The Journey to SaaS Identity Governance and Administration
Part 1: Cutting Through the Noise
As the landscape of cybersecurity continues to evolve at a rapid pace, the debate on migration of on-premises security programs to the cloud has become full of noise from a variety of sources and prerogatives. On the one hand, the increasing need for advanced Identity Access Management (IAM) systems has led to countless offerings detailing competitive advantages. On the other, navigating the complexities of dismantling legacy systems, addressing existing inefficient processes, adopting new architectures (like zero trust), and modernizing identity governance is unique to every company. With all these perspectives being different, no wonder advice can be sparce and unreliable.
We are not going to compound the issue. At KPMG, we are often asked to elevate this topic by reflecting on some of the lessons learned through our experience working on both sides—as a certified systems integration partner of the year with several IAM vendors and as a professional services advisor who understands tailored business-environment cybersecurity.
Let’s cut through some of this noise.
Why migration to SaaS Identity Governance and Administration is inevitable
There is no getting around the fact migrating on-prem security programs to the cloud will become an imperative. One of the foremost reasons driving this shift is the growing difficulty in obtaining and managing the necessary skills among staff. With the emergence of complex threats and evolving technologies, the demand for highly skilled cybersecurity professionals is outpacing the availability of talent. Cloud IDaaS (identity-as-a-service) supports bridging this gap through AI, insights, and simplification.
Furthermore, budgeting for on-premises security programs is becoming more challenging due to the costs associated with hardware updates, license renewals, and unpredicted expenses for upkeep. Beyond that, the traditional model of investing in physical infrastructure and maintaining it often leads to tremendous lifts needed to keep pace with increasingly sophisticated threats.
Software-as-a-Solution (SaaS) Identity Governance & Administration (IGA) solutions were built on the opportunity of solving these specific pain points with features that can provide:
- Scalability, Flexibility and Availability: The inherent adaptability and scalability of cloud-based IGA solutions facilitates an organization's growing and changing needs, smoothly integrating new users and applications when necessary. The multi-tenant SaaS structure provides a secure, sturdy, and expandable solution, delivering quicker upskilling and faster realization of benefits.
- Automatic Updates and Upgrades: With a SaaS IGA solution, the service provider takes care of software updates and upgrades, helping ensure that the organization always has access to the latest features and security enhancements. This can eliminate the need for manual updates and reduces the risks associated with outdated software.
- Reduced Operational Costs: Cloud-platform IGA solutions transfer the responsibility of infrastructure, maintenance, and administrative costs to the vendor, enabling organizations to allocate resources to strategic initiatives and drive business value. Efficient releases with little to no downtime mean high-speed updates are continuously tested, hardened, and ready for production when automatically deployed. In addition, Most SaaS IGA solutions operate on a subscription-based pricing model, which generally provides more predictable, recurring costs. This can help organizations manage their budgets more effectively by helping ensure they only pay for what they need.
It is actually a good time to make the change to a truly modernized identity management program
If you are just now considering making this move, know you are not an early adopter—and this is a good thing! While early adopters may benefit from being at the forefront of innovation, they also miss the opportunity to leverage the insights and experiences of others to make more informed decisions. We now know how cloud-based IGA solutions perform in real-world scenarios and have accurate assessments of their long-term viability and potential impact.
For example, today’s IAM migration-to-SaaS projects come to fruition with a full understanding of characteristics of successful implementations that have reduced costs, and improved outcomes in the long run, such as:
- A Plan for Legacy System Migration: Transitioning from legacy on-premises systems to SaaS-based solutions demands the careful identification of crucial components within existing IGA infrastructure. While a thorough migration strategy can ensure minimal downtime, smooth integration prioritizes preserving existing configurations.
- Tried and True Automation: Online IGA solutions enable more simplistic automation of identity lifecycles (compared to on-premises solutions, which demand more custom development and manual efforts).
- Facilitating Real-Time Information: Compared to on-premises systems, SaaS IGA platforms leverage real-time analytics and reporting tools, providing greater visibility into user activities, policy violations, and potential access risks. Additionally, the ease of configurability of reports in SaaS IGA solutions enhances the user experience and adaptability. These insights enable more proactive measures to address security challenges, streamline processes, and helping safeguard compliance with both internal and external policies, making SaaS IGA solutions a more efficient and advantageous choice over traditional on-premises alternatives.
- Embracing Big Change: Two significant factors impacted identity security in the past four years that has been tackled and vetted by early adopters and solutions: The prevalence of remote work and the adoption of zero trust. A thoughtful approach to identity security allows “working from anywhere” remains a secure reality for your organization. IT and security apps can now dynamically share and act on identity intelligence.
No noise
Migrating to a SaaS identity governance model is an inevitable step for companies looking to effectively manage their identities and access controls. The availability of advanced SaaS identity governance products has paved the way for overcoming longstanding challenges. Moreover, the timing couldn't be better. With our firsthand experience successfully implementing these projects with a variety of cyber security vendors, we know these projects are no longer experimental. By embracing this shift towards SaaS identity governance, companies can unlock new levels of efficiency, security, and compliance, supporting a future-ready and streamlined approach to managing identities.
NEXT: In part two of this two-part series, we discuss what you need to know to get started.
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The Journey to SaaS Identity Governance and Administration
Part 2: Getting Out of Your Own Way in Order to Make Key Decisions
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