Choosing the best IAM Suite for your Organization: Criteria Checklist
An Identity and Access Management solution (IAM) can make or break your organization’s security posture.
There is no one ‘right’ solution since the solution that you choose will depend
on any number of factors: the size of your organization (will decide the scope
of the solution); the level of granularity you need (will decide how
feature-rich you want it to be); your budget, etc.
Some criteria to consider when evaluating IAM solutions:
On-premise or cloud-based?
This choice depends
on your business objectives. On-premise solutions are perceived as more secure,
and allowing the enterprise greater control over the location of data. However,
a cloud solution can be implemented faster, is flexible and scalable, and
cheaper to deploy. Many solutions in the market today are a hybrid of the two,
and may best suit your needs.
How interoperable is the solution?
Look for a solution
that can be easily integrated with various types of directories, any
third-party authentication systems that you use, as well all the applications
that your employees, customers and vendors need access to.
A point solution or full IAM suite?
The initial payout on
point solutions may be lower, but deploying a full IAM suite confers long-term
benefits that outweigh the higher upfront investment. A full-features suite
covers all aspects of identity and access management, doing away with the need
to invest in multiple point solutions; thus reducing complexity as well as
resulting cost of integration.
Does the solution offer a high level of
automation?
An automated IAM solution
reduces effort around provisioning and de-provisioning. For instance, the
identity and access components will be integrated such that a change in job
role (hence, user identity) will automatically change associated access rights.
The automation of provisioning,
re-provisioning, and de-provisioning reduces time and effort spent, as well as
human error.
Does the solution cover
reporting and auditing requirements?
The complex nature of compliance
necessitates a tool that goes beyond identity and access management to aggregate
and track audit logs. Such tools monitor events and alert users to possible
compliance violations.
Does the solution offer self-service features?
Self-service features enable productivity. Features such as
password resets and unlocking accounts, when available through a secure and
self-service portal, take away the necessity for a fully functioning help desk,
driving down costs and increasing the efficiency of employees.
Does the solution
have a friendly, customizable user interface?
A solution with sophisticated dashboards offers a high-level overview that is of great value to business users.
Finally, look for a solution that is
scalable and highly available, especially when it comes to key functions such
as provisioning, authentication, and access management. Additionally, it should
not just answer your current needs but also have the potential to evolve and
scale up to meet planned future needs.
Last Word
As important as the solution is the implementation team that you
choose to deploy it. A good implementation partner can ensure quick deployment with
a rapid return and minimum business disruption. To determine the right
implementation partner for your needs, consider:
·
Location
(single point or multiple) and geographical reach of the company
·
Skill
base and service offerings
·
Managed
Services capability (if that is what you are eventually heading towards)
·
Agility
and flexible pricing models
·
Expertise
in the chosen solution
·
Ability
to offer round-the-clock support
·
Service
Level Agreement
Look for an implementation
partner with the necessary expertise, resources, and capabilities to help you
with a complex implementation and post-implementation support. Do not forget to
ask around and listen to what the market has to say about the company.
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