Identity Protection is Crucial

Protecting user identities is core to delivering a robust cybersecurity defence strategy. When user account details are compromised and fall into the hands of bad actors, it’s like handing the keys to the office to burglars. Robust identity and authentication procedures need to be in place to protect login credentials. I’ve written about the advent of passkey technologies as a new method for enabling secure login, but login accounts and passwords will be with us for a while, and we need to secure them.

Multiple solutions exist to manage and secure user identities, including several from Halodata vendors. My colleagues and I are always on the lookout for new vendors and partners who have security solutions that will boost businesses’ defences. We recently added two new vendors who deliver solutions in the identity space:

Admin By Request - Provides an endpoint Privileged Access Management solution designed to enhance security and the control of administrative privileges on endpoints.

Ping Identity - Enables businesses to orchestrate secure identity experiences via their PingOne Cloud Platform. The platform simplifies user registration, onboarding, sign-in, profile management, account recovery, and other identity tasks while also boosting security.

Let’s take a closer look at both.

Admin By Request

An endpoint Privileged Access Management (PAM) solution to enhance security and productivity by managing local admin rights in enterprises. It helps secure sensitive data and systems from cyber threats while also helping maintain compliance requirements without impacting user productivity. Admin by Request operates on the principle of least privilege by ensuring that users only have the minimum permissions needed to do their jobs.

When elevated privileges are required, users can request temporary admin rights through a controlled, monitored, and logged workflow process. Any admin access granted is time limited. Following this approach significantly reduces the risks associated with providing admins with constant administrative access. Using a PAM solution is becoming an industry best practice.

Adopting Admin by Request provides the following benefits:

Enhanced Security - By restricting administrative access, organisations significantly reduce the risk of malware infections, data breaches, and insider threats.

Compliance - Helps meet regulatory requirements by providing detailed audit trails and enforcing the principle of least privilege.

Visibility - Provides insights into admin activity across the network, helping identify unusual patterns or potential security risks.

User accountability - Encourages responsible use of admin privileges, as staff know their actions are logged and traceable.

Flexible deployment - It can be deployed on-premises or via the cloud, adapting to various IT environments.

Scalability - Suitable for organisations of all sizes, from small businesses to large enterprises.

Ping Identity

Ping Identity provides identity and access management (IAM) solutions with various services to help organisations manage user identities, secure access to resources, and enhance the overall user experience. The solutions cover various aspects of identity management, including user registration, onboarding, sign-in, profile management, and account recovery.

It allows businesses to implement seamless and secure user registration processes, enabling new users to create accounts quickly while ensuring proper verification and data management. It helps organisations streamline the process of granting access to new users via automated workflows that reduce administrative overhead.

Ping Identity offers robust authentication methods, including multi-factor authentication (MFA) and single sign-on (SSO). It also enables account recovery and self-service password resets to allow users to regain access to locked accounts. Which reduces the burden on support staff, freeing them up for more important support tasks. Other benefits of using Ping Identity include:

? Enhanced security through advanced authentication methods and identity verification

? Improved user experience with streamlined registration, login, and account management processes

? Increased operational efficiency by automating identity-related tasks

? Better compliance with data protection regulations through centralised identity management

? Scalability to support growing user bases and changing business needs

? Integration with existing systems and applications

? Reduced risk of data breaches and unauthorised access

Final Thoughts

Protecting user accounts will continue to be necessary for the foreseeable future. Halodata, along with our vendors and partners, will continue to provide advice and solutions on the best way to secure them. Reach out to us today to discuss the protection of your users and data.