Aligning IAM with your business

Identity and Access Management (IAM) refers to the policies, procedures, and technologies that help organisations manage and control user access to their systems, applications, and data. IAM solutions can authenticate users, granting them appropriate access privileges and monitoring their activities to mitigate security risks. Using IAM, companies can achieve security and productivity, ensuring that users can easily access the resources they need – but only those resources – to be productive.

However, there is no “one size fits all” solution to IAM. The reason is simple: every organisation is different. While there are similarities in process – such as onboarding and offboarding of users as they join and leave the organisation – these always diverge in the detail.

If your IAM solution cannot adapt to your business, the business must either adapt to the solution or a business requirement must go unmet. In the first case, there is a cost is in modifying existing business practices. And in the second case, there is a cost in the lost opportunity to improve the business, such as increase efficiency.

In either case, there is a cost if your IAM solution cannot adapt to your business.

Achieving business alignment

By aligning their IAM solution to align with the business, organisations can attain their goals of greater security, compliance, and efficiency. This ultimately contributes to their long-term success in an increasingly connected landscape.

IAM has touchpoints across all parts of an organisation. As a result, the implementation of an IAM solution requires planning that cuts across the business. If you are considering a change to your IAM, you need a modern, flexible solution that fits your needs today and into the future.

• Discover: Begin by assessing the organisation’s “current state”: your existing IAM-related processes, IT infrastructure, and security policies. Identify the roles and responsibilities of different user groups and their access needs.
• Analyse: Develop an IAM strategy that describes your desired “future state”. Understand where your business has organisation-specific requirements that will need special handling through customisations and bespoke configuration.
• Design: Create a technical architecture that realises the future state. This should also include non-infrastructure specifications, such as custom identity attributes or roles for Role Based Access Control (RBAC).
• Integrate: Your IAM solution will exchange data with many existing systems, such as your Finance, Human Resources and core IT systems. This ensure that your IAM solution reflects the constant changes in your users’ statuses (employment status, role, etc) within the organisation.
• Train: Educate employees about the IAM solution and their roles and responsibilities in using and operating it.
• Future-proof: Your IAM solution must have the capacity to evolve and grow with your business’ changing needs. As the organisation expands, the architecture should seamlessly accommodate new types of users, applications, and devices.
• Review: Regularly review and update the IAM strategy to adapt to evolving threats and changing business needs. Implement enhancements where needed and conduct audits to identify areas for improvement.

What is Able+?

Delivered as a managed service, Able+ can be operated from the public cloud, private datacentre, or a hybrid infrastructure. We work with you to build a solution that will adapt and grow with your business.

Able+ supports all industry standards, complementing your other strategic IT assets such as Microsoft Active Directory and Azure. This makes it simple to connect all your services and resources, giving you control and visibility of access and security across your digital estate.

With a competitive, annual subscription model that makes budgeting simple, there’s no need to compromise on either cost or functionality.