Identity governance and administration (IGA) solutions are inherent to an effective identity and access management (IAM) system. They empower enterprises to proactively oversee and regulate user identities. Organizations implement robust policies and procedures to ensure appropriate user access to resources and information. These solutions improve security, compliance, and data integrity. The identity ecosystem has grown significantly due to the surge in applications, devices, and identities during the pandemic. This Insights for CISOs focuses on the modern IGA and its capabilities. Legacy or in-house (home-grown) IGA systems often limit access to specific user groups, granting precise permissions for data and application resources within defined contexts. They rely on manual intervention by administrators to manage changes in user status or privileged access levels, making them resource-intensive, expensive, and difficult to maintain. Organizations must opt for contemporary IGA systems, which offer improved efficiency, scalability, and adaptability, ensuring robust security and compliance in an ever-evolving digital landscape. The analysis outlines the following to help CISOs make better decisions related to modern IGA:
• Strategic imperatives
• Growth environment
• Growth opportunities

Modern IGA enables enhanced capabilities, rapid deployment, and better time-to-value. CISOs must involve all key stakeholders (IT, security, compliance, business application owners, auditors, HR), share information about the hidden costs of maintaining legacy systems, and provide quantifiable reasons to move to advanced versions of IGA to get buy-in from everyone.

Author: Deepali Sathe