How can you simplify access request and approval processes with identity governance solutions?

Managing access requests and approvals can often become a cumbersome process, leading to bottlenecks and security vulnerabilities. Identity governance solutions streamline these processes by providing a framework for managing user identities and their access rights within an organization. By automating and simplifying access controls, these solutions help ensure that the right people have the right access at the right time, while also making it easier to comply with regulatory requirements and to protect sensitive information from unauthorized access.

1 Understanding IG

Identity Governance (IG) is a policy-based approach to identity management and access control that helps organizations automate and oversee user access to critical information. IG solutions enable you to define and enforce policies that govern who can access what data, when, and under what circumstances. This simplifies the process by replacing manual, error-prone methods with automated workflows, ensuring that access rights are granted according to established policies and are consistent with regulatory compliance requirements.

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2 Automated Workflows

Automated workflows are a cornerstone of identity governance solutions, significantly reducing the manual effort required in the access request and approval process. By pre-defining approval processes for different types of access requests, you can ensure a swift and consistent response. This automation not only speeds up the process but also minimizes the risk of human error, making access governance both more efficient and more secure.

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3 Role-based Access

Role-based access control (RBAC) is a strategy within identity governance that simplifies access management by assigning permissions to roles rather than individuals. When you align access rights with specific job roles, you streamline the approval process. As employees move within the company, their access rights can be easily updated to reflect their new roles, reducing the administrative burden and enhancing security by ensuring that users have only the access necessary for their current position.

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Eunice Mwebi

Cybersecurity Governance Manager
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Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) simplifies access request and approval processes by structuring access around defined roles within an organization. Users request roles instead of individual permissions, simplifying the access request process. A single role assignment can grant all necessary permissions for a user’s job function. RBAC simplifies approval workflows by having approvers focus on role assignments rather than individual permissions. This reduces the number of approvals needed and speeds up the process.

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4 Self-service Portals

Self-service portals empower users to manage certain aspects of their identity and access rights without direct IT intervention. Through these portals, users can request access to resources, view the status of their requests, and even manage some of their credentials. This delegation reduces the workload on IT staff and accelerates the approval process, as managers can approve requests directly through the portal.

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Jonathan Norton

IT Security Analyst at CCD | Data Loss Prevention (DLP) | Driven to Success | Data Protection and Security Technologist | BS in Cybersecurity | CJIS Certified | Six Sigma Certified | High-Level Policy Writer
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At CCD, we've seen the power of self-service portals in identity and access management. They empower users to handle access requests and credentials independently, which reduces IT workload and speeding up approvals. Managers can directly approve requests, streamlining the process, and enhancing overall efficiency. SupportNow has been extremely beneficial for not only us in IT, but our users.

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5 Access Reviews

Regular access reviews are essential for maintaining security and compliance. Identity governance solutions facilitate these reviews by providing tools that allow for easy examination of user access rights. They highlight any discrepancies or excessive permissions, enabling you to take corrective action promptly. This proactive approach ensures ongoing adherence to access policies and helps to prevent privilege accumulation over time.

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Jonathan Norton

IT Security Analyst at CCD | Data Loss Prevention (DLP) | Driven to Success | Data Protection and Security Technologist | BS in Cybersecurity | CJIS Certified | Six Sigma Certified | High-Level Policy Writer
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This is very true! User Access Reviews (UARs) are ESSENTIAL for maintaining security and compliance. One of my job duties is to conduct UARs, which I do across 10+ applications each year. A big thing that I notice is that many users have the same type of roles when they are in different positions. This aligns with proper RBAC. When doing UARs, I check to make sure that users are not able to accept their own changes in an application (if they have a "change" role). Ultimately, I think that all companies should be performing UARs in every application to make processes smoother. Additionally, users with an entry level position won't have the same roles as someone in a manager position or higher; which I have seen.

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6 Policy Enforcement

Enforcing policies consistently across an organization is critical for compliance and security. Identity governance solutions automate policy enforcement, ensuring that all access rights are granted according to the established guidelines. This reduces the risk of unauthorized access and provides a clear audit trail for compliance purposes, simplifying the management of access requests and approvals while maintaining a secure IT environment.

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Jonathan Norton

IT Security Analyst at CCD | Data Loss Prevention (DLP) | Driven to Success | Data Protection and Security Technologist | BS in Cybersecurity | CJIS Certified | Six Sigma Certified | High-Level Policy Writer
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As the overseer and contributor to our IT policies at CCD, I found that consistent policy enforcement is key to compliance and security. Automating identity governance, reducing unauthorized access risks, and simplifying access management has been a game-changer. The clear audit trails we've established provide support during security audits, ensuring every access right aligns with our guidelines. Having identity governance truly enhances our IT environment's security and compliance.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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How can you simplify access request and approval processes with identity governance solutions?

1

2

3

4

5

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7

1 Understanding IG

2 Automated Workflows

3 Role-based Access

4 Self-service Portals

5 Access Reviews

6 Policy Enforcement

7 Here’s what else to consider

Business Operations

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How can you simplify access request and approval processes with identity governance solutions?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Understanding IG

2 Automated Workflows

3 Role-based Access

4 Self-service Portals

5 Access Reviews

6 Policy Enforcement

7 Here’s what else to consider

Business Operations

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