Digital transformation is more than just a buzzword, despite how people might be using it. It’s changed the way modern businesses operate – they’re more interconnected, they use the cloud, and they can adapt quickly to new trends. While there are of course many benefits to this, it’s unfortunately posted a number of cyber security risks – particularly when it comes to managing user identities and access rights. Businesses need to navigate complex environments and protect the data of users on premises as well as in remote locations. Traditional IAM are no longer enough to ensure security, and this is where Identity Governance and Administration (IGA) comes in.

Why Traditional IAM Is Falling Short

To put it simply, IAM is all about verifying user identities and managing their access to your systems and data. However, these solutions don’t always give you the visibility or control that you might need to enforce policies, or meet compliance requirements. With employees often having multiple roles and responsibilities, and moving between departments, it can become harder to keep track of who has access to what.

Without the proper oversight, you can end up with unused accounts and users with too many privileges, both of which are entry points for attackers or internal threats. This can be even more of an issue in cloud or hybrid environments, where there is room for misconfigurations or human error.

The Role of Identity Governance

IGA is a framework that helps organisations control who has access to what, and why. Unlike traditional IAM, which tends to concentrate on authentication and access provisioning, IGA gives users more visibility into – and control over – user identities, throughout their lifecycle. It allows users to regularly review and validate user access), define roles based on job functions, enforce policies to ensure they’re followed, and automate everything from onboarding to deprovisioning of user identities. Not only do these kinds of features help firms ensure that only the right individuals have access to the right resources at the right time, but they also help you  meet regulatory requirements.

The Importance of PAM

While IGA helps when it comes to managing access across your organisation, Privileged Access Management (PAM) is also key for keeping your most sensitive accounts secure. Unprotected privileged accounts are one of the most common entry points for attackers, since these would give them the ability to bypass security control, make changes, and steal confidential data.

This is why PAM solutions, like those offered by CyberArk, are essential for businesses looking to enforce the principle of least privilege. These solutions allow businesses to implement multi-factor authentication, monitor the activity of privileged accounts, and detect any suspicious behaviour in real time.

When used together, IGA and PAM can give businesses robust identity security. While IGA ensures that access has been appropriately granted across your organisation, PAM protects the accounts at the highest risk, reducing the risk of abuse from internal and external threats.

IGA and Compliance

These days, businesses are under increased pressure to demonstrate that access to their data is not only being controlled, but that it is actively monitored. Regulations like GDPR and NIS2 require businesses to be able to prove they know who has access to their sensitive systems and data – and also justify that this access is appropriate. IGA helps businesses to be compliant by automating access reviews, providing audit trails, and detecting any violations before they can become liabilities. These are vital for sectors like finance and critical infrastructure, where there are severe penalties for non-compliance.

Best Practices for IGA

Implementing IGA requires careful planning, as well as a deep understanding of your organisation’s cyber defences. Before you begin, you should map all users, roles, and access points. Establish clear, role-based access control (RBAC) policies that align with your business’ needs, and automate the provisioning, deprovisioning of users’ privileges wherever possible, as this can reduce human error. It’s also important to integrate your IGA efforts with your PAM  strategy to protect the accounts that are most at risk. Regular reviews of your IGA are also important, so you can stay secure and compliant over time.

How Infosec K2K Can Help

At Infosec K2K, we understand the complexity of managing identities. That’s why we work with leading vendors – including CyberArk and Saviynt – to deliver tailored identity security solutions. Our team can support you with everything from risk assessments and policy design to offering ongoing support. Alongside industry-leading partners, we deliver advanced identity security solutions. 

As a trusted CyberArk partner, we can help you take full advantage of their unified approach to identity security, combining PAM with IGA. This gives you complete control over both high-risk accounts and everyday user access – reducing your exposure to threats while meeting increasingly strict compliance requirements. Our partnership with Saviynt also enhances our ability to support organisations navigating complex hybrid environments. Their powerful, cloud-native IGA platform offers dynamic access controls, automated provisioning, and continuous compliance monitoring – all of which are important for today’s businesses. 

Whether you’re just starting with IGA or looking to enhance your existing cyber security, we can help you design and implement a solution that aligns with your needs and goals. 

In a world where identity is increasingly important, IGA is a critical line of defence. With the right strategy, you can reduce risk and build a more secure future for your business.

Whatever solution you’re looking for, we can help. The experts at Infosec K2K can offer you specialist guidance, and help you find the product that’s the best fit for you.

Get in touch with us to find out more about how we can help you.