With increased complexity caused by changes in technology, bring your own mobile device, the move to the cloud, and added regulatory requirements, organizations are struggling to correctly identify, map and control accounts and identities proliferating across the enterprise. Companies are turning to Identity Management processes and solutions to centralize and consolidate the mapping between users and the increasing number of heterogeneous systems and applications.
Within the enterprise, an identity management system comprises a system of directories, provisioning processes, and access control mechanisms based on roles and policies. It also includes the life cycle maintenance of identities on downstream applications and system. Provisioning automates the administration of user access to systems, applications, and resources. Security is enhanced by quickly implementing changes to access rights, while administrative costs are reduced due to automation. Integrated workflow ensures that all required changes can be routed for approval where appropriate. In an enterprise setting, identity management is used to increase security and productivity, while decreasing cost and redundant effort.