11 Questions to Ask While Evaluating an IAM Solution

Identity and Access Management (IAM) is a critical part of IT security as it manages user identities, access to data, and permissions to handle resources within an organization. Despite sophisticated cybersecurity programs, threats and data breaches are increasing at an alarming rate, which is why enterprises must deploy an effective IAM solution to safeguard their network.

What is Identity and Access Management (IAM)?
- Why Do Organizations Need Identity and Access Management?
11 Questions to Consider When Evaluating IAM Solutions
GroupID is the Ultimate Master Key that Locks and Unlocks Access to User Identities
Summing Up

What is Identity and Access Management (IAM)?

Identity and Access Management is a discipline that ensures that the right individuals get the right access to resources at the right time so that they can accomplish their assigned tasks. IAM enables you to conveniently manage a range of user identities, software, and hardware securely within an organization.

Why Do Organizations Need Identity and Access Management?

Information Technology (IT) departments are under immense pressure to protect corporate data and access to resources from both insider and outsider threats. As a result, they cannot rely on manual processes to assign and track user rights and privileges because they are prone to errors. Instead, they need a solution that can automate tasks while enabling granular access control. This is where IAM comes in with its ever-increasing list of features that help organizations secure their data while managing user identities with utmost reliability.

11 IAM Questions to Consider When Evaluating Solutions

Since there is a multitude of IAM solutions to choose from, selecting the right one for your environment could be daunting. Following is a list of IAM questions based on Imanami’s 21 years of experience in identity and access management, which will help you choose the most suitable IAM solution for your organization:

Should You Choose an On-Premises or Cloud-Based Solution?
Will the IAM Solution Suit Your Business’s Future Needs?
What Applications Do You Need to Run with the IAM Solution?
Does the IAM Solution Support Different Authentication Methods?
Does the Solution Provide Single Sign-On (SSO) Capability?
Does the IAM Solution Support BYOD Policy?
Does the IAM Solution Provide Passwordless Authentication?
What Impact Will the Solution Have on User Experience?
How Much Does an IAM Solution Cost?
What is the Availability and Reliability of the Service?
How Complex is it to Deploy an IAM Solution?

Let move towards answering the below IAM questions:

Should You Choose an On-Premises or Cloud-Based Solution?

IAM solutions are deployed in any of these three different ways:

On-Premises
Cloud
Hybrid

To make the right choice, it is important to understand the key differences as well as the pros and cons of each infrastructure.

On-Premises

An on-premises IAM solution is installed and managed by a server that is physically located within the premises of your organization.

Pros	Cons
Cost Effective: On-premises solutions have a low cost of ownership because you only pay for the user licenses once.	Capital Expenditure: On-premises solutions usually require high upfront expenses as they need physical space.
Complete Control: The hardware and software platforms are entirely under your control, and you get to decide when you configure updates and system changes.	Maintenance Cost: It is your responsibility to maintain the server hardware and software, storage space, and data backups, which may become a burden for some enterprises.
Real-Time Access: With an on-premises solution, you do not rely on internet connectivity to access the software.	Execution Time: On-premises solutions take long hours to complete installation on servers as they have to be deployed on each individual laptop or computer.

Pros

Cons

Cost Effective:

On-premises solutions have a low cost of ownership because you only pay for the user licenses once.

Capital Expenditure:

On-premises solutions usually require high upfront expenses as they need physical space.

Complete Control:

The hardware and software platforms are entirely under your control, and you get to decide when you configure updates and system changes.

Maintenance Cost:

It is your responsibility to maintain the server hardware and software, storage space, and data backups, which may become a burden for some enterprises.

Real-Time Access:

With an on-premises solution, you do not rely on internet connectivity to access the software.

Execution Time:

On-premises solutions take long hours to complete installation on servers as they have to be deployed on each individual laptop or computer.

Cloud-Based

A cloud-based infrastructure is hosted by a third party, which uses virtual technology to deploy the solution, with no need for on-site physical hardware.

Pros	Cons
Access Everywhere: With a cloud-based solution, you can access your applications anytime and anywhere through a web browser using any device.	Stable Connectivity: Cloud-based solutions require a reliable internet connection so that you can continue to access the applications.
Fast Deployment: Since cloud-based solutions are deployed over the internet, they are fast and efficient.	Long-Term Costs: Though cloud solutions do not require any capital investments, they may become more expensive over the years as you pay a hefty amount every month.
Affordable: Cloud-based solutions do not require any upfront costs. You just have to make regular monthly payments to the vender, which adds to the monthly running expenses.	Limited Customization: Cloud-based solutions are configurable, but as the system gets complex, they are unlikely to cope with the changes.

