Mastering IAM Through Storytelling

FROM TECH TALK TO BUSINESS IMPACT

Mastering IAM Through Storytelling 

 

When it comes to Identity and Access Management (IAM), it’s easy to get tangled up in all the technical details—the data, policies, provisioning, compliance, and system architecture. These elements are important, no doubt, but they’re not what decision makers at the top are focused on. 

Here’s the deal: the folks making the decisions, managing the budget … they aren’t losing sleep over the nitty-gritty details of IAM. They’ve got one burning question: Why does this IAM thing matter to us? 

That’s where storytelling becomes a very effective tool. After 25 years in the IT field, I can tell you plain and simple: if you want leadership buy-in, funding, or business alignment in support of your IAM projects, you’ve got to tie your pitch to what the business cares about. And the best way to do that? You tell a story that connects the IAM goals directly to their priorities. Let’s talk about why that works and how you can do it right. 

 

Why Storytelling Works 

Let’s be honest, business leaders don’t care how your IAM system works. They care about what it’s going to do for the bottom line, how much it costs, the implementation and operational level of effort, and how it impacts the users. 

A good story can cut through the technical noise and show decision-makers why IAM matters by: 

• Make It Relatable: Stats and charts are fine, but stories stick. Use real-world examples like the amount of time it takes a new employee to be set up in all IT systems with the correct access. Or the time it takes a new employee to set their new password, or if lacking a centralized password process, the number of times and places passwords are set for this new employee.  That’s what resonates to the business leaders. 

• Simplifying the Complexity: IAM can sound like alphabet soup to the uninitiated. Instead of talking about Single Sign-On (SSO) or passwordless offerings in technical terms, paint a picture of how it makes employees’ lives easier and saves hours of frustration. 

• Alignment to Business Goals: Whether it’s cutting costs, strengthening security, building customer trust, or driving innovation, your IAM story should connect directly to what the business is trying to achieve. 

 

How to Build a Story for Your IAM Business Case 

A solid story isn’t just a list of facts. It’s a narrative that shows the why behind the what. Here’s a structure that works: 

Clearly Define the Problem 

Start by framing the problem in terms the business already understands. What’s the pain point? Operational bottlenecks, compliance risks, loss of customer confidence? 

a.  Example: “We’re spending 1,000 hours a year on password reset processes, pulling people away from high-value work, and still leaving users frustrated.” 

 

Highlight the Stakes

Highlight the risks of not solving the problem. What’s on the line—money, reputation, opportunities? Spell it out. 

a.  Example: “If we cannot properly manage our passwords, this can cause damage our reputation and lead to compromised systems.” 

 

Identity & Access Management 

 Show how IAM addresses the problem in a way that resonates with business goals. 

a.  Example: “By automating password reset processes, moving to one password for the organization, providing various methods for employees and customers to reset their passwords themselves in a self-service portal, it allows our teams focus on delivering value and increases user satisfaction.” 

 

Positive Outcome 

Wrap it up with the outcome that matters most to your audience—savings, security, growth, or all the above. 

a. Example: “This investment ensures standard password management practices saving over $250,000 a year and frees up IT support resources for projects that advance our mission.” 

 

Bring It All Together 

Here’s how you might pitch your IAM initiative: 

Not too long ago, we watched a competitor get slammed with a data breach that cost them millions in lost man hours, systems recovery, and shook their customers’ trust to the core. The problem? Weak identity governance. Right now, we’re at a similar crossroads. Our access management processes are outdated, incompatible with our cloud and on-premises systems, and leaving us exposed—not just to inefficiencies, but to real security risks. 

But here’s the good news: we have a clear path forward. By investing in automated identity governance, we can turn this liability into an asset. We’ll save countless work hours every year, strengthen our defenses, and free up our teams to focus on what really matters: delivering value to our customers and keeping this business thriving for years to come. 

“This isn’t just an IT project. Complex efforts such as these take a village to accomplish. You need the business fully engaged. It’s a step toward a more secure, efficient, and resilient future.” 

 

Practice Makes Progress 

Creating stories like this takes practice. You have to have an innate understanding of the business and its correlation to IT. But once you get the hang of it, it will become second nature.  

As you connect IAM initiatives to the broader goals and challenges of your organization, you’ll find your audience more engaged and willing to support your vision. At the end of the day, storytelling isn’t just about communication—it’s about driving meaningful action and ensuring IAM becomes a cornerstone of your organization’s success.