Why Implement Identity Management?

While it may be rhetorical nowadays, some IT organizations are still wondering, “Why implement identity management?” This question is one that is on the mind of any corporation, be it a small startup or a multinational empire. For most, identity management solutions are already in place. Some cases use a manual process, but they are still implementing identity and access management (IAM) nonetheless. As an organization grows, the importance of identity management becomes even greater. For those organizations that already have something in place, the question is less about whether IAM makes sense, and more about why they should move to cloud identity management, the modern incarnation of identity and access management. Either way you slice it, there are certainly pressing questions for any organization regarding IAM.

The Importance of IAM

Before we get into how different organizations should think about solving their identity management puzzle, it’s always good to look at the core of why identity management is even important. There are three major reasons: security, productivity, and efficiency/cost savings. Let’s hit each of these head on.

Security

According to a report from Verizon, 81% of all breaches today are a result of insecure identities. If you haven’t locked down your user access and your users aren’t savvy about protecting themselves, it could be a difficult battle. Identities are the easiest way in for bad actors, so securing them is a necessary precaution for any enterprise, no matter the size.

Productivity

Your end users need access to IT resources to do their jobs in this modern era. Easily connecting them to what they need makes them more productive. Recent studies show that companies that implement cloud-based IT services like identity management grow by almost 20% compared to others that do not (McAfee). By having a solution in place that can work with just about any IT resource, end users can leverage the best tools possible, and their company’s productivity increases.

Efficiency/Cost Savings

While it’s often overlooked, an efficient and effective IT force saves a business money. The process of connecting users to their IT resources can be a huge headache for IT organizations. By implementing an identity management platform, an enterprise can cut down on the time and effort required to make that happen. That means your IT staff can focus on the things that matter, rather than tedious tasks.

What Organizations are Looking for in an IAM Solution

Now that you have a sense for the why, let’s talk about how organizations of all sizes can implement an identity management platform. While small organizations may not want to spend a great deal of time and money on a platform, larger organizations do want something that can scale to their wide range of IT requirements. Then there’s also the organizations with legacy platforms such as Microsoft® Active Directory® (AD) that want to shift to a cloud identity management solution, especially one that can maintain their preexisting AD data.

Implementing IAM for the Cloud Era

All of these issues can be handled with a cloud-based platform designed to meet the demands of the modern era of identity management. This platform, called JumpCloud® Directory-as-a-Service®, can securely manage and connect users to the IT resources they need including systems, applications, files, and networks – regardless of platform, protocol, provider, and location.

With JumpCloud Directory-as-a-Service, the question is no longer why implement identity management, but rather, why not implement identity management. Corporations, both big and small, can benefit from seamless, cloud-based IAM from JumpCloud. Check out the video below to learn more about its Cloud IAM Protocols or write us a note if you have any questions or comments. If you think JumpCloud Directory-as-a-Service may be the right solution for you, schedule a demo or try it for free with ten complimentary users.