Identity Management Challenge

Introduction

Identity management is a critical foundation for realizing the benefits of business in terms of management control, cost savings, operational efficiency, and business growth. Organizations must manage access to applications and information scattered in external and internal application systems. They should also be able to access the growing number of identities inside and outside the organization without compromising the security and also exposing sensitive information. ID is the process for implementing the emerging technologies so as to deal, with information that relates to user’s identity and control the access of company resources (Aitoro, 2008). Identity management process is a tool that provides security to agencies of an entity through various measures. ID usually manages individual certification, standards, privileges, and endorsements across and within the organization’s boundaries. The rising state of information insecurity is depicting the deficiency of identity management. ID is a challenge for enterprises and information management managers must ensure that they focus their efforts on balancing the risks involved in becoming networked. ID helps in granting and denying employees and others authorization to secure systems.

Identity Management Challenge

An identity management system normally comprises of a system of directories and access control based on policies (Aitoro, 2008). It includes the maintenance of the system and offers single sign-on for the user only to log in one so as to gain access to multiple resources. ID usually also embrace data sharing. ID aims at protecting the network of the organization through ensuring that those trying to access the system are who they say they are and have the authorization to access the system (Aitoro, 2008). Identity management usually involves control to prevent, correct, and also detect any harmful activities and steps. With the way organizations are extending their services and considering online measures, it is essential that they consider the security of information. Information technology managers should consider implementing holistic management practices that will help in simplifying access to multiple services.

There are several challenges that identity management is facing as an organization is struggling with methods for accessing critical systems. A major challenge that ID faces that tend to be affecting its ability to provide sufficient security to people is complexity. Complexity is a challenge faced by ID because of the increasing complexity of the information technology (Smith & McKeen 2011). Currently, there are very many applications and various types of applications and resources that employees are accessing. Today, people are accessing different systems and they can perform critical stuff; thus, the roles are becoming more complex. ID procedure requires a lot of information which is currently proving to be a challenge to follow. The interactions in the systems of ID are becoming hard to record and also time-consuming. Because of the complexity of information technology, it tends to be a challenge for identity management. The sophistication of the IT infrastructure is a factor contributing to the challenge of complexity. It complexity is increasing, and enterprises are becoming software-defined, application focused, and also a new range of applications that corporate can access.

Another challenge relating to identity management is the issue of the legal framework. Information technology managers tend to be working very hard to make sure that they keep information secure (Gritzalis et al. 2011). However, the available technology and the legal standards and frameworks tend not to be providing the necessary support to ensure identity management. Tools involved in identity management are helpful in different aspects of the lifecycle that include administration, authorization, audit analytics, and authentication. The problem is that the available tools fail to fit properly in the functions of identity management and because of this, it tend to result in confusion about their capabilities. There is a lack of a common language, and the legal framework is causing a challenge when it comes to issues of ID. The lack of a common language, lack of accepted standards in ID, and lack of best practices is among challenges associated with the legal framework (Smith & McKeen 2011). When it comes to issues of security, lack of a common standard and understanding is likely to affect how the management ensures security.

Another challenge associated with identity management is the set-up and maintenance. It is as a result of the complexity of the ID process because ensuring identity management is costly (Smith & McKeen 2011). Because of the continuous advancement of information technology, organizations should be very attentive to the new advancements in the market. As a result of this, it tends to increase the cost of making various adjustments and ensuring the system is working properly. A major challenge in this aspect is the cost of the system that usually causes many managers and corporate executives to ignore the implementation of ID because of being expensive to set up and also maintain. Because of the high cost, it tends to make it difficult to ensure identity management; thus, putting the organization at great risk. Another challenge is that as more users are registering for the use of the online services, the need for identity proofing will increases at a significant rate and the organization will continue to encounter authentication challenge. The challenge will then force the information technology models to pull resources and also collaborate so as to deliver scalable identity proofing solutions.

The solutions to identity management challenge

The development of an effective identity management system is essential for organizations. Those organizations that do not have effective identity management tend to expose themselves to serious security risks through poor shared passwords, poorly enforced policies and users who have wrong privileges. A strategy of avoiding the challenges of ID is ensuring that managers clearly understand the important of having ID for the organization. Understanding its importance will enable the organization to dedicate resources to ensuring the safety of its data and systems. It is essential for the organization executives to have a positive attitude regarding the need for identity management. In this way, they will manage to support identity management so as not to expose the organization to attacks. So as avoid the high cost that is a challenge to ID, the organization can consider applying the latest version for authenticity that is secure and also cost effective. The latest version requires the organization to eliminate the old system of passwords and usernames and apply new technology such as the software-based two-factor authentication by WIKID systems (Gritzalis et al. 2011).

Conclusion

The ability of the organization to ensure authorized access to its data and system is a critical aspect of protecting information and systems, enforcing accountability, easing compliance, and streamlining routine operation. Controlling the access to data and systems depends heavily on the secure processes for ID. Those organizations that securely and efficiently manage identities can place trust in their business processes and also their partners, customers, and regulators.

Reference

Aitoro, J (2008). Identity management Government executive 40 (7).

Núñez, D, Agudo, I, Drogkaris, P, & Gritzalis, S. (2011). Identity management challenges for intercloud applications Springer Berlin Heidelberg.

Smith, H & McKeen, J (2011). The identity management challenges Communications of the Association for information systems 28. (11)

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