FROM TECH TALK TO BUSINESS IMPACT
Understanding IAM and IGA
In an era of rapidly evolving digital transformation, protecting sensitive data and managing user identities have become top priorities for every organization. At the heart of this effort lie two critical frameworks: Identity and Access Management (IAM) and Identity Governance and Administration (IGA). Although often mentioned together, IAM and IGA address different—yet equally important—aspects of user security and compliance within an organization’s IT ecosystem.
Identity and Access Management (IAM) primarily focuses on ensuring that the right users have access to the right resources at the right time, leveraging technologies like Single Sign-On (SSO), Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), and comprehensive access control methods such as Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) and Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC), and Policy-Based Access Control (PBAC). PBAC in particular provides highly granular and dynamic access controls based on context-sensitive policies, ensuring flexible and secure access management aligned with evolving business needs.
Complementing IAM is Identity Governance and Administration (IGA), a discipline specifically designed to enforce and manage user access compliance throughout the organization. IGA involves oversight of user permissions through structured governance practices such as regular access certification, risk-based audits, and policy-driven access controls in identity management.
Together, IAM and IGA provide a unified, holistic approach to managing identities—ensuring not only secure and efficient access to resources but also robust governance to maintain continuous compliance and oversight. Organizations that effectively deploy these solutions together are better positioned to mitigate cybersecurity threats, simplify administrative processes, optimize user experience, and uphold rigorous compliance standards in an increasingly complex digital landscape.
What IAM Does for an Organization
Identity and Access Management (IAM) is fundamental to securing an organization’s digital environment, ensuring the right individuals have the appropriate access at the right time. Effective IAM verifies user identities, defines and automates access permissions, and aligns security controls with business policies, industry compliance requirements, and regulatory standards.
- Authentication: Verifies user identities through methods such as Single Sign-On (SSO), Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), or biometric verification.
Example: A healthcare institution uses IAM to implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for clinicians accessing electronic health records, ensuring compliance with HIPAA standards.
- Authorization: IAM defines permissions through dynamic Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) or Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC), automating access rights based on user attributes and roles.
- Live Integration with Source Systems: IAM integrates in real-time with authoritative systems such as Workday HCM, Banner, or SAP. When an employee is onboarded, IAM immediately provisions access to relevant systems based on accurate and up-to-date HR data.
What IGA Does for an Organization
Identity Governance and Administration (IGA) is a critical component of cybersecurity, providing organizations with the ability to effectively manage user access, ensure compliance, and mitigate risks. By enabling continuous oversight of access privileges, IGA helps organizations proactively maintain compliance with internal security policies and external regulatory requirements such as SOX, HIPAA, PCI-DSS, FERPA, and GDPR.
Through automated access certifications, periodic reviews, and dynamic role management, IGA ensures that users retain only the access they genuinely need, adhering closely to the principle of least privilege. Additionally, IGA manages complex identity lifecycles—including onboarding, role transitions, transfers, and offboarding—ensuring accurate and timely provisioning and deprovisioning.
IGA platforms offer advanced capabilities such as real-time auditing, detailed reporting and analytics, and risk-based access controls to reduce compliance risks, identify anomalies, and enhance governance visibility across all digital environments. By proactively managing user permissions, roles, and lifecycle events, IGA platforms help organizations simplify operations, reduce security risks, and maintain robust regulatory compliance.
- Access Governance: IGA ensures compliance with regulations such as FERPA in education and PCI-DSS in financial transactions by providing automated audit trails, access certifications, and regular compliance reviews.
Example: A university conducts automated access certifications to ensure faculty and administrative staff permissions to student data systems align with FERPA requirements, promptly revoking any access no longer justified by current roles.
- Enforcing IT Security Policies: IGA continuously audits permissions, identifies unnecessary privileges, and automatically initiates remediation workflows.
Example: A hospital uses its IGA solution to audit clinician access to patient health records, automatically removing inappropriate permissions, reinforcing HIPAA compliance.
- Real-time Integrations with Source Systems: Robust integration capabilities enable IGA to synchronize identity data in real-time with HR systems, Student Information Systems (SIS), or CRM platforms.
Example: When an employee’s role or attributes change, real-time updates from the HR system prompt IGA to reassess and adjust permissions automatically.
Why Fischer Identity Excels in IAM and IGA
Fischer Identity delivers scalable, secure, and fully configurable Identity and Access Management (IAM) solutions through its proven, no-code platform—eliminating costly and fragile customizations. Our integrated approach provides IAM, Identity Governance & Administration (IGA), and Single Sign-On (SSO) within a single unified solution, ensuring streamlined provisioning, simplified compliance, and consistent, timely user access controls. With over 15 years of proven market experience and a track record of managing millions of identities, Fischer Identity uniquely simplifies complexity, making it the clear choice for comprehensive Identity Management.
Organizations benefit from Fischer Identity’s unique advantages:
- Unified Platform: Fischer Identity provides a consistent, no-code IAM and IGA solution that adapts to cloud, hybrid, and on-premise environments without sacrificing control or security.
- Advanced Automation: With real-time integration capabilities across multiple authoritative sources (e.g., HR, SIS, CRM), Fischer Identity ensures seamless provisioning and deprovisioning, greatly reducing manual administrative overhead.
- Comprehensive Governance & Compliance: Fischer Identity’s robust automation for governance processes, including access certifications, policy enforcement, and audit reporting, helps institutions maintain regulatory compliance effortlessly.
- Dynamic and Flexible: Capable of dynamically managing multiple roles and identity transitions in complex environments, Fischer Identity supports seamless access management across organizational changes.
Ready to strengthen your organization’s security and governance strategy? Choose Fischer Identity, the leader in IAM and IGA, tailored specifically to meet your institution’s complex needs.
Mark Cox is the AVP of IAM Strategic Advisory Services, specializing in Identity Governance and Access Management solutions. With extensive experience in IAM strategies, Mark is actively involved in industry standards and best practices.