Hybrid IT environments combine on-premises and cloud-based resources, which pose unique challenges for identity and access management (IAM). IAM is the process of ensuring that only authorized users and devices can access the right data and applications in a secure and compliant way. How can you implement IAM in a hybrid IT environment effectively? Here are some best practices to follow.
Before you implement IAM in a hybrid IT environment, you need to understand your current state of identity and access management. This includes identifying your users, devices, data, and applications, as well as their roles, permissions, and access policies. You also need to audit your existing IAM tools and processes, and evaluate their strengths and weaknesses. This will help you determine the gaps and risks in your IAM strategy, and prioritize your improvement areas.
Implementing IAM in a hybrid IT environment requires a holistic approach that considers both on-premises and cloud-based systems. The first step when implementing IAM in a hybrid IT environment is to conduct a thorough assessment of your IT environment and to define your company's IAM requirements, taking into consideration regulatory compliance, security policies, and user roles. The next step is to create an inventory of user identities, their roles, and the level of access required for each user group. It is critical to choose the right IAM solution that supports hybrid environments such as SSO, MFA, Access Governance or RBAC. Great examples of solutions that provide hybrid IAM capabilities are Microsoft Azure AD and One Identity.
In my experience, implementing IAM in a hybrid IT environment starts with a comprehensive assessment of your current state. This means taking a detailed inventory of all your IT assets, both on-premises and in the cloud. Understanding the existing infrastructure, systems, applications, and data storage locations is crucial. Additionally, you need to evaluate current access control measures and identify any gaps or inconsistencies between on-premises and cloud environments. It's also important to assess the compliance requirements and how they vary across different parts of your IT environment.
Implementing Identity and Access Management (IAM) in a hybrid IT environment involves integrating on-premises and cloud-based identity solutions. Start by conducting a thorough inventory of users, roles, and permissions across both environments. Utilize IAM solutions that support hybrid deployments, allowing seamless authentication and authorization processes. Establish a single source of truth for identity information, synchronizing user attributes and credentials between on-premises directories and cloud directories. Implement federated identity and single sign-on (SSO) to provide users with unified access across both environments. Regularly review and update access policies to align with organizational changes and evolving It Teams.
Asses the business needs Conduct role engineering and role risk rating and define the roles and their access levels Define levels of approvals for roles based on role risk Customize IAM UI and onboard Applications
To implement Identity and Access Management (IAM) in a hybrid IT environment, start by conducting a thorough inventory of your current assets, both on-premises and in the cloud. Define clear IAM policies aligned with security requirements and compliance standards, incorporating role-based access control (RBAC). Choose IAM solutions that seamlessly integrate with both environments, ensuring unified identity management. Implement Single Sign-On (SSO), integrate directory services, and employ Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) consistently. Set up continuous monitoring, audit user activities, and regularly review access logs. Implement RBAC to enforce the principle of least privilege and ensure API security in a hybrid setting.
There are different models for implementing IAM in a hybrid IT environment, depending on your business needs and preferences. You can choose a centralized model, where you manage all your identities and access policies from a single source of truth, such as a cloud-based IAM platform. This can simplify your IAM operations and provide consistent security and compliance across your hybrid IT environment. Alternatively, you can choose a decentralized model, where you manage your identities and access policies separately for each environment, such as using native IAM tools for each cloud provider. This can give you more flexibility and control over your IAM configuration and customization.
Single sign-on (SSO) is a key feature for implementing IAM in a hybrid IT environment, as it allows your users to access multiple resources with one set of credentials. SSO can improve your user experience and productivity, as well as reduce the risk of password breaches and account lockouts. To implement SSO, you need to integrate your identity providers and service providers using a common protocol, such as SAML, OIDC, or OAuth. You also need to enforce strong authentication methods, such as multi-factor authentication (MFA), biometrics, or certificates.
The best solution I've seen to enhance user experience and productivity while reducing the risk of password breaches is to combine SAML Single Sign-On (SSO) with Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). From my experience, employees often need to access multiple applications. SAML SSO eliminates the need for repeated login attempts, reducing frustration and security risks. They only need to authenticate once, using a combination of factors with passwords and multiple MFAs. This enhances the security and workflow of the organization, making it extremely challenging for attackers to access user logins.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is being utilized to strengthen user authentication methods including typing patterns, mouse movements and ram usage, which can add an extra layer of security by recognizing the unique behavior of legitimate users. Two-factor authentication remains standard with many leading identity and access management (IAM) application makers (Okta, Google, etc.) experimenting with AI for improved analytics and functionality. Both two-factor and multifactor authentication benefit from AI advancements. However, multifactor remains stronger at this point because it includes something you are – biometrics. Lastly, AI tools can remove fake accounts or orphaned accounts more quickly.
Managing your identities and access policies is an ongoing task for implementing IAM in a hybrid IT environment, as you need to keep up with the changes in your users, devices, data, and applications. You need to implement a lifecycle management process, where you create, update, suspend, and delete identities and access policies according to your business rules and workflows. You also need to implement a governance process, where you monitor, audit, and review your IAM activities and compliance status regularly. You can use automation tools, such as identity governance and administration (IGA) or privileged access management (PAM), to help you streamline and optimize your IAM management.
I advocate for meticulous management of identities and access policies as a critical step in implementing IAM in a hybrid IT environment. This involves establishing a centralized identity management system that encompasses both cloud and on-premises resources. You should create uniform access policies that apply across the entire hybrid environment, ensuring consistency in how access is granted, reviewed, and revoked.
Implementing IAM in a hybrid IT environment is not a one-time project, but a continuous improvement process. You need to test and measure your IAM performance regularly, using metrics such as availability, reliability, scalability, security, and user satisfaction. You also need to collect and analyze feedback from your users, stakeholders, and auditors, and identify areas for improvement. You can use tools such as IAM analytics, dashboards, and reports, to help you visualize and communicate your IAM performance and improvement plans.
Implementing IAM in a hybrid IT environment can be challenging, but also rewarding. By following these best practices, you can enhance your security, compliance, and efficiency of your hybrid IT environment, and deliver a better value to your business and customers.
Conduct simulated exercises to assess the resilience of your IAM system against potential cyber threats. These drills not only validate your security measures but also provide valuable insights into response capabilities. Collaborate with red teaming exercises to simulate real-world attack scenarios, ensuring your IAM strategy is battle-tested and capable of withstanding sophisticated threats. Continuous monitoring and proactive identification of anomalies contribute to a robust security posture, making your hybrid IT environment a stronghold against evolving cybersecurity challenges. Regularly engage with industry forums and share your IAM experiences to glean insights from the broader community.