Digital identity is a key element of modern cybersecurity. While every organization today manages user access, only some truly take a strategic approach to governing the entire lifecycle of digital identities. What is the difference between simple account management and comprehensive identity governance? Why is account management no longer enough? And how does implementing an IDM/IGA platform improve both security and efficiency in practice?
Account Management vs. Identity Governance
With the growing number of information systems, manual account management in individual applications has become unsustainable. Even consolidating account management into central repositories and directory services (AD, LDAP) – whether cloud-based or on-premises – brings improvement but does not address critical aspects of identity security.
An Identity Management and Governance system (IDM/IGA – Identity Management, Identity Governance and Administration) introduces automation and self-service features that save IT teams time and increase efficiency through immediate access provisioning. Its main benefits include:
- Consistent enforcement of security and password policies
- Clearly defined responsibilities
- Detailed audit logs including reporting
You can read more about IDM systems here.
Note on terminology:
Identity Management (IDM): In the Czech context, this most often refers to a system for managing and governing digital identities. However, due to the influence of large cloud platforms, it is often confused with simple account centralization.
Identity Governance and Administration (IGA): Refers to security policies, regulations, and their process enforcement. Today, the term is also commonly used for systems that technically implement these policies.
That’s why we use the combined term IDM/IGA to describe identity governance systems.
Why Basic Account Management Is Not Enough – Practical Examples
Let’s look at a few situations that may occur in organizations relying only on basic account management, even if centralized.
Example 1 – Active Accounts of Former Employees
An employee leaves the company, but IT forgets to deactivate their account. Months later, the account is exploited in a cyberattack, costing the organization not only money but also its reputation.
How IDM/IGA helps:
Automated workflows ensure accounts are deactivated immediately after employment ends. Every departure triggers a predefined process to check and revoke all access rights.
Example 2 – Excessive Privileges After Role Change
An employee changes position or temporarily helps in another role. On top of their existing access rights, they receive additional ones required for the new tasks. Over time, their privileges accumulate, creating a high security risk.
How IDM/IGA helps:
IDM with IGA automatically reviews access rights after a role change, removes unnecessary ones, and assigns new ones based on the current role. The principle of least privilege minimizes risks in case of account misuse.
Example 3 – Chaos During Access Audits
During an audit, the IT team struggles to explain why a particular employee has specific access rights and who approved them. The audit becomes confusing, takes longer, and consumes more resources.
How IDM/IGA helps:
With clearly documented workflows, complete audit trails, transparent approval, and automated reports, you can instantly see what rights a user has, why, and who approved them. The audit is fast, efficient, and stress-free.
Benefits of Implementing IDM/IGA
A properly implemented IDM/IGA solution delivers tangible advantages:
- Security: Significantly reduced risk of account misuse through automation and reviews.
- Transparency: Clear approval processes and accountability.
- Efficiency: Automation of routine administration, freeing IT capacity.
- Regulatory compliance: Easier auditability and alignment with regulatory requirements (e.g., NIS2, ZoKB).
IDM/IGA as a Strategic Step Towards Zero Trust
Identity governance is the foundation of Zero Trust – the concept where no user or device is trusted by default, at any layer. Granular privilege management enables detailed verification of access to specific resources, reducing the attack surface.
Adding multi-factor authentication (MFA) further enhances identity security.
Why We Prefer On-Premises IDM/IGA Solutions
At Orchitech, we specialize primarily in on-premises IDM/IGA solutions. The main reasons are:
- Full control over data
- Easy customization to organizational needs and specifics
- Secure and seamless integration with complex, heterogeneous infrastructures
- Predictable operational costs
- Straightforward integration with internal systems
How to Get Started with IDM/IGA – Step by Step
At Orchitech, we work with the open-source solution Wren:IDM, which provides all key features needed for advanced identity governance. At the same time, it is flexible and extensible, allowing us to meet non-standard requirements as well.
Our typical implementation steps:
- Initial analysis: In-depth review of the current situation and processes.
- Solution design: Target architecture and detailed implementation plan.
- Development and integration: Deployment of the system, including integrations and carefully planned migration.
- Long-term support: Continuous updates, optimization, and training.
Summary – From Account Management to Strategic Governance
Shifting from technical account management to a full IDM/IGA solution is a crucial step towards stronger cybersecurity, higher efficiency, and regulatory compliance. Its benefits are real, measurable, and proven in practice.
If you’d like to learn how IDM/IGA can help your organization, reach out to us for a non-binding consultation.
Contact us here.