Get to Know the ABCs of Identity Security

Think back to when you first learned how to read: did you pick up a book and instantly know all the words? Of course not! Instead, you had to start with the basics: your ABCs. Fully understanding the practice of identity and access management is a lot like learning to read. Like any other language, identity security is complex and multifaceted, and understanding it begins with a solid foundation. So let’s break down some of the most common terms within the identity and access management landscape from A to Z. 

A

A is for automation. Automation streamlines access while spotting and stopping over-privileged and conflicting access — or worse — potentially compromised access. Automation can also efficiently administer identity security programs by automating important identity processes and decisions, such as access requests, user provisioning, role modeling, and access certifications. Not to mention the time automation can save, freeing up IT teams to focus their attention on more strategic activities. Read up on bolstering IAM strategies through automation.

B

B is for business role, or the function someone serves in a business. A business role can refer to an individual, a group of people, or a machine. One person can hold multiple roles, like Employee and Software Engineer, and multiple people can be a member of the same business role, like Sales Team. 

C

C is for context. When it comes to reducing risk and increasing security, understanding context is everything. Organizations must understand context behind every access right or request – an impossible task without some sort of built in policy- and rule-based automation. Context gives insights into who they are, what their roles are, as well as which resources they need access to fulfill those roles. Identity AI will be instrumental in making decisions based on context when it comes to effective identity governance.

D

D stands for dashboards, or graphical user interfaces providing at-a-glance views of initiatives, KPIs, and KRIs. Dashboards can also be another name for a progress report that team members, executives, and auditors can easily access and review. 

E

Also referred to as “access rights,” “authorizations,” “permissions,” or “privileges,” E is for entitlements, or the type and level of authorization a user has to a system or database.

F

F stands for fast — Identity FastTrack. Identity FastTrack with Regatta quickly analyzes your identity and access management environment, processes, and tools to deliver real results. Based on an optimized process and configuration of tools you probably already have, Identity FastTrack is the core of integrating and operating identity-enabled applications. 

G

G is for governance, specifically, identity governance, the centralized control system of identity and access management. Gartner also publishes a list of vendors that offer industry-leading solutions in their annual Identity Governance and Administration Magic Quadrant. 

H

H is for high risk, or user access that has been identified as a high risk factor that requires a more stringent security level and stricter permissions. 

I

I is for intelligence. Intelligence allows companies to stay ahead of the curve with AI-enhanced visibility, detection, and remediation that adapts as your organization evolves. With AI and machine learning you can easily understand, report, and dynamically manage critical identity security policies across today’s ever-evolving enterprise environment. According to SailPoint co-founder, Kevin Cunningham, artificial intelligence is a force multiplier for identity security.

J

Often coupled together with a mover or a leaver, a joiner is the beginning stage of the user provisioning cycle, like when someone joins an organization, moves roles, or leaves the company. 

K

K is for KPIs, or Key Performance Indicators. According to KPI.org, Key Performance Indicators indicate progress toward a result. They create an analytical basis for decision making, and most importantly, help focus attention on what matters most. At Regatta, we help create dashboards making it easy to track and share identity security metrics and insights. 

L

L is for lifecycle management. Red Hat defines lifecycle management as the administration of a user or a system all the way through its life, from Day 1 provisioning to changes as their access needs evolve to when they leave the organization or retire. Lifecycle management ensures users have the right access to the right applications and data at the right time.  

M

M stands for migration. Migration can be defined as when an organization transitions from one set of tools or processes to another. In the IAM space, common migrations include migrating Oracle Identity Manager to SailPoint IdentityIQ, or transitioning from on-premise IAM, such as SailPoint IdentityIQ, to the SaaS solution, SailPoint IdentityNow.

N

N is for Navigate, one of the most prominent conferences in identity security hosted globally by SailPoint. Founded in 2013, the Navigate conference delivers the ability to immerse yourself in everything identity security with informative customer stories on identity in action and hands-on learning opportunities from the SailPoint crew. 

O

O is for on and offboarding. A critical component in lifecycle management cycle, onboarding refers to the process of getting new employees access to the systems they need to do their job. On the other hand, offboarding is the process of preparing an employee to leave the company, including eliminating access to both digital and physical systems.

P

P is for predictive identity, a platform from SailPoint built on big data and machine learning (ML) technology which enables organizations to take on the complexity driven by the digital transformation. It allows you to answer 3 important questions: “Who has access?” “Who should have access?” and, “how is that access being used?”  An AI-driven approach to identity security, enables you automate and adapt access policies to match changes in your business, in real-time autonomously.

Q

Q is for Question Existing Processes When Migrating. This mantra refers to something organizations should always keep in mind when migrating from one IAM platform to another: always analyze your existing processes before making any big decisions. 

R

R is for Regatta Solutions Group, of course! As the only North American boutique identity integrator 100% focused on SailPoint. With Delivery Admiral Status from SailPoint, Regatta is highly trained and proven to help you reach your identity security program goals faster than ever. Harness the power of identity.

S

S stands for SailPoint, the leader in enterprise identity governance. SailPoint’s open identity platform gives organizations the power to enter new markets, scale their workforces, embrace new technologies, innovate faster and compete on a global basis. As both an industry pioneer and market leader in identity governance, SailPoint delivers security, operational efficiency, and compliance to enterprises with complex IT environments. 

T

T is for training. Identity management teams require the skills and knowledge necessary to manage constantly-evolving solutions over time. Training, from internal resources or 3rd parties, ensures that IT, risk and compliance professionals receive the experienced guidance to implement and administer all aspects of their identity programs effectively. Training enables internal teams to be self-sufficient and proficient in the identity security deployed in an organization’s environment. 

U

U is for user access review. Change is inevitable. It’s what drives your users to take on new roles and responsibilities. This change affects access and overall identity security. To maintain security and compliance, user access reviews help ensure access is appropriate for every user, including bots. 

V

V stands for visibility, or gaining a complete view into which identities have which entitlements, to what extent, and for what amount of time. Having visibility into identity information makes it easy to swiftly address access concerns across the organization. And, ultimately, it supports audit and reporting activities to meet governance and compliance demands.

W

W is for workflows. A workflow is defined as any sequence of tasks that processes data. Anytime humans exchange data, a workflow is created. Regatta is the first to deliver an Agile Identity Workflow™ (AIW) in IAM. By utilizing and incorporating the agile project methodology and engine into the development process, you will achieve results rarely attainable with more traditional methods. Developed and proven exclusively by Regatta, this approach accelerates IAM integration development and creates a more efficient process.

Z

Last but certainly not least, z is for zero trust. CSO defines zero trust as the belief that organizations should not automatically trust anything inside or outside itself. Instead, it must verify anything and everything before granting access. 

Now that you know your ABCs, it’s time to start “reading and writing” (or deploying and integrating) in the language of identity security. To get started, schedule a meeting with the Regatta team to discuss building a successful identity strategy. It’s easy as 1, 2, 3.