Pros

Cons

Access Everywhere:

With a cloud-based solution, you can access your applications anytime and anywhere through a web browser using any device.

Stable Connectivity:

Cloud-based solutions require a reliable internet connection so that you can continue to access the applications.

Fast Deployment:

Since cloud-based solutions are deployed over the internet, they are fast and efficient.

Long-Term Costs:

Though cloud solutions do not require any capital investments, they may become more expensive over the years as you pay a hefty amount every month.

Affordable:

Cloud-based solutions do not require any upfront costs. You just have to make regular monthly payments to the vender, which adds to the monthly running expenses.

Limited Customization:

Cloud-based solutions are configurable, but as the system gets complex, they are unlikely to cope with the changes.

Hybrid

A hybrid solution is a mix of on-premises resources and cloud services. It allows enterprises to have control of their in-house hardware as well as the flexibility of the cloud. Sensitive data is hosted on-premises, whereas the less critical workloads are hosted on the cloud. A hybrid solution enables you to minimize the costs as well as exercise full control on hardware and software resources.

The solution that is right for you depends entirely on your organization and its unique needs. Weigh the pros and cons, examine the security, and evaluate the usability requirements of your users before deciding which type of deployment best suits your needs.

Will the IAM Solution Suit Your Business’s Future Needs?

Although no one can predict the future, you can forecast and envision it based on existing data. It is always better to visualize what your company’s needs and requirements might be from an IAM perspective in the upcoming years. Here are some things to consider when forecasting:

Is the solution reliable and trustworthy?
Is it scalable over time?
Will it receive future software patches, updates, and releases?
Will the deployment be cost-effective over the years?

Hence, answering above IAM questions in the realist context of your organization would enable you to determine an IAM solutions compatibility with your business future needs.

What Applications Do You Need to Run with the IAM Solution?

The emergence of cloud-based SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) applications, which are accessed online through subscription, have modernized IAM today. Now you can easily integrate an IAM solution into hundreds of applications. Before selecting the solution, make sure to evaluate what applications your employees use and have access to, so that you can compare the different IAM solutions and the applications they support.

Does the IAM Solution Support Different Authentication Methods?

To answer above IAM questions in the context of cyber security threats, the IAM solution should be able to provide more than just username and password authentication methods. To cater to the growing security needs, enterprises are known to ask for at least ten different methods of authentication from IAM providers.

In addition to this, the methods should be easy to use and readily available for users. Therefore, make sure that the IAM solution offers various multi-factor authentication (MFA) modes, including fingerprint scanner, mobile login, face recognition, retina scanner, etc.

Does the Solution Provide Single Sign-On (SSO) Capability?

An IAM question pertaining to SSO capability of a solution is significantly important. Single Sign-On is an authentication method that allows users to use one set of login credentials to access different independent software systems. With SSO enabled, users do not have to remember multiple passwords and authenticate themselves multiple times when accessing the required applications.

By combining SSO with MFA and adaptive authentication, organizations can expect higher security standards, fewer authentication-related disruptions, and increased productivity. Hence, it is important that the IAM solution provides SSO capability.

Does the IAM Solution Support BYOD Policy?

Many companies find it difficult to cope with the rapidly changing technological advancements, which is why they adopt a BYOD policy and allow employees to use their own devices for work. Though this policy is tricky to regulate and monitor, it has become a routine part of doing business ever since the pandemic. So, if you are using a BYOD policy in your organization, check if the IAM solution supports a wide range of mobile operating systems, including iOS, Android, Windows, etc.

Does the IAM Solution Provide Passwordless Authentication?

To answer this IAM question, let refer to an article published by Security Magazine, around 53% of people admit that they reuse the same password for different accounts, which is characterized as a terrible practice for password setting. To counter this practice, companies are choosing to replace passwords with other authentication options, like biometrics and mobile logins through applications.

Decent IAM solutions also provide risk checks with passwordless authentication, such as location address, device information, IP address, etc. Such elaborate data proves highly beneficial when protecting your company’s data against internal and external threats.

What Impact Will the Solution Have on User Experience?

Users nowadays expect quick and hassle-free results from technology. Therefore, an IAM solution should deliver a seamless experience to users, ultimately improving the business’s productivity.

The availability of self-service options is one of the best ways to ensure productivity in your organization. A self-service portal enables users to manage and update their information in the company’s records, reset passwords, unlock accounts, and much more. This leads to reduced workload for the company’s helpdesk. So, make sure to look for self-service options when selecting an IAM solution.

