Self-Sovereignty in Identity & Access Management

The Key to Simplifying Control and Security

IAM at a Crossroads in the Evolving Digital Landscape.

The challenge of managing access and identities continues to rise as companies pursue digital transformation. However, many organizations are burdened with legacy IAM systems designed for a different era, leading to wasted resources and increased security risks. But what if the solutions they rely on are causing more harm than good?

It’s time to reflect on whether the current approach to IAM is still relevant in today’s business world.

The Problem with Today’s IAM Systems

Many businesses use IAM systems created years ago, depending on usernames, passwords, and static roles for access control. This results in credential sprawl, user roles, and fragmented policies.

Some organizations even have more roles than users! Rather than streamlining access control, the role-based model has made identity management more complicated.

A simple way to check your IAM effectiveness is by asking IT how many active accounts there are and HR how many employees are on the payroll. The results might surprise you. Orphaned accounts and outdated roles create serious security risks as unauthorized users continue to have access to critical systems.

The Need for Modern Access Control

Over-reliance on roles for granting access is outdated in today’s dynamic, fast-paced world. A modern approach, called Identity, Credential, and Access Management (ICAM), provides a more adaptable solution. In an ICAM system, roles are just one aspect of access, rather than the sole criterion.

Businesses must transition from static, role-based models to dynamic, context-aware systems. This allows organizations to consider factors like identity verification, credentials, and user behavior when determining access. This ensures users have the right level of access without over-privileging or under-protecting them.

Sovereignty: The Future of IAM

As cyber threats evolve, organizations must regain control of their identity and access systems. Self-sovereignty means organizations fully control how identities are managed, how access is granted, and where data is stored—without relying on third-party vendors or expensive licensing models.

A self-sovereign IAM system offers several benefits:

1. Cost Efficiency. IAM systems are expensive, especially with proprietary models from large providers. Transitioning to open standards and decentralized verification models can reduce costs while maintaining security.

2. Control and Transparency. With self-sovereign IAM, organizations gain full visibility into who has access to what andcan immediately adjust permissions when necessary. This enhances security and reduces risks from outdated credentials or excessive privileges.

3. User-Friendly Security. Traditional IAM systems are often complex and hard to navigate. Modern solutions focus on usability, offering passwordless or biometric authentication, making security easier for users while maintaining high standards.

4. Future-Proof Security. Security is constantly evolving. IAM solutions must keep up with sophisticated threats like deepfakes and identity spoofing. Using internationally recognized standards (e.g., ICAO and ISO), organizations can ensure their systems are ready for today’s and tomorrow’s challenges.

Towards Decentralized Identity

The shift towards decentralized identity is accelerating. Instead of relying on a central authority to manage identities, individuals and organizations can manage their own identities and control how they are shared. This decentralization enables finer-grained, context-aware access controls based on biometrics, behavioral patterns, or context-specific data. This approach builds trust.

When users control their own data and identities, trust between them and organizations grows. Transparency and data sovereignty become key components of a more secure, user-friendly digital economy.

The Path Forward

Organizations must ask themselves: Is our current IAM solution future-proof? Are we relying on outdated role-based models, or are we moving toward more flexible, credential-based systems?

Many businesses fail to recognize the limitations of their existing IAM solutions. Role-based models limit flexibility in responding to evolving threats. The time has come to adopt systems where access is based on identity, behavior, and needs—not just roles.

Companies embracing modern, decentralized IAM systems will simplify security operations, enhance control, and gain sovereignty over their data and access management. Any modern IAM solution must be flexible, scalable, and capable of meeting the challenges of the digital future.

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