, secure solution for managing user access and ensuring compliance with data protection regulations.
Thales’ SafeNet Trusted Access is a cloud-based access management solution that integrates single sign-on (SSO), risk-based policies, and universal authentication methods. It simplifies user access to cloud services and reduces the hassle of password management for both users and IT professionals.
Why We Picked SafeNet Trusted Access: We appreciate its robust multi-factor and modern authentication capabilities, along with its Smart Single Sign-On for straightforward cloud access.
SafeNet Trusted Access Best Features: Key features include a broad range of multi-factor authentication options, Smart Single Sign-On for cloud access, flexible scenario-based access policies, fine-grained access controls, and secure access for contractors and partners. It provides a single pane view of access events across applications, ensuring clear visibility and compliance. As a SaaS solution, it deploys quickly and scales easily.
What’s great:
- Robust and modern authentication methods
- Simplifies access to cloud services
- Single pane view for access event visibility
- Quick deployment and scalable
- Enhances compliance with detailed access insights
What to consider:
• May require additional configuration for complex access policies
• Ideal for large enterprise deployments
Pricing: For detailed pricing, contact Thales directly.
Who it’s for: SafeNet Trusted Access is ideal for organizations seeking a flexible, cloud-based access management solution with robust modern authentication capabilities to address diverse user needs.
ManageEngine AD360 is an enterprise-grade Identity and Access Management (IAM) solution designed to manage and secure identities while ensuring compliance. It leverages AI-driven analytics and automated workflows to reduce manual intervention and enhance security across the network.
Why We Picked ManageEngine AD360: We appreciate AD360’s AI-driven analytics for deep network insights and its comprehensive automation of identity lifecycle management, which significantly reduces staff workload.
ManageEngine AD360 Standout Features: AD360 offers features such as automated identity lifecycle management, Single Sign-On (SSO), Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), approval-based workflows, and detailed audit reports. It also includes role-based privileged access management, password management with MFA-secured resets, and bulk management of Active Directory (AD) directories.
What’s Great:
- AI-driven analytics provide deep insights into network events
- Comprehensive automation reduces the need for manual interventions
- Supports a zero-trust approach to identity managements
- Effective role-based privileged access management
- Facilitates compliance through detailed audit reports
What To Consider:
- Complex setups may require additional configuration time
- The breadth of features might be overwhelming for smaller teams
Pricing: For detailed pricing, visit the ManageEngine AD360 website directly.
Best Suited For: ManageEngine AD360 is ideal for organizations of all sizes and sectors looking to prioritize security and compliance without sacrificing productivity. It’s particularly beneficial for those needing robust identity governance and administration automation.
tenfold
tenfold is an identity and access management (IAM) platform designed to help mid-market organizations manage user access permissions across local systems, cloud services, and third-party applications.
Why We Picked tenfold: We appreciate tenfold’s user-friendly self-service interface that streamlines access requests and its robust compliance reporting tools that support GDPR, SOX, HIPAA, and ISO 27001.
tenfold Best Features: Key features include self-service access requests, automatic email notifications for access approvals, regular permission review reminders, comprehensive logging of access changes, and detailed reporting on user privileges. Integrations cover Microsoft 365, SAP ERP, HCL Notes, and custom applications via API and REST-based Generic Connector.
What’s Great:
- Enables efficient self-service access requests
- Automates access approval workflows
- Supports compliance with major data protection regulations
- Offers detailed logging and reporting for visibility into user access
- Seamless integration with popular business applications
What to Consider:
- May require initial setup time for complex environments
Pricing: Contact tenfold directly for pricing information.
Who it’s for: tenfold is best suited for mid-sized organizations aiming to efficiently manage and secure user access to corporate resources, especially those interested in enabling self-service access requests and ensuring compliance with data protection standards.
tenfold
HYPR
HYPR is an identity assurance platform that offers secure, passwordless authentication and automated identity verification solutions. With operations in the US and Europe, HYPR supports both workforce and consumer environments, serving sectors like finance, manufacturing, and technology.
Why We Picked HYPR: We like HYPR’s phishing-resistant authentication using FIDO2 standards, which ensures credentials remain secure. Its real-time risk engine, HYPR Adapt, dynamically adjusts security measures based on user behavior.
HYPR Best Features: Key features include HYPR Affirm for comprehensive identity verification, HYPR Authenticate for centralized passwordless authentication, and HYPR Adapt for real-time risk analysis. Integrations include deep ecosystem partnerships with Microsoft and CrowdStrike, supporting both cloud-native and on-premise deployments.
What’s great:
- Phishing-resistant authentication with FIDO2 standards
- Real-time risk analysis and adaptive security measures
- Seamless access across devices and systems
- Versatile deployment options for various security needs
- Enhances user experience while meeting compliance requirements
What to consider:
- May require significant integration efforts for complex environments
Pricing: For detailed pricing, contact HYPR directly.
Who it’s for: HYPR is ideal for enterprises in sectors with high compliance burdens, such as finance and healthcare, seeking robust passwordless authentication and efficient integration capabilities to enhance identity assurance protocols and user experience.
HYPR
Okta Workforce Identity Cloud
Okta is a leading identity and access management provider, offering an enterprise-grade IAM service designed for the cloud but compatible with on-premises applications. Over 10,000 organizations worldwide use Okta’s solutions to manage the identities of their workforce and customers.
Why We Picked Okta: We like Okta’s comprehensive approach to identity management, which includes secure, intelligent access for workforces and customers through SSO and multi-factor authentication. Its universal directory hosts all users, groups, and devices, providing enhanced visibility and control.
Okta Workforce Identity Cloud Best Features: Features include single sign-on (SSO), multi-factor authentication, advanced server access, a universal directory, lifecycle management, an access gateway, and API access management. Integrations include over 7,000 applications with adaptive security policies to secure user behavior.
What’s great:
- Supports both cloud and hybrid environments
- Provides a consistent password-less experience
- Comprehensive dashboard for user management and reporting
- Lifecycle management with automation for provisioning
- Highly rated for ease of deployment and use
What to consider:
- May require customization for specific needs, enterprise focussed feature-set
Pricing: For pricing details, visit Okta directly.
Who it’s for: Okta Workforce Identity Cloud is best suited for organizations seeking a flexible identity and access management solution that can adapt to their specific needs, particularly those with global teams and a mix of cloud and on-premises applications.
Okta Workforce Identity Cloud
Oracle Identity And Access Management
Oracle Cloud Identity and Access Management (OCIAM) is a cloud-native IDaaS solution that delivers comprehensive identity and access management for employees, partners, and consumers. It is designed to support a wide range of IT applications and services with highly adaptive access policies.
Why We Picked Oracle OCIAM: We selected Oracle OCIAM for its flexible sign-on capabilities and straightforward user and access administration. These features enable rapid onboarding and efficient management of users across various applications.
Oracle OCIAM Best Features: Key features include flexible sign-on with multiple authentication options, user and access administration via developer-friendly APIs, built-in reporting and auditing, and broad application coverage. It supports the creation and management of user groups, assignment of application access, and provides a dashboard for quick application access. OCIAM integrates with both cloud and on-premises applications, operating under a zero-trust strategy that emphasizes identity as a primary security control.
What’s Great:
- Enables flexible sign-on with various authentication methods.
- Offers straightforward administration with developer-friendly APIs.
- Provides built-in reporting and auditing for activity and risk management.
- Supports a wide range of IT applications and services.
- Implements a zero-trust security model focused on identity.
What To Consider:
- The breadth of features can be overwhelming for smaller organizations.
Pricing: For detailed pricing, contact Oracle directly.
Best Suited For: Oracle OCIAM is ideal for organizations seeking a comprehensive identity and access management solution that can handle diverse business needs across cloud and on-premises environments. It is particularly beneficial for enterprises with complex IT landscapes requiring robust security controls.
Oracle Identity And Access Management
Ping Identity
Ping Identity is a leading identity and access management (IAM) solution trusted by global enterprises. It provides robust security and seamless user experiences across cloud, mobile, SaaS, on-premises applications, and APIs.
Why We Picked Ping Identity: We selected Ping Identity for its comprehensive cloud identity solution and its ability to manage identity and profile data at scale. Its platform supports passwordless authentication and real-time, risk-aware authorization, enhancing both security and user convenience.
Ping Identity Standout Features: Key features include multi-factor authentication (MFA), single sign-on (SSO), intelligent API security, identity management, and directory and data governance capabilities. The solution integrates with various signals to detect risk, fraud, and threats, and it uses AI to analyze behavior for anomaly detection. It also offers synchronization and aggregation of data from multiple directories, serving as a single source of truth for identity data.
What’s Great:
- Comprehensive cloud identity solution for secure account access
- Supports passwordless authentication and real-time authorization
- AI-driven behavior analysis for anomaly detection
- Easy integration with existing systems
- Flexible customization options for enterprise needs
What To Consider:
- Complex setups may require additional time for configuration
Pricing: For detailed pricing, visit Ping Identity directly.
