This blog post helps you discover the top best practices for provisioning in Identity and Access Management (IAM) for 2024 with Corma. Learn how to enhance security, streamline operations, and ensure regulatory compliance with centralized IAM solutions, automated provisioning, and multi-factor authentication. Improve your organization’s efficiency and protect sensitive data by implementing these expert strategies.
Manual provisioning is prone to errors and can be time-consuming. It is also horrible for the employee experience. Imagine the poor employee that has to sit at their desk doing nothing and feeling bad about it just because they did not yet receive their acceesses and are therefore unable to to their job. Automate the process to streamline account creation, modification, and deletion. Automated user provisioning can synchronize with HR systems, automatically updating access rights based on changes in employee status, and ensure accuracy and efficiency.
Example: An HR software company uses automated provisioning to instantly grant new hires access to necessary tools and software on their first day, improving onboarding efficiency and reducing the workload on IT staff. The employee opens their laptop on the first day and all the accesses are already there - the impact will be seen in the HR satisfaction survey.
Grant users only the access they need to perform their duties—no more, no less. The principle of least privilege minimizes the risk of data breaches by ensuring that users cannot access sensitive information unless absolutely necessary. Regularly review and adjust access rights as roles and responsibilities change.
Example: By implementing the principle of least privilege, a financial services firm ensures that only accountants have access to sensitive financial records, reducing the risk of unauthorized access by other employees.
Establish comprehensive guidelines for granting and revoking access rights. These policies should be well-documented and communicated to all employees. Clear policies help prevent unauthorized access and ensure that access rights are consistently managed across the organization. While this sounds quite bureaucratic (and to an extend it is), it can also make the life easier if done well.
Example: A tech startup creates clear access management policies, ensuring all employees understand the procedures for requesting access to new tools, which improves security and reduces the time IT spends on access requests. On the employee side, it is very clear how they can get access to a tool they need. Goodbye to the times where you needed to hunt through different channels and different people just to finally get the access after days to do your job!
Periodically review user access rights to ensure they are still appropriate. Regular audits help identify any discrepancies or unauthorized access, ensuring compliance with internal policies and regulatory requirements. This practice is crucial for maintaining security and operational integrity. It is important to note that some companies are required to do those reviews and audits. For example if the company is ISO 27001 or SOC 2 certified (or plans to be certified), they are obligated to conduct audits every quarter.
Example: A healthcare organization conducts quarterly access reviews to ensure compliance with HIPAA regulations, identifying and correcting any unauthorized access to patient records promptly.
Enhance your security by implementing multi-factor authentication (MFA). MFA adds an extra layer of security, requiring users to verify their identity through additional means such as biometrics or one-time passwords. This significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized access. Examples of MFA is the Google SSO which not only centralizes the the login but can easily force employees to add a mobile app or phone number as a second device. On the plus side, using an SSO is usually very popular for the team as employees tend to appreciate the comfort it.
Example: A marketing agency implements MFA with the Google SSO, which requires employees to verify their identity via a mobile app or their business phone number when accessing sensitive client data, thereby reducing the risk of data breaches.
Did you ever try logging in to your old company account moonths after you quit? If so, there is a good chance that you still got in. Timely deprovisioning is essential for maintaining security. When an employee leaves the organization or changes roles, immediately revoke their access to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive information. This practice helps safeguard your organization against potential threats from former employees. At the same time, the company also continues to pay for those unused seats. Having good practices on deproviosioning is also a way to reduce unnecessary software spending.
Example: When an HR manager leaves a software development firm, the IT department immediately deactivates their access to all proprietary code repositories, protecting the company’s intellectual property (and budget). A very common tool where this is forgotten is the Linkedin Recruiter platform as it is connected to the personal account of the employee.
Risk-based authentication evaluates the risk associated with user actions and adjusts the level of authentication required accordingly. For instance, it might prompt for additional verification if a login attempt is made from an unfamiliar location. RBA helps balance security with user convenience.
Example: An international law firm implements RBA, prompting lawyers to verify their identity via SMS when accessing sensitive case files from a new location, enhancing security without compromising usability. In most cases, an employee will be working from abroad prompting the verification, but if you can stop potential identity theft, it is totally worth it to have the extra layer of protection.
Provisioning can be a complex and resource-intensive task. Provide your IT team with the right tools and support to manage user identities and access rights effectively. Investing in robust IAM solutions and automation tools can significantly reduce their workload and improve overall security.
Example: A large corporation invests in an advanced IAM solution that automates routine tasks, freeing up the IT team to focus on strategic security initiatives and improving overall IT department efficiency.
Effective provisioning in IAM is crucial for securing your organization, enhancing operational efficiency, and ensuring compliance with regulations. By implementing these best practices, you can safeguard your digital infrastructure and support your business’s growth and success.
At Corma, we’re dedicated to helping businesses navigate the complexities of IAM. Contact us today to learn more about our solutions and how we can help you implement these best practices in your organization.
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