Identity and access management (IAM) is the set of business processes and supporting technologies that allow you to create, maintain, and use a digital identity. The effect of IAM on your organization’s user community, application portfolio, and information resources can be quite profound.
An IAM implementation plan is the foundation for managing different operations in an organization, including access to applications and information and the dissemination of data externally. To learn more about the history of identity and access management, follow the link.
Every user forms a first impression of an IT system the moment they try to login. If an IAM implementation is redundant, difficult and/or annoying, the system could create the wrong impression of an organization. If this happens, it could result in lost user productivity, a poor user experience, limited information sharing across applications, unnecessary administrative overhead, and reduced security stature.IAM issues can have far-reaching effects on your organization, such as stigmatization.
A strategic plan on how to implement your identity and access management is not an option, it is a necessity.
IAM plans originated from the desire to remove complexities that surround digital authentication. Every IAM plan should ensure that its activities and deliverables are aimed at achieving this important objective and are designed in a way that improves the most important competencies in an organization. With this in mind, there are several important principles that guide a successful IAM implementation.
Don’t underestimate the importance of IAM. It is a technical service that ensures only verified people have access to certain online resources and assets through managed permissions.
Make sure that an IAM implementation plan:
If your IAM implementation plan is executed properly, it will streamline the use of systems for the end user.
When implementing an IAM, make sure the program reduces complexity for end users, applications developers, and admins. It should streamline end-user identity and account creation by eliminating paper-based, labor-intensive processes, and allow users to have access and control over their accounts through self-service account management, putting the control of simple requests into user hands.
IAM is an important information safeguard designed to protect sensitive information from ever-changing security threats. If an IAM is properly implemented, it will proactively identify and mitigate security threats, as well as identify policy violations—and then remove inappropriate access privileges without wasting a lot of time searching different systems.
All said, the main reason to have a strategic IAM implementation plan is to provide your users and IT admins with secure, easy access to different applications, create solutions that do not need complex login credentials, collaborate across and beyond your organization, and enhance your security and auditing.
For further reading, check out our other articles like Why OAuth Is Better Than Basic Authentication.