Microsoft Security has highlighted the evolving landscape of identity governance in a recent blog post. While identity governance has traditionally been associated with heavily regulated industries or high-value assets, the concept is now expanding to all areas of organizations. This shift has been enabled by the move towards cloud-delivered models, which provide easier access to identity governance capabilities and reduce implementation costs.
In the past, governance was seen as the final step in an organization’s identity and access management journey, with companies typically implementing governance in areas that were deemed necessary for compliance or security reasons. However, with the increased complexity of modern IT environments, the scope of identity governance has grown to encompass a wide range of identities beyond internal employees. IT and security teams now need to monitor the identities of external vendors, partners, privileged users, security software, and even non-human workload identities.
As a result of these changes, organizations are starting to adopt a self-service model for identity governance. Instead of relying solely on IT and security teams to handle access controls, project managers and individuals involved in specific tasks or campaigns are given the responsibility to grant and revoke access. This shift allows governance to be delegated and community-enabled, rather than a top-down function.
For example, a third-party contractor working on multiple projects within the same organization may require ongoing access to internal systems and controls. Instead of submitting a change order to IT each time access needs to be adjusted, project managers and business users can dynamically control access themselves. IT still has control over who can make entitlement changes and the criteria for granting access, but the day-to-day review of access management falls on those who are most familiar with the specific project. This model aligns with the principles of Zero Trust, which emphasize least-privileged access and explicit verification.
By treating identity governance as a self-service capability, organizations can empower project managers and business users to manage access based on their specific needs. This approach reduces the burden on IT and security teams while maintaining protection standards for the organization as a whole.
The importance of identity governance cannot be understated in today’s cybersecurity landscape. As identities and access requirements evolve, organizations must adapt their approach to ensure the security of their sensitive data, applications, and services. Microsoft Security Insider offers further information and resources on the latest trends in cybersecurity for those interested in staying up to date.
In conclusion, the landscape of identity governance is changing, driven by the shift towards cloud-delivered models and the increasing complexity of modern IT environments. As organizations recognize the benefits of widespread governance, they are adopting a self-service model that empowers project managers and business users to manage access dynamically. This approach reduces the burden on IT and security teams, promotes a community-enabled approach to governance, and aligns with the principles of Zero Trust. To stay informed about the latest trends in cybersecurity, Microsoft Security Insider is a valuable resource.