identity-access-management - Top Trusted Cyber Security Solutions in UK

5 January 2022

Why is implementing Identity and Access Management important for your business?

The opportunity for cyber criminals to commit online fraud by stealing identities is widespread, with 37% of all breaches involving the use of stolen credentials. To avoid falling victim, we need to safeguard our digital footprint and identities. Keep your important data padlocked by granting keys to strictly authorised users only. Don’t let intruders unlock access to your important assets…

Protect what matters the most by having a strong cyber security plan ready to go if an emergency strikes. An important part of that consists of implementing Identity and Access Management processes within your business, especially for large-scale workforces with growing teams. There’s no use in sharing sensitive data amongst staff without having secure user control and access management in place. The two should go hand in hand!

Due to the rise in remote working and expanding staff bases, confidential data is more likely to be exposed. Prioritising your business’ security has never been more important. The new normal – relying on cloud-based, collaborative systems – carries greater risks than internal data sharing and access. And the risk of falling victim to cyber crime is hard for any business to bounce back from.

So, What Is Identity & Access Management?

Identity and Access Management (IAM or IdAM) consists of products, policies and processes that ensures the right users have appropriate access to internal systems and technology resources. In a nutshell, it verifies that you are who you claim to be (authentication) and grants you access to what you’re allowed to see (authorisation). It aims to prevent cybercriminals from breaking through business barriers, emphasising the importance of having effective IAM procedures in place.

Identity and Access Management systems have three key aims: to identify, authenticate and authorise. The core components that make up an IAM framework include:

• Users’ identities and access privileges database

• The ability to create, monitor, modify and delete access privileges

• A system for auditing login and access history

What Risks Could You Face Without Implementing Identity & Access Management?

Failure to define the roles and access privileges amongst network users can increase your risk of a security breach. It may be the case that Identity and Access Management is the missing link within your business’ security plan. Research shows that 44% of security professionals believe an IAM solution will address their current security gaps.

Whilst IAM is a useful tool, it might be one your organisation hasn’t considered. Not having it in place can increase the likelihood of attack. Identity and Access related breaches result in huge negative consequences. These can include data loss (60%), compromised accounts or credentials (52%), ransomware infections (47%), malware infections (29%) and financial loss (18%).

The Benefits of Identity & Access Management

But, it’s not all bad news – these damages can be avoided. With secure user control and access management, businesses will see the advantages of keeping their digital data safe. Let’s take a look at the benefits of IAM:

• Enhances security – The most important benefit of IAM. By controlling user access, companies can eliminate the chances of a data breach, identity theft and illegal access to confidential information. IAM can prevent the escalation of compromised login details, avoid unauthorised entry to internal networks, and provide protection against potential cyber-attacks.

• Improves user experience – Reduce the need to enter multiple passwords to access systems by using a combination of the following: Single Sign-On (SSO) with one-time user verification, Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for added protection that requires codes to access, Biometric Authentication like fingerprints and facial recognition, and Risk-Based Authentication where risks are detected due to differentiating IP addresses.

• Streamlines IT workloads and reduces IT costs – Access privileges can be changed altogether, at the same time, when security policies are updated. IAM can reduce password reset requests by creating automated procedures for tiresome IT tasks, therefore reducing internal costs required for additional IT staff.

• Increases productivity and collaboration – Organisations can provide users outside of their network with access to their systems safely without putting security on the line.

• Helps with compliance – Allowing businesses to meet the requirements of industry regulations or implement IAM best practices.

How Your Business Can Implement Identity & Access Management

If navigating IAM processes to protect your business data feels overwhelming, don’t worry. Check out the tips below to get started, which include a mix of human-focused and technical solutions.

• Strengthen access – Ensure you have a strong password policy in place for all employees to view. It should include tips on how to create, store and share passwords safely. It’s a good idea to consider password management solutions. These involve storing passwords within encrypted vaults and providing password generator tools.

Invest in Privileged Access Management (PAM) solutions to monitor and control the access and authorisation of users. PAM increases security by ensuring that only correct and verified users can access data. What they are able to access is based on their assigned roles and responsibilities. Hackers target these accounts the most because of their higher-level control, so it’s important to keep them extra secure.

• Authenticate users – Enforce Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) methods. Users need to prove their identities in two or more ways to ensure they receive the correct access. This avoids the chance of unauthorised, illegal access outside of your organisation.

• Educate employees – If your employees are more vigilant, they’ll be more alert, and better at identifying areas within the business that may be vulnerable to attack. Adapting a more forward-thinking approach will keep organisations protected and encourage safe user activity, which is especially important with remote working. Investing in security training solutions will prove worthwhile for businesses as a way to increase safety awareness amongst staff and ensure good cyber hygiene.

Our Solutions

Wondering how to bring it all together? Look no further! Get expert guidance from the team at Infosec K2K. We’ll help your business to streamline its Identity and Access Management solutions and protect your integral assets and digital identities.

Take the hassle out of investing in costly, confusing solutions, or weakening security barriers with internal ambiguous test-and-learn approaches. Our tools and technologies allow internal IT teams to manage IAM processes quickly and efficiently by removing the need for questions, leaving no room for error. With advanced solutions owing to our partnership with CyberArk, users can access and manage information securely using AI technology to monitor activity and keep systems bot-free.

Enlist the help of the experts at Infosec K2K to implement effective Identity and Access Management solutions for your business.

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

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *