Identity Governance
Also known as:
- Identity Governance & Administration (IGA)
What problem does it target?
Organizations face significant challenges in managing user identities and access across complex, multi-platform environments:
- Access sprawl – users accumulate excessive permissions over time without regular review
- Compliance violations – inability to demonstrate who has access to what, when, and why
- Security risks – orphaned accounts, excessive privileges, and lack of access visibility
- Operational inefficiency – manual, time-consuming processes for access requests, approvals, and provisioning
- Audit failures – insufficient documentation and controls for regulatory compliance (SOX, HIPAA, GDPR, etc.)
IGA addresses these challenges by providing comprehensive identity lifecycle management, automated access governance, and continuous compliance monitoring across all systems and applications.
What does this solution do?
IGA solutions provide:
- Identity lifecycle management – automated provisioning, deprovisioning, and modification of user accounts across systems
- Access request and approval workflows – structured processes for requesting, reviewing, and granting access with proper segregation of duties
- Access certification and attestation – regular reviews where managers confirm their team members’ access is still appropriate
- Role-based access control (RBAC) – defining and managing access through business roles rather than individual permissions
- Privileged access management (PAM) integration – controlling and monitoring elevated access to critical systems
- Compliance reporting and auditing – comprehensive logs and reports for regulatory requirements
Advanced IGA capabilities include:
- AI-powered access analytics – identifying unusual access patterns and potential risks
- Just-in-time access – temporary, time-limited access for specific tasks
- Cross-platform identity synchronization – maintaining consistent user data across on-premises and cloud systems
- Integration with HR systems – automatic account creation/modification based on employment status changes
Who is this for?
- Large enterprises with complex, multi-platform IT environments
- Organizations subject to strict compliance requirements (financial services, healthcare, government)
- Companies experiencing rapid growth or frequent organizational changes
- Businesses with significant security and audit requirements
- Organizations struggling with access management across legacy and modern systems
Who might not benefit from this?
- Small organizations with simple access requirements and minimal compliance needs
- Companies with very few applications or systems to manage
- Organizations that have already implemented comprehensive IAM solutions
- Teams with limited IT resources to manage complex IGA implementations
- Businesses with highly decentralized access management requirements
Pitfalls and remedies
| Pitfall | Remedy |
|---|---|
| Over-complexity for simple environments | Start with core IGA functions; add advanced features only as needed |
| Resistance to access reviews | Automate review processes; provide clear business justification and executive sponsorship |
| Integration challenges with legacy systems | Use standard connectors and APIs; consider custom development for critical systems |
| Role explosion | Design roles based on business functions; avoid creating roles for every possible permission combination |
| Slow access provisioning | Implement self-service portals with automated approval workflows for common requests |
| Insufficient executive support | Demonstrate ROI through compliance cost savings and security risk reduction |
| Poor data quality | Establish data governance processes; integrate with authoritative sources (HR, Active Directory) |
Sample products
- SailPoint IdentityIQ – comprehensive IGA platform with strong compliance and governance features
- Saviynt – cloud-native IGA with advanced analytics and risk management capabilities
- Oracle Identity Governance – enterprise-grade solution with extensive integration options
- IBM Security Identity Governance and Intelligence – AI-powered IGA with advanced analytics
- Microsoft Identity Governance – cloud-based solution integrated with Azure AD and Microsoft 365
- OneIdentity – unified identity security platform combining IGA with PAM capabilities
- RSA Identity Governance and Lifecycle – comprehensive solution with strong compliance reporting