How technology silos hinder the management of digital identities

Companies are increasingly reliant on a diverse ecosystem of technological tools to manage their operations. As these tools multiply, so do the challenges associated with Identity and Access Management (IAM). One of the most serious issues organisations faces is fragmentation, often manifested in the existence of technological silos. 

T

echnological silos, broadly defined as isolated systems or platforms that do not communicate or integrate properly with other systems, can compromise an organisation’s security and efficiency. 

Identity and Access Management is a critical aspect of cybersecurity and corporate governance. IAM encompasses processes, technologies, and policies that enable control over who has access to systems, applications, and data within an organisation. A well-designed IAM system not only manages access efficiently but also ensures that access is appropriate and aligned with security policies. 

Problems of a fragmented strategy: the impact of technology silos on IAM 

However, when an organisation operates with multiple isolated solutions for user access and authentication management, governance, and threat management, significant issues arise. These problems affect not only the organisation’s integrity but also its ability to comply effectively with regulations and internal policies. 

• Duplication of identities and data. In a strategy where multiple access and authentication solutions operate independently, it is common for user information to be duplicated. This results in multiple identity profiles for a single user across different systems, complicating the management and maintenance of consistent data. Duplication increases the risk of human error, such as creating incorrect access or failing to update permissions. Additionally, it hinders the implementation of centralised policies to ensure information security.

• Lack of centralised visibility. A robust IAM solution requires centralised visibility over user access and permissions. However, in an infrastructure with technological silos, this visibility becomes fragmented, preventing security administrators from gaining a unified view of who has access to which resources. This impairs their ability to detect unauthorised access or permissions that conflict with security policies.

• Complex management of permissions and roles. Managing roles and permissions in fragmented systems becomes highly complex. Each system may have its own way of defining roles, and these are not always aligned with global organisational structures. This leads to inconsistencies in the permissions granted to users, which could result in access being either too restrictive or overly permissive, both posing security risks.

• Increased attack surface. Each isolated system represents a potential entry point for malicious actors, especially if not managed properly or if security measures are inconsistent across the infrastructure. Moreover, the lack of integration between IAM solutions slows down threat detection and incident response, making them less effective.

• Difficulties in regulatory compliance. Complying with regulations and standards, such as GDPR, becomes more challenging when identity and access management is fragmented. The lack of traceability in access and the inability to apply automated audits across the entire infrastructure are common problems arising from technological silos. Without a centralised IAM platform, companies risk being unable to meet these requirements, which could lead to legal and financial penalties. 

Examples of technology silos in various sectors 

• Financial sector. In the financial sector, IAM is crucial for protecting highly sensitive information, such as customers’ personal data and banking transactions. However, many financial institutions operate with legacy systems that are not integrated with more modern solutions. This lack of integration between online banking platforms, account management systems, and trading platforms leads to data duplication and uncontrolled access, which opens the door to potential fraud.

• Healthcare sector. The healthcare sector faces similar challenges due to the need to securely manage sensitive patient information. Hospitals and clinics often operate with electronic health record systems, telemedicine platforms, and billing systems that are not always well integrated. This results in duplicated credentials and misaligned access between medical and administrative staff, complicating secure access management. 

• Industrial sector. Industrial companies also contend with technological silos, particularly those relying on separate operational and information technology networks. In this context, fragmented IAM makes it difficult to secure and control access to critical production systems, which can lead to security gaps in both the physical and digital realms. 

Choreographing secure digital transactions to avoid technological silos 

Overcoming technological silos in identity and access management requires a coordinated and centralised approach. The choreography of secure digital transactions is key to addressing this issue. 

Choreography involves an organised sequence of interactions between different systems to ensure that each digital transaction is executed securely and efficiently, allowing the involved components to make autonomous decisions. This approach mitigates the consequences of silos and brings multiple benefits:   

• Enables integration between different solutions, eliminating fragmentation and reducing identity duplication. 

• Facilitates automation in managing permissions and roles, ensuring that users receive the correct access based on their roles and responsibilities. 

• Accelerates the detection of unauthorised access or anomalous behaviour, allowing for immediate response to potential threats and a quicker recovery from issues. 

• Simplifies audits and traceability of access, enhancing regulatory compliance and reducing the risk of penalties. 

Discover how TrustCloud Choreographer helps you build the best identity and access strategy