Identity and Access Management (IAM) is not a new concept or one that many organizations don't already have as part of their security strategy. However, with the evolving threats and constant changes brought on by digital transformation, customer expectations, and even an unexpected pandemic, the need to be able to adapt is more critical than ever.
Cyberattacks are on the rise and digital transformation is in full swing, constantly introducing new applications, data, and identities into the business that you need to secure. Compliance and regulatory requirements continue to set the bar higher and higher on what is an acceptable level of security and the methods you can use to support it.
Also, we are in a time where the digital experience a company provides to its customers and workforce can make all the difference. Being able to secure access without introducing friction into the user's digital experience is more critical than ever and can impact the business, its competitive edge, and even revenue.
Finding an identity and access management strategy is easier said than done since there are plenty of factors to consider when looking for the IAM solution that works alongside your users and secures your environment.
As more users are moving to the cloud and environments become hybrid in the way that they are structured, there needs to be a tighter identity and access management strategy and security to protect the whole enterprise. This is especially true for those that are working remotely and do not have the same security measures in place in their remote locations as compared to within the company.
On the other side of the common security vs. convenience conversation, improving user experience has been very crucial for many companies, considering more users are moving to more remote operations. Flexibility is crucial to making it easy to remain secure while not getting users frustrated and in search of "workarounds" that can open up security vulnerabilities.
Unfortunately, companies tend to make these IAM decisions too quickly and without a fully-formed identity and access management strategy. Ending up with a solution that doesn't support your identity and access management strategy can quickly result in increased costs and limitations that negatively impact your users' experience. Technology should accommodate security goals, not compromise them.
With this in mind, you'll need to be on the lookout for flexibility and the best fit for your identity and access management strategy. This means finding an ideal IAM solution that provides the basics but also adapts with your business, customers, workforce, and market trends into the future.
It needs to offer options to where it matters the most, making it easy to secure identity the way you want. A flexible IAM solution can quickly adapt to fit your identity and access management strategy and your users' expectations.
By looking outside the "obvious choices" when it comes to the multiple IAM solutions to choose from, you can not only avoid headaches for both you and your users but also costs. "Through 2020, organizations that expand their list of evaluated solutions to include one alternative vendor, one adjacent technology and one open-source option will save an average of 25% over potential projected costs when acquiring an IAM solution.", says Gartner Inc.
It is important to know your options when it comes to IAM.