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Stop Overcomplicating IAM: 5 Questions to Simplify Your Strategy
David Lee
January 13, 2025
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Identity and Access Management (IAM) doesn’t have to feel like solving a Rubik’s Cube in the dark. Yet, so many organizations overcomplicate their IAM programs with endless assessments, convoluted frameworks, and solutions that seem to generate more problems than they solve.
Here’s the truth: You don’t need a 200-page assessment to get your IAM strategy on track. ( GASP!…Whaaaaaat!!?!?!)
What you need is to ask the right questions—and actually act on the answers.
So, let’s strip away the complexity and focus on what matters. Here are five questions that every organization should ask to build an effective, sustainable IAM strategy:
1. Who Needs Access and Why?
Start with the basics. What roles exist in your organization, and what do these people actually need to do their jobs? IAM isn’t about giving everyone access to everything—it’s about giving the right access to the right people at the right time.
Pro Tip: If your access control model looks like a free-for-all, it’s time to hit pause. Map out your roles and access needs before adding any more users to the chaos.
2. What Are We Protecting?
Not all assets are created equal. You need to identify your crown jewels—the data, systems, and applications that are most critical to your business. Once you know what’s most valuable, you can focus your IAM efforts where they’ll have the biggest impact.
Pro Tip: If everything feels equally critical, you might be suffering from “security sprawl.” Focus on business impact to prioritize what matters.
3. How Do We Know When Things Go Wrong?
IAM isn’t just about provisioning access; it’s about monitoring and responding when something goes off track. Whether it’s detecting an insider threat or stopping a compromised credential in real time, your IAM strategy needs a clear plan for identifying and addressing risks.
Pro Tip: Think more workflow than tech solution here. Tie together your policy, detection, and appropriate response
4. What’s Our Plan for the “Non-Humans”?
IAM isn’t just about people anymore. From bots to APIs to service accounts, non-human identities are taking over. Do you have a plan for managing these identities securely, or are they the backdoor to your systems?
Pro Tip: Start by auditing your non-human identities and applying the same principles of least privilege and lifecycle management as you would for employees.
5. What’s the ROI of Our IAM Program?
IAM is an investment, but it’s not always treated like one. Are you measuring its impact on efficiency, security, and compliance? If your IAM program isn’t delivering measurable value, it’s time to rethink how you’re approaching it.
Pro Tip: Tie your IAM metrics to business outcomes—think reduced onboarding time, fewer access violations, or increased audit success rates.
Keep It Simple, Jedi
IAM doesn’t need to be a saga. By asking the right questions, you can cut through the noise and build a program that actually works for your business. So, before you dive into another assessment or tool evaluation, start with these five questions.
And remember: The Force (and a solid IAM strategy) will be with you, always.
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