Best Suited For: Ping Identity is ideal for SMBs to large enterprises seeking a flexible, scalable IAM solution that offers robust security and streamlined user experiences.
Ping Identity
Microsoft Entra ID
Microsoft Entra ID, formerly Azure Active Directory, is a cloud-based identity and access management service that manages over 1.2 billion identities and processes 8 billion authentications daily. It enhances security and simplifies access to Microsoft 365 and connected applications through features like single sign-on (SSO) and multi-factor authentication (MFA).
Why We Picked Microsoft Entra ID: We appreciate its robust SSO capabilities, which streamline access across multiple applications, and its strong MFA options, including passwordless authentication, enhancing account security.
Microsoft Entra ID Best Features: Key features include SSO for seamless application access, MFA with options like the Microsoft Authenticator app and FIDO2 Security Keys, conditional access policies, and user lifecycle management. Integrations include third-party apps and services via API-based development tools, and it seamlessly fits into the Microsoft 365 ecosystem.
What’s Great:
- Efficient management of over 1.2 billion identities worldwide
- Streamlines access with SSO across Microsoft 365 and connected applications
- Enhances security with multiple MFA options, including passwordless authentication
- Enables conditional access policies to secure access attempts
- Easy integration with third-party apps via robust API tools
What To Consider:
- May require additional setup for complex third-party integrations
- Dependent on the broader Microsoft ecosystem for full functionality
Pricing: For detailed pricing, visit the Microsoft Entra ID website directly.
Best Suited For: Microsoft Entra ID is ideal for organizations seeking to implement secure SSO and MFA across Microsoft 365 and other connected corporate applications and services.
Microsoft Entra ID
IBM Security Verify
IBM Security Verify is a robust identity-as-a-service solution that enables organizations to manage user identities across various applications and environments. It offers features like multi-factor authentication (MFA), single sign-on (SSO), and password-less authentication to enhance security and streamline access.
Why We Picked IBM Security Verify: We appreciate its comprehensive approach to identity management, including adaptive access and identity analytics, which help prevent breaches and ensure compliance.
IBM Security Verify Best Features: Key features include MFA, SSO, password-less authentication, adaptive access, lifecycle management, and identity analytics. It supports federated SSO, risk-based authentication, and provides custom activity reports. Integrations include protection for on-premises applications from the cloud, suitable for hybrid multi-cloud environments.
What’s great:
- Enhances security with MFA and password-less authentication
- Streamlines access with SSO and adaptive access controls
- Supports compliance requirements through identity analytics
- Offers custom activity reports for troubleshooting
- Protects on-premises applications from the cloud
What to consider:
- May require significant setup for complex environments
- Advanced features might need additional configuration
Pricing: For detailed pricing, contact IBM directly.
Who it’s for: IBM Security Verify is ideal for enterprises seeking a zero-trust identity management solution in the cloud. It suits organizations needing an automated, feature-rich platform for SSO, password-less authentication, and risk-based MFA.
IBM Security Verify
FAQs
Identity And Access Management: Everything You Need To Know (FAQs)
Our digital identities contain information that defines our role and our level of access in the overall enterprise hierarchy, as well as information about who we are and how to contact us. Identities do not remain stagnant and evolve over time – if there is a change to the role or work technologies, for example. The role of an identity management solution is to keep tabs on these changes to effectively identify individuals, ensuring that the correct people are granted appropriate access.
Identity management involves authenticating digital identities to ensure that a user is authentic, and that they have the correct permissions for being permitted access to a particular network are or service. Any identity that cannot be verified, or does not have the correct permission level, should be prevented from accessing resources.
Authentication and authorization are not the same thing, and both are required to be permitted access. Your identity can be authenticated (proof that you are who you say you are), but that does not mean you have authorization to access a particular area.
Identity access control software facilitates attributes based access control, while identity protection services work to evaluate those attributes based on policies to make an access decision.
Identity and access management is a term that does not stand for a clearly defined system. A range of different functionalities are covered by IAM solutions, but the precise scope of features will differ from one product to the next. IAM solutions give companies the capability to manage users and permissions for various systems and applications, all within one central platform. Automation is a key component for managing digital identities, and is achieved through standardizing processes and workflows across multiple user accounts.
The core properties of an IAM system include the ability to identify, authenticate and authorize. The system will permit access to the desired resources only to the correct people, excluding access to any who are not authorized. System administrators are able to define policies that explain who should be permitted access specific network areas, without compromising security.
