Managing digital identities and access permissions in an era of unofficial software and systems
In today's digital landscape, the infiltration of cloud-based applications in enterprises is not all doom and gloom. Business managers now have the ability to procure application functionality without going through the traditional IT department, thanks to the growing market of software-as-a-service (SaaS) applications. However, this shift presents challenges for the IT department, particularly with identity and access management (IAM).
One of the key challenges is justifying the cost for implementing cloud access management. The IT department now competes with external cloud providers for user attention and loyalty, and cost savings are a crucial factor. Fortunately, AccessIQ, offered by SailPoint Technologies, provides a solution.
AccessIQ helps business units control monthly subscription expenses by promptly deprovisioning unused or unauthorized iCloud accounts. This not only saves costs but also improves employee productivity by reducing the time spent on managing access to various applications. Additionally, it accelerates deployment speed and reduces support calls, making it a valuable asset for any IT department.
The real benefit of cloud access management, as AccessIQ demonstrates, is risk reduction through identity and access control. Employees may lock themselves out of critical applications or reuse their social security numbers from personal web services for corporate applications, potentially exposing organisations to attack. AccessIQ offers an intuitive App Launchpad for one-click, single sign-on to iCloud applications from any device, reducing security concerns of password reuse.
Moreover, AccessIQ provides IT with visibility and controls for security policy, violation detection, and regulatory compliance. It allows the IT department to insert an identity and access management layer between the users and the iCloud applications, ensuring that workers can only access appropriate functionality and that application usage across the organisation can be tracked for cost control.
To regain control over IAM, the IT department must move from being a technology implementer to a service provider and integrator. This cultural shift requires greater engagement with the business and a focus on customer service. By becoming an internal 'cloud service provider', the IT department can introduce single sign-on (SSO) for all iCloud apps, providing ease of use, reducing security concerns of password reuse, and giving IT control of access rights when an employee leaves.
In conclusion, SailPoint's AccessIQ provides convenient access to iCloud applications for business users while addressing IT needs for security and control. This solution offers a promising path for IT departments to navigate the challenges posed by the increasing use of iCloud-based applications, ensuring both business productivity and organisational security.
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