How Much Does an IAM Solution Cost?

IAM solutions often have complex pricing structures. While some charge a per-user licensing fee, others offer predefined packages, which include a particular number of users who can be rolled into the software. The key is to evaluate the number of employees working in your organization and then compare the plans to figure out which provider suits you the best.

If you go for a per-user licensed IAM solution, you only have to increase the payment as you grow your workforce. This means:

You are getting the value for your money.
There is no high upfront fee.
It offers a low entry barrier.
It involves minimal commitment.

However, if you want to opt for a predefined package, we suggest that you keep a margin for new employees that would join your organization in the future because upgrading packages takes time and money.

What is the Availability and Reliability of the Service?

An IAM solution should be highly reliable and available so that users can log on to the enterprise network and perform their required tasks. If the solution has availability issues, your users won’t be able to access the network resources, and the organization’s core operations might come to a halt. Therefore, you must assess the reliability and availability of the solution before finalizing your decision. To do so, ask the provider to give you a free trial of the product that demonstrates its features and enables you to make an informed decision.

How Complex is it to Deploy an IAM Solution?

Although the deployment of an IAM solution is a complicated procedure, some providers make it significantly easy and fast. Choose an IAM vendor that offers excellent support during and after deployment.

In a nutshell, a suitable vendor would have the answer to above all your IAM questions. One of the reliable vendors providing IAM solution is Imanami Corporation, whose IAM solution GroupID has been rated as 4.7 on Gartner Peer Insights. Let’s dig more into GroupID’s capabilities.

GroupID – An End-to-End Group Management Solution

Identity and access management heavily rely on secure and up-to-date user identities; else administrators cannot be certain that only the right individuals have access to the company’s resources. Therefore, it is important to automate tasks such as user onboarding, offboarding, and access control management. GroupID seamlessly automates these tasks, ensuring that users belong to the right groups and have the appropriate permissions to accomplish their jobs.

Here are some features that make GroupID stand out from the crowd:

Seamless User Onboarding
Immediate User Offboarding
Smart Authentication
Frictionless Automation
Interactive Self-Service
Secure Password Setting
Elaborative Reports

Seamless User Onboarding

When creating new user accounts for fresh recruits, GroupID reads data from the source file and provisions new profiles in your directory in a matter of minutes with utmost reliability and accuracy.

Immediate User Offboarding

When employees leave the organization, GroupID enables you to suspends all their permissions and access to the company’s resources quickly, maintaining high-security standards against internal as well as external threats.

Smart Authentication

GroupID’s authentication is designed for scalability, velocity, and any level of complexity that organizations desire. Strong authentication is the foundation of security as it verifies a user’s identity and allows them to log into the network. GroupID also supports the single sign-on capability, enabling users to sign in across multiple applications with one password.

Frictionless Automation

If processes like user provisioning and deprovisioning, granting rights and permissions, and authenticating and authorizing are carried out manually, they become prone to errors, which can harm the organization. GroupID automates these processes and executes them as scheduled, enhancing the overall security of the enterprise.

Interactive Self-Service

GroupID provides an interactive self-service portal, which enables administrators to delegate certain user management tasks to end-users, who can do the following and much more without contacting the helpdesk:

Keep their profiles up-to-date.
Reset their passwords.
Manage their groups.
Unlock accounts.

GroupID’s profile validation feature enforces users to validate their profiles after regular intervals. If they fail to do so, the system will automatically disable and lock their account. This way, inactive accounts are timely disabled and only active users can access the company’s network, keeping the organization safe and secure at all times.

Secure Password Setting

Passwords are the first line of defense against threats, which is why GroupID provides the option to set password complexity from easy-to-remember to nearly impossible to recall.

Elaborative Reports

GroupID understands the importance of reports, and that is why it offers a free reporting tool that generates detailed information on users, allowing administrators to keep track of crucial activities and stay informed at all times.

Summing Up

GroupID by Imanami has been the leading tool for managing user identities and groups for over 21 years. With such significant industry experience, GroupID has a customer satisfaction rate of 99%, which vouches for its high standards of service. You can get a 20-day free trial of the full product, so that you can make a fair decision for your IAM solution. So, book your free demo today and start your identity and access control journey with GroupID.

Jonathan Blackwell

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Since 2012, Jonathan Blackwell, an engineer and innovator, has provided engineering leadership that has put GroupID at the forefront of group and user management for Active Directory and Azure AD environments. His experience in development, marketing, and sales allows Jonathan to fully understand the Identity market and how buyers think.

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