For companies who want to transfer their identity and access management quickly, easily, and conveniently to the cloud, vendors’ IDaaS services are an excellent choice: They relieve the internal team, deliver all the advantages of modern cloud models – and offer even mid-sized companies access to state-of-the-art IAM architecture. However, despite all their advantages, IDaaS models sometimes reach their limits, for example, if highly individualized, international, or particularly regulated environments are to be migrated.
And then? Then experts are needed. More precisely: experienced system integrators and managed services providers (MSP) who specialize in developing, hosting, and supplying IDaaS services tailored precisely to their customers’ needs. As a rule, these services use best-of-breed components from the market leaders. Unlike classic IDaaS offerings, however, the solution is generally hosted as a single-tenant cloud in the MSP’s data center, so that the customer can determine the scope of services and the provision. This ensures seamless integration, as well as compliance with all relevant legal requirements.
When selecting such a single-tenant IDaaS, enterprises need to consider several factors:
Support for best-of-breed components
The MSP designing and developing the IAM platform should have years of experience and deep market knowledge – and thus be able to offer a bundle of seamlessly integrated best-of-breed solutions. Not only in terms of the actual IAM technology, but also with regard to IaaS from partners such as Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud Platform.
Flexible authentication options
Depending on their data requirements and customer experience specifications, companies today can choose from a wide variety of authentication technologies: from multi-factor authentication, to social and mobile login, to single sign-on or passwordless logins with integrated self-services. Your partner should be able to provide you with comprehensive advice on the various approaches and, of course, be able to map the corresponding scenarios.
Architecture automation
With IDaaS, your company can set the course for sustainable automation of your environment – both in terms of infrastructure deployment and configuration (“Infrastructure as Code”) as well as the configuration itself (“Configuration as Code”). Onboarding new network subscribers and assigning authorizations can also be automated to a large extent – and sustainably relieve your service desk. Don’t miss out on this potential!
Global expertise
If you operate internationally, you usually have to meet different data protection, compliance, and security requirements in each region. When selecting a partner, make sure that they have extensive experience and their own hosting capacities in your target markets. For example, if you operate in China, your partner should be storing data on Chinese servers and fulfill Chinese Cybersecurity Laws.
Know-how in vertical markets
Many vertical markets are subject to strict industry-specific and legal regulations. For example, KRITIS-regulated (i.e., critical infrastructure) utilities must adhere to the strictest specifications when using cloud technologies. Make sure your IDaaS provider is familiar with your market segment, and has the relevant credentials. This way, you can be sure that everything is on the right track from day one.
If you want to learn more about custom IDaaS services, I would like to recommend having a conversation with our experts about Service Layers. Service Layers offers IAM Cloud Ops Advanced, an excellent all-in-one platform for cloud-based IAM based on leading products that can be very flexibly adapted to your requirements. Key benefits of the solution:
- Market-leading components from our partner software vendors
- Ideal for demanding, internationally distributed companies
- Highly customizable managed services
- High automation potential thanks to Infrastructure as Code and Configuration as Code integration
- Deployment and operations in customer’s cloud space possible
- Certified according to DIN EN ISO 9001, DIN EN ISO 27001, AICPA SOC II
- High agility due to continuous delivery and DevSecOps principles
Together with Service Layers, we provide critical infrastructure regulated companies with state-of-the-art IAM. And thanks to our hosting locations in Europe, the U.S., and China, we can offer reliable IAM and CIAM services to global players – without any compromises on compliance.