These days it is crucial for all businesses to have some sort of identity and access management, or IAM, solution in place. IAM solutions manage and secure employees’ identities and provide secure access to company resources. These systems create an added layer of protection to keep your company’s information safe through identity management. With cyberattacks on the rise and remote work becoming more commonplace, verifying users’ identities is now more important than ever. Identity and access management offers a wide variety of solutions that help not only protect your company but organize your virtual infrastructure as well.
User Accounts: From Start to Finish
IAM solutions bring an array of identity management tools that make it easier for businesses to create, manage, and deactivate user accounts. Once a new employee joins an organization they need their own account, email, level of access, etc. Identity management tracks and handles this information across the entire network. It also updates the employees’ information as changes occur, like a job promotion or move to a new location. The information on employees stays up to date and makes it easier for administrators to delegate tasks and grant access to the proper personnel. These tools will automatically revoke access to users no longer working with the company, making the termination process one step easier for administrators.
User Authentication
One of the most important factors in IAM is identity verification. Especially with more companies operating on a fully remote or hybrid basis. They must have a way to verify their employees’ identities when their credentials are logged into the company’s system, even if they aren’t physically in the office. With 2023 showing a 72% rise in data breaches since 2021, ensuring an employee’s identity is of the utmost importance. IAM solutions provide two major tools to help with this: single sign-on and multi-factor authentication.
Single sign-on or SSO allows employees to access multiple devices or programs using one username and password. This way employees don’t have to remember and store a long list of passwords and administrators can easily remove this one set of credentials from their database in case of termination. That being said, employees must do their part and create a strong password to thwart cybercriminals trying to guess their login information. But with only one password to remember, this should be a simpler process.
Multi-factor authentication or MFA requests additional verification from an employee when logging into any company systems. By reaching out to another verified method of contact for that employee, MFA ensures the person trying to access your company’s secure information is really who they say they are. Using Multi-factor Authentication via IAM will ensure your business information is protected from outsider threats.
Secure Access Privileges
In addition to verifying employees’ identities, IAM solutions also make sure the correct team members are doing the right job. By using Role-Based Access Control, or RBAC, identity managers can give and restrict access to company resources without releasing sensitive information. These access privileges are easily customized to each employee, providing them with their own unique set of permissions. This ensures everyone in the business is able to access only what they need to work. This protects and organizes the company, creating clear virtual boundaries for people to follow.
Tracking for Safety
With all of these identity management tools it might feel like you’re being watched. If your administrators are using an IAM system, this should be true. The admin team needs to keep track of which employees have access to which programs as well as how they interact with each platform. Meanwhile the IT team needs to be able to track employees’ access requests and any necessary authorization modifications. IAM solutions collect important data which your IT department can view and identify potential widespread issues. With IAM solutions automatically tracking this information, your IT team has more time and resources to devote to resolving problems and increasing cybersecurity.
Cloud-based
As technology evolves, so do the systems we use. Many IAM solutions are becoming cloud-based to adhere to the increasing remote and hybrid workforce. Implementing cloud-based identity management systems is more cost efficient, saving organizations from having to purchase expensive hardware and software for in-office solutions. Using the cloud also allows for more flexibility. IAM operations can be easily adjusted at any time across every employee’s device. Cloud based solutions also have built in recovery mechanisms in case an employee’s account is hacked and the company’s sensitive information becomes at risk. A breach is immediately detected, and protective measures can be instantly deployed.
Find the Right IAM Solution for You
With the growing popularity of remote and hybrid work, it is crucial that businesses have identity and access management solutions in place to protect their information. From keeping track of every employee’s level of access, to using tactics to verify a user’s virtual identity, to creating an organized system of employee information and IT services, IAM solutions help businesses thrive.
Not sure which IAM solution is right for your organization? Schedule a free consultation with our friendly IT Team to receive help protecting your information today!
