It may seem an obvious question in an age of remote workers, customer remote access and all the joys of the online/digital economy. However, it is a question that can only be answered accurately by implementing an Identity and Access Management (IAM) system. IAM is a crucial component of any company’s security strategy if they are to navigate today’s digital business environment.
This is according to iOCO’s Automation Cluster. “Identity has always been a vulnerable entry point for a malicious actor through phishing or weak passwords. Finding out who somebody is after they have had the luxury of residing in your system for days or even weeks, without detection, is a recipe for disaster. By then, they will most likely have had access to the important aspects of your business, including your confidential client information and even your company’s IP. This ends up as a matter of scrambling to rectify the situation and essentially doing too little, too late,” says Roux Nienaber, iOCO Automation Cluster, solutions executive.
Managing an organisation’s identity life cycle is key to addressing risks such as ransomware and information compromise. The joiner, mover, and leaver process is often manual and can put businesses at risk by allowing dormant accounts or accounts with excessive network privileges. Addressing these scenarios with best-of-breed technology and a well-thought-out IAM process enables companies to manage risk, gain visibility into user activity, and detect threats earlier.
“CIOs, CISOs and business owners should be asking and able to answer one simple question, namely, do you know who is accessing your systems? If you answer that you are ‘fairly’ certain, or you are ‘as sure as it is possible to be’, you need to discover what can be done to ensure you are absolutely certain of who, what, from where and when, is trying to access your information and if they are authorised to do so,” says Nienaber.
This is where an IAM strategy comes to the fore. “IAM supports compliance and data privacy, digital transformation initiatives, improves user experience and, above all, enhances security measures against risks. It is crucial for protecting data and securing systems by permitting only authorised individuals to access sensitive data.”
Implementing IAM
Nienaber confirms that, as with anything, it is best to begin by defining business objectives. “You need to ask what it is you want to protect. For example, is it client data? Or do you want to simplify employee authentication, or get your regulatory compliance ducks in a row? Your answers will guide the selection of the right tools that also integrate with your existing systems, fulfil industry requirements, while at the same time providing a user-friendly interface.”
He emphasises that implementing IAM delivers assurance to customers that the integrity of their data is protected through a solution that not only meets regulatory standards, but also competes with the best in the world. “Equally as important as the trust and safety proposition for your customers’ data is the fact that the implementation of IAM effectively protects the core interests of your company.”
He cites Gartner, which highlights the importance of having an IAM strategy and reveals five steps to the successful implementation of an IAM programme:
1. Identification of an IAM programme.
2. Seek out credible stakeholder representatives.
3. Generate political capital for your IAM programme.
4. Formulate a collective vision.
5. Establish a working consensus and continually refine the IAM programme.
“Gartner’s roadmap to IAM success contains the fundamentals necessary to get your programme underway. I would add that understanding that IAM is no longer just a security tool; it has evolved from a mere tool to a vital element in safeguarding efficiency and resilience across industries. It is now key to how businesses regulate access control and information efficiently. IAM helps companies enforce security protocols and meet compliance and access control best practices, regardless of sector.
“At iOCO, we aim to empower organisations with the ability to develop an IAM vision as part of their overall market strategy. This includes securing internal employees, external clients, and service providers, plus enabling secure management across vast assets. In doing this, we help businesses to deliver a value proposition to their customers founded on trust. This ultimately translates into a competitive edge in an age of increasing cybersecurity threats,” concludes Nienaber.
For more information contact iOCO,
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