Your organization is struggling with identity and access management. What can you do to fix it?

Start with having a ‘single reliable source of truth’ for all identity related data( e.g. HR systems for employees, also referred as Authoritative Source) Integrate this Authoritative Source with what ever Identity Management tool is used. Implement basic automated ‘Joiner’ and ‘Leaver’ process , followed by ‘Movers’ and regular ‘User Access Reviews’ Try to consolidate the ‘authentication’ part of most critical apps (and others apps too as possible ) through the Directory (most organisations have AD so best to use it) Integrate this with the Identity Management tool. Things will start falling in place.

Assessing IAM maturity involves evaluating policy and governance, access management, identity lifecycle management, authentication and authorization, monitoring and reporting, and integration and automation. By assessing these areas, organizations can identify strengths and weaknesses in their IAM practices and develop a roadmap for improvement.

Improving identity and access management (IAM) is critical to improving security within an organization. Here are steps you can take to address and resolve IAM challenges: Conduct a security assessment, Define clear policies and procedures, Implement role-based access control (RBAC), Automate user provisioning and deprovisioning, Single Sign-On (SSO), Multi-factor authentication (MFA), Regular access assessments, Centralized identity management, Logging and monitoring, Employee training and awareness, Regular audits and compliance checks, Incident response plan, Collaboration with IT and security teams, Cloud IAM considerations. If your organization uses cloud services, use cloud IAM solutions to effectively manage access controls.

IAM is not just a tool or domain. It is the combination of tools, processes, people, willingness to evolve, and teaching. My First step would be to understand which pillar of the IAM is having trouble even the best technology in the world will fail when it is badly implemented, not used by people, not educated or advertised properly. My strategy would be to understand the technology is fine, then gather the necessary leaders to get the news about new technology or process change to the organization and go with big advertisements and learning programs to include all people of organization.

To implement a robust IAM (Identity and Access Management) strategy, organizations should first define their objectives, assess their current state, and develop a roadmap for improvement. This roadmap should prioritize initiatives based on impact and feasibility. Implementing IAM solutions like multi-factor authentication (MFA) and single sign-on (SSO) is crucial, along with providing training to employees on IAM best practices. Continuous monitoring and auditing of IAM activities are essential, as is regularly reviewing and updating the IAM strategy to ensure alignment with organizational goals.

The new IAM structure should definitely match the company's objectives. To this end, these must be defined in advance. The following questions are best answered at the beginning: -Why do I need an IAM tool? -What should IAM solve? -What is the perspective and strategic IT orientation of my company? -What is my focus? Security? Good login experience? -Who should use the system? Business partners? End customers? Service providers? -What is the status quo and what are the needs for the future?

Choosing the right IAM (Identity and Access Management) tools and solutions involves several key steps. First, assess your organization's specific IAM needs, considering factors such as the size of your organization, the complexity of your IT environment, and your security and compliance requirements. Next, evaluate IAM solutions that align with your needs, such as those offering multi-factor authentication (MFA), single sign-on (SSO), and privileged access management (PAM). Consider factors such as ease of implementation, scalability, and vendor reputation. Finally, pilot test the selected IAM solution before full implementation to ensure it meets your requirements and integrates smoothly with your existing systems.

Finding the right IAM solution is not always easy. There are various providers with different focuses and functions. Here too, a few questions should be answered in advance to simplify the search: -Do I have a special IT landscape or rather standard interfaces? -How many people need to have access to the system? -Do I want to use the system in a cloud or on premise? -Are there any legal restrictions on the choice of provider? -What scale do I have? -How many resources do I have available? -What is my budget?

Educating and empowering users is crucial for effective IAM (Identity and Access Management). Provide regular training on IAM best practices, such as creating strong passwords, recognizing phishing attempts, and using multi-factor authentication (MFA). Encourage users to take an active role in managing their own identities and access rights, such as reviewing their access permissions regularly and reporting any suspicious activity promptly. By educating and empowering users, organizations can enhance their overall security posture and reduce the risk of unauthorized access and data breaches.

Involving employees in the IAM project at an early stage is incredibly important because they are directly affected by the changes to their access rights, authentication methods and workflows. By involving them, potential concerns and resistance can be identified and addressed at an early stage. In addition, the active involvement of employees enables the system to be adapted precisely to actual requirements and working methods. This promotes acceptance and a smooth transition to a more efficient and secure IAM system, while raising awareness of the importance of security practices.

Knowing your information assets and what needs to be protected is another piece to this puzzle. Who has access to that asset and to what level.