Building a Sturdy Foundation for Identity Access Management Implementation

The biggest question many organizations need to answer: Identity and access management is constantly evolving — is yours?

In 2021, it’s estimated that businesses without formal IAM programs will spend 40% more on IAM capabilities while achieving less than those with them. Organizations with IAM programs need to continually develop and advance theirs over time, and they will need a permanent team and partnerships to continue the evolution and management of it. And, by building a successful and engaging IAM program, they will not only spend less, but achieve more in the long-term.

IAM Implementation Process

Each iteration of IAM implementation follows the same simple guidelines and four steps:

• Identifying key stakeholders
• Defining the vision
• Building the roadmap
• Defining the architecture

Every stage of the plan during the first round is straightforward, and each successive cycle will be more effortless than the last. By following them, you can foster repeated identity access management advancement.

Build a Foundation.

The first step of an optimization journey begins with identifying key stakeholders. Although identification is at the heart of this action, it is also about determining what drives these important process partners. A successful first step will build the foundation for every iterative cycle that follows, so it’s paramount to look at it in greater detail.

IAM leaders should recognize that enterprise IAM role management, groups, privilege access, and governance is a unique arena that requires a specialized framework and methodology. With this in mind, IT decision makers should launch the initiative in advance to provide ample time.

Due to its specialized framework and methodology, the IAM implementation requires a diverse and committed group of stakeholders and their representatives within the organization: those who influence and benefit from the IAM program. Examples of a stakeholder and stakeholder representative includes end users and a service desk manager or network security and director of security. The goal is not to create experts or IAM experts out of these representatives, but rather to empower them to evangelize and demonstrate the program deliverables — scope and priorities are important to the larger audience.

It’s also important to understand what stakeholders and their representatives’ version of success looks like. This includes establishing common goals across departments and building trust within the organization, but also working through issues such as lack of recognition, lack of interest, and conflicting needs. To keep stakeholders invested, continue to align with their goals, build consensus, and continually reassess. Success will be measured against an IT leader’s ability to adjust to change and stakeholder input.

Lastly, IT decision makers should always have a champion. This individual can work with vendors and external stakeholders to advocate for the IAM solution.

Once key stakeholders and their primary drivers have been identified, an organization is ready for the next steps in this iterative process, which involve redefining the business across its vision, roadmap, and architecture. But much like the first step, it requires a thoughtful approach to succeed.

Find Success With Your IAM Implementation

Accelerate your IAM implementation with the Bravura Security Fabric. This best in class solution empowers organizations to better navigate the difficult terrain of increasingly complex threats with a resilient, flexible, single identity and access management (IAM) platform and framework. Bravura Security Fabric — which brings together the layers of Identity, Pass, Privilege, Group, and Discover — is dynamic, iterative, and optimized to protect, manage, and govern digital identity and access infrastructure in today’s ever evolving landscape.

Watch the webinar from our Power of One Summit to explore the additional three stages of a successful identity access management program implementation.