Want to avoid silly mistakes when dealing with an IAM solution? Here’s how.
Our friends at IAM giant Tools4ever gave us a rundown of common mistakes companies make when implementing their IAM solutions that really slow down progress and productivity.
- Automation overrated
Overestimating automation is a fatal mistake that kills your IAM solution. Because IAM is so eager to automate the identity lifecycle, most companies are eager to push all of their programs under the umbrella of automation. Slow down, take your time, and let IAM settle into a few processes first, then introduce others.
- Not training your users
Often, when an IAM solution is introduced, it seems like a foreign concept to the users who will actually be the biggest part, if not the biggest part, of its work. This is one fatal mistake that will absolutely kill the productivity of an IAM solution. It’s likely to upset users as well. They need to be introduced to the work of this new “program manager”. Their fear of using it should be removed, they should be taught how to use it to maximize productivity and use it to its optimum level.
- Failure to comply with project management principles
This one may seem too easy to ignore, but beware! A set of principles that guide the smooth running of a project are called project management principles. They may seem like something that only looks good on paper, but implementing these principles not only increases productivity, but becomes the game changer you’ve been waiting for. Failure to adhere to these principles tends to emerge in a highly fragmented system where stakeholders are not on the same page and ideas are not well aligned.
- Not disputing scalability
Scalability is another fatal flaw that will sink your IAM solution ship. Mergers and acquisitions are an inevitable reality of our business world today, and they will happen throughout your company’s lifetime. It would not be very smart if we ignore that aspect and go on with our lives. There will come a time when one IAM solution will meet another, and if it does, you need to be ready. Consider the impact and scalability of the IAM solution you want to choose.
- Poorly defined post-production phase
An ill-defined post-production phase is a fatal mistake that will cause you many problems. One thing you should definitely mention when the post-production phase starts is to define very clearly the roles and responsibilities of the users. You need to make that transition smooth and easy. It has to end with an amazing experience for the end-user community, and if that need isn’t met, you’re on the wrong end of the spectrum. Many well-intentioned companies bear the brunt of this mistake, and you don’t want to be one of them, so think about it.
- Not paying attention to the product
Know your IAM solution before it takes a fatal turn for itself due to poor implementation. You really need to understand that your business is an ever-changing thing, and it will evolve whether you like it or not. Preparing for that evolution can be a strength on your part. This is where a true understanding of the length and breadth of your IAM solution comes in handy, as you can really see how the product can benefit your company specifically, and not just any random one.
- Without looking at a complete IT strategy
The biggest thing you can create in a system is when you treat the IAM solution as its own thing and let it do its thing completely isolated from the rest of the systems. You have to realize that the IAM Solution is part of the big picture, it is ultimately part of your overall IT strategy, and when you isolate it, it causes a lot of problems. Different aspects of the business then tend to use their own discrete IAM solutions, and bringing it all together is going to be a hell of a task for a company.
- Not setting clear goals
It can really be fatal to your IAM solution when you start having blurry vision. You need to understand exactly what you are going to do if you want to succeed. You need clear, fact-based business goals to underpin your IT architecture vision, and if you don’t, you’re bound to hesitate. You must fully understand the potential and impact of your IAM solution in order to fully enjoy its spectrum of uses. Doing so will not only increase productivity, but also save you a lot of time.