An IAM framework includes certain core components, including:
- A database that holds all user information and access privileges
- IAM tools that allow you to create, monitor, modify, and delete access privileges
- A system that allows for auditing login and access history
The list of access privileges needs to be kept up to date, altering as new users start, old users leave, or in response to a role change. IAM functions typically fall under IT departments in charge of handling cybersecurity and data management.
Identity and access management software can be deployed on-premises, or alternatively businesses can take a cloud-based approach. With on-premises deployment, software must be installed on your own computers. Cloud resources, on the other hand, can be deployed quickly and easily without requiring any additional installation.
Not having an IAM strategy is simply not an option today. With hybrid workplaces and so many remote employees, identity and identity compromise is one of the biggest cause of breaches. Users will always need to access data and tools that are restricted from general use. The more robust your identity security, the more comprehensive your overall security will be. This type of solution also makes it easier for users who can use biometric authentication and SSO, for instance, rather than having to manage multiple passwords.
One of the main tasks facing IT teams today is determining how best to protect the identities of their remote workers while ensuring they can still access the resources they need to fulfill their work tasks. IAM supports this by enforcing individual, personalized security.
The benefits of utilizing IAM are obvious but may not seem necessary for every enterprise at first glance. However, all organizations that have users logging into a restricted area can benefit from IAM.
The best way to compare identity security solutions is to first get a clear id
The best way to compare identity sec solutions is to first get a clear idea of your organization’s specific needs. These needs may differ widely depending on industry, number of users, and other risk factors. Once you have a clear understanding of your need, read our buyers guide to understand the top solutions on the market. Your decision may come down to a specific capability, familiarity with the security vendor offering the solution, or specific recommendations from peers.
With such a wide range of IAM solutions available on the market, enterprises may struggle to narrow down their choices. One way to do this is to carry out the following activities:
- Conduct a full audit of legacy systems, particularly if you have applications in the cloud and on-premises
- Identify and outline existing security gaps for both internal and external stakeholders
- Define the different types of users and the specific access rights they will require
Once you have a firm idea of your organization’s security needs, it is time to pick the IAM solution best suited to them. You may choose a standalone solution, a managed identity service, or a cloud subscription service from a third party, such as an Identity-as-a-Service (IDaaS).
Solutions will differ from vendor to vendor, but typically should include the following features to be considered a robust solution:
- MFA. This is an absolute must-have that any decent IAM solution should be including. MFA is undeniably safer than using a single authentication method (like a passcode or password/login).
- Passwordless authentication. Passwordless authentication options streamline login process whilst maintaining a robust security standard.
- Privileged Account Management (PAM). Privileged accounts are a particularly vulnerable to attack as these accounts have a high level of access. Compromising a privileged account is an attractive target for attackers. There should be as limited a number of privileged accounts as possible – this way you can reduce the attack surface. IAM solutions should have appropriate and additional controls in place to manage privileged accounts and keep them safe.
- Role-based access control. Organizations utilizing role-based access control will have greater control over their permission, increasing security in critical areas through ensuring that that users only have access to information they absolutely need to do their job role. This comes under the category of zero-trust infrastructure.
- Audit and compliance compatibility. It is increasingly important to be able to provide a comprehensive digital trail for audit purposes and to maintain compliance. A good IAM system should be able to provide this information regarding all users’ access across all digital files.
In your network, who has access to what? If this is not a simple to answer question, there is a chance that the level of data security in your company is lacking. The most significant threat to your organization’s sensitive data is not the infamous hacker, hidden away and hatching plans to poke holes in your defenses. Instead, the greatest danger comes from within. It’s your employees, coworkers, contractors, and – more often than not – it is entirely unintentional. Simply having too many access points can make it so that generally trustworthy employees become a weak point in your armor.
Identity and access management solutions are not only helpful for users, security and IT admins, they are beneficial for enterprises as a whole. There is a range of benefits to having a good IAM framework in place, including:
1) Making The Lives Of End-Users Simpler
With an IAM system enabled, access to corporate systems is granted to users––including employees, contractors, third parties, vendors, customers, guests, and partners–– regardless of their location, the time, or even the device they are using. IT administrators can negate the need for users to manage multiple accounts for all corporate applications or resources by using IAM systems to form a unique digital identity for every one of their users, which includes a single set of credentials.
This streamlined identity security reduces the likelihood of employees ending up locked out of their accounts for long stretches of time, waiting for assistance to reset their passwords or to be provided access, and could help to boost productivity.
With the use of a method of authentication like single sign-on, users can use their unique digital identity to gain access to cloud-based, web-based, SaaS, and virtual applications. SSO helps by easing the friction of the authentication process and contributes to the improvement of user experiences.
