In the expanding digital environment, users are signing in from various devices such as smartphones, laptops, and tablets. Whenever a user logs in, onboards, offboards, resets a password, or changes jobs within a company, sensitive data is at risk.
For example, over 300000 Spotify accounts were leaked by hackers via a credential-stuffing attack. In response, Spotify initiated a “rolling reset” of passwords for the leaked accounts.
And that’s why we need a strategy that focuses on cybersecurity. Identity and Access Management is that strategy – consisting of methodologies, policies, and protocols for governing the roles and access privileges of individual network users and devices to a variety of cloud and on-premise applications.
Choosing the Right IAM Solution
The main task of IAM is to regulate access to the organization’s networks and systems based on user attributes. Given its importance, there are many IAM providers with various sets of features. Although it’s ultimately determined by the organization’s requirements, there are some features that any organization should consider when choosing an IAM:
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Authentication Security
With single password authentication, users will just write down their passwords, save them on their computers, or potentially share them so that others will remember them, too. A majority of data breaches are caused by stolen, default, or weak passwords. If they forget their passwords, they just make more work for IT.
Thus, an IAM solution should have features such as certificate-based authentication and multifactor authentication to facilitate highly secured authentication.
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User Experience
The weakest link in any system is the human element. Making employees adhere to security policy is difficult, more so when that policy is annoying.
The best way to ensure people stay secure is by making it easy for them. For example, using certificates for authentication instead of passwords:
- No need to remember or type in a password
- No need to come up with new passwords every 90 days
- No password recovery
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Authorization
The organization’s resources are available to employees, partners, contractors, customers, and vendors at various levels of access. A good IAM system should ensure this privilege is not compromised or abused.
Best Identity and Access Management Platforms List
Here is a list of the best IAM platforms available today and how they address essential security requirements such as credential management, analysis, integrations, and data security. Listed below in no particular order:
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Azure AD
Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) is a cloud-based IAM from Microsoft, it manages users, applications, and users’ access to thousands of applications which includes Microsoft apps, organization apps, and other SaaS apps. It performs authorization for resources at levels such as Management Group, Subscription, Resource Group, or resource level. It facilitates cross-organizational collaboration so every user gets access to internal resources in a hassle-free manner.
Features:
- Single sign-on
- MFA: Azure AD provides multi-factor authentication through the Microsoft Authenticator mobile app which helps admins easily integrate their users into third-party apps and services.
- Compatibility: Azure AD integrates with thousands of SaaS applications
- Policymaking: With the Azure policy engine admins can easily enforce access policies from their dashboard to secure account access.
It is suitable for organizations looking to implement secure single sign-on and multi-factor authentication across applications and services
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OneLogin
OneLogin is a cloud-based IAM primarily used to provide their users with a simple Single Sign-on (SSO) experience making it easier for companies to secure and govern access to web applications both in the cloud and behind the firewall.
Features:
- Single sign-on
- MFA
- Context-aware authentication
- Centralized cloud directory
- Agile automated onboarding and offboarding
- Certificate-based authentication
It is suitable for organizations looking for speed, to reduce identity infrastructure costs, and strong identity foundation. OneLogin removes the need for long integration and provisioning projects, and username and password resets.
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Okta
Okta is a leading enterprise-grade IAM built from the ground up in the cloud and distributed with an unwavering focus on customer success. Enterprises everywhere are using Okta to manage access across any application (cloud/on-prem/custom-built), person, or device to increase security, make people more productive, and maintain compliance.
Features:
- Directory services
- Passwordless Authentication
- Single sign-on
- MFA
- Automated user onboarding and offboarding
- Comprehensive dashboard
- Dynamic Policy Making
- Built-in reporting
It is suitable for organizations looking for ease of deployment and a rich set of features.
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Ping Identity
The Ping IAM solution can connect to various employee data stores and give all kinds of users (partners, employees, customers) federated SSO to a mix of apps such as cloud, mobile, SaaS, and on-premise.
Features:
- Passwordless authentication
- Risk-aware Authorization
- AI-driven anomaly detection
- MFA
- Single sign-on
- Intelligent API security
It is suitable for organizations looking for flexibility, easy deployment, and simple administration.
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CyberArk
CyberArk IAM prevents unauthorized access, manages passwords, and tracks the use of sensitive data. CyberArk is known to protect, create, and monitor passwords for authorized accounts by updating them automatically. It includes a reporting mechanism to check for unauthorized access and changes the password immediately to prevent attacks.
Features:
- Password vaulting
- Single sign-on
- Usercycle management
- MFA
- Behavior analytics
- Secure web sessions
- Directory services
It is suitable for organizations looking for adaptive access control, whose users have accounts across multiple devices. CyberArk’s account-focused method depends on privileged access management, account user habits, and account privileges.
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SecureW2
SecureW2 offers a complete platform for certificate-driven security. It helps you get rid of LDAP/AD and passwords with its ability to provide passwordless security integrated with the cloud directory (Azure AD, Okta, and Google) of your choice for Wi-Fi and VPN authentication.
Features:
- Single sign-on
- MFA
- Conditional access policies
- Managed PKI
- Certificate-based authentication
- Security experts for data security and customer privacy
- Automatic onboarding
SecureW2 is suitable for organizations looking to go 100% passwordless and have no dependency on LDAP / AD or pre-shared keys
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Oracle
Oracle IAM is one of the biggest and oldest cybersecurity vendors. It specializes in managing user access privileges across all enterprise resources from the creation of access permissions to dynamically adapting to organization policies, which is why they are often described as “flexible”. Credentials are validated using LDAP and the Oracle access manager stores information about user privileges on application.
Features:
- Directory service
- Identity governance
- Automatic password management
It is suitable for organizations looking for authentication and authorization for operating systems, databases, and applications without disturbing existing infrastructure.
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IBM
IBM IAM focuses on balancing security and access simplicity to enhance access management. It specializes in delivering zero trust framework with advanced features such as AI-powered, risk-based authentication.
Features:
- MFA
- Single sign-on
- Password-less authentication
- Adaptive access
- Lifecycle management
- Identity analytics for all users
It is suitable for organizations interested in implementing a Zero-Trust identity management in the cloud; one with an automated, fully-featured solution that offers SSO, password-less authentication, and risk-based MFA.
The Best Cloud IAM Platform
IAM provides the certainty you need to allow only legitimate parties to access your resources. It’s the first line of defense against intruders, and it’s also the guardrail that helps your employees efficiently navigate your network. IAM solutions come in all shapes and sizes; there’s one that’s bound to meet the needs of your organization.
If none of the above options tickled your fancy, may I suggest our own SecureW2 JoinNow Suite? Unlike many of our competitors, our IAM solution comes with a managed cloud Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and Cloud RADIUS – totally eliminating on-premise networks and passwords in one fell swoop.
SecureW2 has affordable options for organizations of all sizes. Click here to see our pricing.
