Enterprises today face mounting pressure to safeguard data, systems, and resources; comply with regulations; and operate efficiently, all while keeping costs under control. Managed services for Identity and Access Management (IAM), Identity Governance and Administration (IGA), and Privileged Access Management (PAM) address these challenges by offering expert management and oversight to fortify security posture and streamline operations.
Beyond reducing identity-related risks, organizations adopting managed IAM, IGA and PAM services often see measurable business outcomes, such as lower operational costs, faster user onboarding, and improved audit readiness. This article explores the key benefits and practical use cases of IAM, IGA, and PAM managed services—illustrating their pivotal role in modern enterprise security.
Identity & Access Management (IAM)
Business Value
- Stronger Security - IAM ensures that only authorized users have access to specific resources, effectively mitigating the risk of unauthorized access and potential breaches.
- Improved Compliance - By automating access controls and maintaining detailed logs, IAM helps organizations comply with regulatory requirements and standards.
- Operational Efficiency - Streamlining the process of granting and revoking access reduces the administrative burden on IT teams, allowing them to focus on strategic initiatives.
- User Convenience - Single Sign-On (SSO) capabilities simplify the login process for users, enhancing their experience and productivity.
Use Cases
- Automated Onboarding & Offboarding - Automating the provisioning and de-provisioning of user accounts ensures that employees have the necessary access from day one and that access is promptly revoked upon their departure.
- Simplified Access Requests – IAM systems facilitate a streamlined process for users to request access to specific resources, with automated workflows for approval and provisioning.
- SSO Integration – Implementing SSO across multiple applications allows users to authenticate once and gain access to all authorized resources, reducing password fatigue and enhancing security.
Identity Governance & Administration (IGA)
Business Value
- Risk Reduction – IGA provides comprehensive visibility into user access and activities, helping to identify and mitigate security risks associated with excessive or inappropriate access.
- Regulatory Compliance – Automated reporting and audit capabilities ensure adherence to regulatory requirements, reducing the risk of non-compliance penalties.
- Improved Decision-Making - Access reviews and certifications enable informed decisions about who should have access to what resources, based on roles and responsibilities.
- Streamlined Processes: Automating identity lifecycle management processes reduces manual errors and accelerates the execution of access-related tasks.
Use Cases
- Access Reviews – Regularly scheduled reviews of user access rights ensure access remains appropriate and aligned with job functions.
- Certification Campaigns - Periodic certification campaigns enable managers to attest to the appropriateness of access rights for their team members, enhancing accountability.
- Role Management – Defining and managing roles within the organization helps standardize access based on job functions, improving security and governance.
Privileged Access Management (PAM)
Business Value
- Increased Security: PAM restricts and monitors access to critical systems and data, reducing the risk of insider threats and external attacks.
- Enhanced Auditability: Detailed logging and session recording capabilities provide a clear audit trail of privileged activities, essential for forensic analysis and compliance reporting.
- Minimized Attack Surface: By minimizing the number of users with elevated privileges and enforcing the principle of least privilege, PAM significantly reduces the potential attack surface.
- Operational Control: PAM solutions enable the centralized management of privileged accounts, ensuring consistent policies and practices across the organization.
Use Cases
- Account Discovery and Management: Automatically discovering and managing privileged accounts across the IT environment ensures that all accounts are accounted for and properly secured.
- Session Monitoring and Recording: Monitoring and recording privileged sessions provide real-time insights into user activities and help detect suspicious behavior.
- Just-in-Time Access: Granting privileged access on a temporary basis, only when needed, reduces the risk of misuse and enhances security.
Conclusion
Managed services for IAM, IGA, and PAM are no longer just security enablers—they’re strategic tools for improving governance, reducing operational costs, and freeing IT resources to focus on innovation. By offloading the complexity of identity management to expert providers, organizations can strengthen security, maintain compliance with less manual effort, and deliver a better user experience across the enterprise.
Organizations looking to minimize identity-related risks, accelerate governance processes, and improve compliance confidence should consider partnering with an experienced managed service provider.
For more insights on why partnering with the right provider is critical, read our article: Why You Need a Managed Identity Services Partner.
