Identity and Access Management (IAM) refers to a set of practices and technologies that allow businesses to manage digital identities. With the advent of the remote work model, this practice became highly significant to protect and maintain security postures.
Since we expect that IAM will be more of a necessity in the coming years, we’ll try to examine the current state of this technology and predict its future. In 2023 and beyond, it is considered that IAM will be pronounced even more with new trends and additional features. Continue to the article to learn more.
The current state of IAM
Identity and Access Management (IAM) is constantly evolving since businesses of all sizes use this security method to manage digital identities within their organization and secure their users. As of now, we can say that there are different types of IAM solutions starting from traditional on-premise tools to cloud-based solutions. Being a part of an IAM system, these solutions usually provide MFA, SSO, identity, and access governance.
On that note, despite the wide usage of IAM systems, there are significant challenges for organizations. While it is true that IAM is now a widespread solution, it is still a big question how IAM tools integrate with the existing network structure. When you add possible scalability problems, it is safe to assume that for some businesses, IAM is still a complex process.
Trends and predictions in IAM for 2023 and Beyond
Increased emphasis on cloud-based IAM solutions
Traditional on-premise solutions are now a thing of the past for most businesses. The use of cloud-based IAM platforms is expected to be more common in 2023 and beyond. One of the key factors causing this shift is the greater scalability, flexibility, and lower costs they offer.
In addition, these solutions let organizations manage digital identities from anywhere in the world, making them applicable to remote work models. If you’re looking for a cloud-based IAM tool, check out Identity and Access Management solution by NordLayer.
The emergence of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in IAM
Another trend in IAM is the emergence of AI and ML. These advanced technologies enhance the potential of IAM tools by adding sophisticated security methods such as real-time threat protection and automated access decision-making.
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning also allow organizations to manage large amounts of data due to their automation qualities. Since they are free from human error, they also provide a smoother and better user experience. For these reasons, it is expected that AI and ML will be more prominent in IAM solutions.
Integration of IAM with other security solutions
There is a plethora of cybersecurity tools and technologies in the market, and most of them are now cloud-based. IAM of course is not a magic solution that will resolve all of the security issues of an organization. For this reason, experts are emphasizing the importance of integrating IAM with other solutions.
To have a more comprehensive security posture, it is expected that IAM integration will be a growing trend in the cybersecurity market. This will reduce the risk of security breaches and enforce a company’s security overall.
Adoption of multi-factor authentication and biometric technologies
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) and biometric identification technologies are growing trends on their own. However, IAM greatly benefits from these technologies to enhance their protection levels and make sure they can prevent unauthorized access.
Therefore, we believe that MFA and biometrics will be incorporated in IAM solutions more in 2023 and will replace traditional username and password-based identification methods. It is widely known that passwords cannot be trusted as the only source of verification, and this is likely to change.
Focus on user experience and ease of use
The last trend we’ll talk about today is the emphasis on user experience (UX) and ease of use. Security solutions that affect the end-user directly need to be user-friendly as they will be using them every day. Being the first line of defense, users will be considered more in IAM solutions in 2023 according to our predictions.
As a result of increased UX, we expect to see better employee satisfaction and a reduced number of security incidents. Providers who want to grow in 2023 should try to be more intuitive, simple to use, and easy to integrate with other tools.
Conclusion
Identity and Access Management (IAM) is a great tool for organizations to control their end-users and their digital identities. Since they handle a large number of accounts, especially with the widely accepted remote work models, we expect that IAM will be a more widespread solution in 2023. It is also important that we see emerging technologies and additional security tools, which are likely to be incorporated into IAM solutions as well.
