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Upgrading beyond AD and PIM solutions, CIO News, ET CIO
Every company has to keep its data and resources secure. It’s about time they try something new instead of the usual solutions like Active Directory (AD) and Privileged Identity Management (PIM).
This is where identity governance steps in. It is the logical evolution in safeguarding digital assets.
According to a recent Forrester study for identity management and governance, most security providers are mapping out the needs of clients to deliver a user-centric product vision for simplified and intuitive experiences.
As per a Gartner report, the identity and access management (IAM) market worldwide is set to hit a whopping USD 31.99 billion by 2027. Why? Well, there’s a surge in IaaS and cloud-based apps, and everyone’s jumping on the software workload bandwagon.
Limitations of traditional AD, PIM solutions
So, for a long time now, Active Directory (AD) and Privileged Identity Management (PIM) have been like the go-to guys for handling user identities and sorting out who gets access to what.
Active Directory is this cool service that keeps all the info about users and computers on a network in check. It’s like the boss of managing accounts, security, and access controls. Privileged Identity Management refines this by granting access to privileged accounts. They reduce the risk of unauthorised activities.
However, both these solutions have limitations. Here are the key constraints:
Granularity: AD often lacks granularity in permissions. It can lead to over-privileged users or complex configurations.
Scalability: As organizations grow, managing AD becomes complex and resource-intensive.
Visibility: AD and PIM offer limited real-time visibility into user activities. It is challenging to detect and respond to security threats as they occur.
Why identity governance is important
Identity governance is an advanced approach to identity and access management. The objective is to centralise and automate the management of user identities, roles, and permissions.
Here are some facets of identity governance:
Security: It enhances security by enforcing strict access controls. These controls reduce the risk of unauthorized access or data breaches.
Compliance: It helps organizations meet regulatory compliance requirements by providing automated reporting and auditing capabilities.
Efficiency: The centralized system reduces administrative overhead. It streamlines user access processes.
An identity governance solution is a smart decision for organizations that need to enhance security and streamline identity and access management.
The solutions provide a centralised framework for managing user identities, roles, and permissions. It ensures that the right individuals have the right level of access.
By implementing Identity Governance, companies can enforce security policies and compliance requirements. They can reduce the risk of data breaches and ensure data privacy.
This approach simplifies onboarding and offboarding processes. It boosts operational efficiency and enhances user experience.
Identity governance solutions also enable businesses to gain better visibility into access patterns. It becomes easier to detect and mitigate security threats and unauthorised activities.
Choosing the right solution
It should be clear by now that organizations that want to future-proof their data security should move beyond AD and PIM solutions. Both have limitations in granular access control and scalability. These become more apparent as the organisation grows.
Identity governance bridges these gaps. The question is: what should an enterprise look for in a next-generation identity governance solution?
According to a Gartner study, identity and access management leaders should adopt the following six trends to evolve their roadmaps and architecture:
- Identity-first security
- Flexible and distributed IAM
- Convergence of IAM and access management
- Consumer-facing capabilities
- Risk-based access control
- AI-powered IAM
In this way, enterprises can achieve digital transformation goals while mitigating security risks.
When considering a next-generation identity governance solution, focus on these key factors.
Role-based access control: Ensure that the solution allows you to define and manage roles effectively.
Real-time visibility and monitoring: Look for tools that provide real-time insights into user activities and security events.
Automated compliance reporting: Streamline compliance efforts with automated reporting and auditing features.
Integration with other security tools: Ensure seamless integration with existing security infrastructure.
Benefits of identity governance
Identity governance offers essential features such as visibility into users, roles, and permissions across various systems and applications. It has role-based access control for assigning permissions and streamlined access request management.
It automates user account functionality. It offers comprehensive audit and reporting capabilities for organizations to monitor user activity, identify security risks, and ensure compliance.
There is improved security and streamlined access management. That means reduced operational risks and increased efficiency in managing identities and permissions. The system adapts to organizational growth and evolving security needs.
Implementation and best practices
How can organizations implement identity governance solutions successfully? The following steps are important.
Assessment: Understand your organisation’s unique requirements, risks, and compliance needs.
Planning: Develop a comprehensive implementation plan, including roles, responsibilities, and timelines.
Pilot deployment: Test the solution in a controlled environment before full deployment.
Training: Provide training to IT staff and end-users to ensure smooth adoption.
How to overcome common challenges
Some organizations may face challenges in the transition. Common issues include resistance to change, complex integration, and limited resources.
To address these challenges, organizations should focus on clear communication before implementation. IT heads should get executive support, and implement a phased rollout strategy.
These steps can overcome hurdles and ensure a successful identity governance implementation.
Three best practices
- Define clear roles and responsibilities during the transition.
- Conduct regular security assessments and audits.
- Continuously monitor and adapt to evolving security threats.
Identity governance is the logical next step for organizations seeking to enhance their security, compliance, and overall efficiency.
Moving beyond the limitations of traditional AD and PIM solutions can also help businesses benefit from scalability and a better user experience.
The author is the Vice President and Practice Head – Cloud and Security, Bharti Airtel.
Disclaimer: The views expressed are solely of the author and ETCISO does not necessarily subscribe to it. ETCISO shall not be responsible for any damage caused to any person/organization directly or indirectly.