2) Improved Password Safety
IAM systems not only allow for a far smoother sign-on process and boost employee productivity, they also contribute to the eradication of outdated and unsecure password practices like reusing passwords or sharing passwords between users insecurely.
One of the most common causes of data breaches is compromised user credentials, with as much as 81% of hacking-related breaches resulting from compromised passwords. This is not surprising, considering that at least 60% of people are regularly reusing passwords across multiple sites despite the known risks of doing so (read more about these risks in our blog: 5 Reasons You Should Never Reuse Passwords). With the password management features offered by many IAM systems, security admins can more easily encourage password best practices––strong authentication measures, frequent password updates, and minimum character lengths––to boost security and prevent common risky password security mistakes.
3) Stronger Data Security
IAM solutions help organizations to identify and mitigate security risks. With IAM policies applied across the whole company, it becomes easier to identify policy violations and cut off access to certain privileges, without the need to search through multiple distributed systems. IAM can also be leveraged to make sure that any security measures that are in place are meeting regulatory and audit requirements. These policies also reduce the threat of internal attacks, as employees are only granted access to systems up to a certain level necessary to perform their role and are unable to escalate privileges without approval or a role change. An IAM can help avoid the spread of compromised login credentials, block unauthorized entry to the organization’s network, and offer protection against a range of cyber-attacks including ransomware, hacking, and phishing.
Increasingly, IAM systems are making use of automation, identity analytics capabilities, and AI and machine learning, which allows them to identify and prevent unusual activity. Also, by using an IAM system, IT departments can keep track of how and where users’ credentials are being used, so admins can more easily identify which data may have been compromised in the event of a data breach.
4) Simplified Security Processes
Having a good IAM system in place for your organization comes with the advantage of boosting the efficiency and effectiveness of your security team by making their lives simpler. Whenever there is an update to an existing security policy, all access privileges can be changed in one sweep across the organization. If your IT administrators can use IAM to allow or deny access, based on predefined user roles already organized neatly in a database, this not only makes the whole process more secure by reducing the likelihood of granting unauthorized access to the wrong users, it also cuts down considerably the amount of time needed to onboard and offboard users.
To prevent any unauthorized individuals from accessing certain resources, security admins can apply to user roles the principle of ‘least privilege’. This means that users are provided with the minimum level of access or permissions required to perform their job functions, which helps by ensuring that employees, contractors, partners and guests can be easily and quickly set up with access to just the resources they need, without compromising data security.
Federated identity management – which SSO is a subset of – works by linking user identities across multiple organizations. With federated identity management, companies and partners can make a noticeable reduction to overhead costs, through sharing a single application for all user identities.
5) Maintain And Demonstrate Regulatory Compliance
Security is also a matter of law, regulation, and contracts. A number of regulations have data security, privacy, and protection mandates in place that relate directly to IAM, including HIPAA, GDPR, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and PCI DSS. In order to demonstrate compliance, organizations need to understand and be able to verify protections for their data, including who has been permitted access to it, what protections are in place to regulate that access, the process to revoke access, and how the management of passwords works.
In the event of a compliance audit, identity management systems also help IT admins to demonstrate that the proper controls are in place to protect corporate information and to prove how, and in what situations, user credentials are used.
6) Management And IT Costs Are Reduced
Gartner estimates that up to 50% of helpdesk calls are password-related, typically from users looking to reset their passwords. For a large organization, staffing and infrastructure to handle password-related support costs could equate to over $1 million a year, according to Forrester Research. An IAM system makes managing help desk employees and administrators simpler and significantly reduces the amount of time spent on minor security tasks like helping users who have been locked out of their account gain back access. Instead, that time can go to more important tasks.
Consolidating user accounts into singular identities can come with the added benefit of negating other enterprise expenditures. For example, the cost of managing identities across multiple (often legacy) applications can be reduced using federated identities. With the use of a cloud-based IAM service, you can also reduce or even eliminate the cost of purchasing and maintaining on-premises IAM systems.
Written By
Mirren McDade is a senior writer and journalist at Expert Insights, spending each day researching, writing, editing and publishing content, covering a variety of topics and solutions, and interviewing industry experts. She is an experienced copywriter with a background in a range of industries, including cloud business technologies, cloud security, information security and cyber security, and has conducted interviews with several industry experts. Mirren holds a First Class Honors degree in English from Edinburgh Napier University.
Technical Review
Laura Iannini is an Information Security Engineer. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity from the University of West Florida. Laura has experience with a variety of cybersecurity platforms and leads technical reviews of leading solutions. She conducts thorough product tests to ensure that Expert Insights’ reviews are definitive and insightful.