Identity Access Management Hybrid Work 

The international transformation to hybrid work, where workers continuously and smoothly transition between the physical office and remote places, has given rise to an incredible degree of flexibility never seen before. However, at the same time, it has broken the conventional security perimeter into pieces. The new scenario presents a different challenge; now the question is not "Which device is connecting to our network?" but "Who is getting our data, and are they allowed to?"

The solution comes from Identity and Access Management (IAM). For firms in the Middle East, IAM is the absolute basis of a secure and productive hybrid environment, especially for those depending on an Provider of IT Support Solutions in Saudi Arabia. It guarantees that the right people obtain access to the right resources, at the right time, from anywhere, and on any device

Why Hybrid Workplaces Shattered Traditional Security

Most security models around the planet were primarily centred on the physical office network prior to the hybrid (virtual) work environment becoming popular today.

When you were 'in the building', you were 'trusted'. This model is now out of date.

The New Security Challenges –

• Expanded Perimeter – Your perimeter now includes every Remote Technical Support worker's laptop, home Wi-Fi, and mobile.

• Expanded Attack Surface – Remote employees now have access to all critical applications, cloud applications, ERP applications, and communication tools (examples include e-mail and various chat applications) from devices that are often not as secure as devices located within the office environment.

• Credential Overload (Password Fatigue) – The average employee now accesses dozens of cloud applications, which typically results in poor, reused, or recorded credentials, and is the reason why data breaches occur in 99% of all data breach cases.

It treats every access request as if from an unsecured network by verifying the identity of the user prior to granting him or her access to the application.

Core Components of a Robust IAM Strategy

An IAM system that is successfully implemented usually consists of a number of different interconnected applications that function together to create strong user authentication through the enforcement of the "who, what, and where", which are an organization's access control policies.

A. Single Sign-On (SSO)

Single Sign-On (SSO) allows employees to access all of their authorized applications and services through the use of a single login. This system requires only one set of credentials to log into all of the systems used by an employee, which greatly minimizes the need for multiple passwords, thereby reducing password exhaustion and encouraging use of one strong password protected by Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA).

• Security Benefit – SSO substantially reduces the number of passwords that an employee must remember and enter, reducing "password exhaustion", and, at the same time, promotes the use of one "strong" password protected by MFA.

• Productivity Benefit – SSO allows for seamless transition between remote and in-office work by eliminating the time that employees spend logging into the various platforms that they utilize for their daily work activities.

B. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Multifactor authentication (MFA): The MFA process enhances security by requiring users to provide at least two verification factors to access their accounts, making it nearly impossible to log in without proper authorization, even if they have obtained the user's password.

• Mechanism – The MFA process consists of the user providing something they know (password), along with something they have (mobile phone, physical token), and/or something they are (fingerprint, facial scan).

• Crucial in Hybrid Work – MFA is especially important for hybrid work because if an employee's laptop is stolen or their password is obtained by phishing while they are working from home, the employee will still be unable to log into their account without their MFA second verification factor.

C. Privileged Access Management (PAM)

PAM methods provide organizations with control over and monitoring of elevated (administrator) accounts. Privileged Accounts are exposed to the highest level of risk since they have the most access rights, and if compromised, pose a serious threat to the organization and the information that it protects.

• PAM Method – PAM systems provide privileged credentials only for the time it takes to perform a task, can automatically rotate complex passwords, and can audit and log all privileged actions. PAM is critical for organizations that store sensitive government or financial information in the UAE as a means of demonstrating due diligence and control of critical IT assets.

D. Identity Lifecycle Management (ILM)

ILM identifies the employee from the date of hire to the cessation of the employee's employment with the organization.

• Automation – Automates the account creation process (provisioning) and immediately deactivates (deprovisioning) the employee when they leave the company.

• Mitigates Risk – The most common risk in deprovisioning is human error or delay. IAM provides the organization with the ability to have access to all corporate resources (cloud and local) for an employee who is no longer employed. This is a very important security measure.

Compliance and Regulatory Mandates

Data governance and protection regulations are becoming more prevalent in Saudi Arabia, especially within industries working with sensitive state data or that of consumers.

A. Data Protection and Auditing

IAM (Identity Access Management) is considered the primary solution for meeting the rigorous Saudi Arabian Data Governance and Protection regulations as established by both the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) and National Cybersecurity Authority (NCBC).

• Audit Trail – Organisations can use the audit trail feature offered by IAM systems to provide unbiased reports regarding which users accessed which data, at what time, and from what location. An audit report is necessary for organisations to demonstrate compliance.

• Least Privilege – Through IAM, organisations enforce the least privilege rule. The least privilege rule allows end users access only to the minimum amount of information they require to perform their job duties. Consequently, this reduces the impact of any compromise of an account or information.

B. Streamlining Operations for the IT Team

For the IT Support Services in Saudi Arabia team, IAM diverts cluttered access management into an effective, centralized procedure.

• Centralized Control – IAM gives an organization’s entire set of user access points/roles their own dashboards, making it easier for the organization to maintain control of that information and save time on administrative tasks to integrate with multiple applications.

• Eliminated Help Desk Calls – IAM has also decreased the number of help desk calls and requests associated with password resets by clearly defining the password reset process through Single Sign-On options, which allows the IT support team to devote more time to high-value projects.

Identity is the New Perimeter

In today’s hybrid world, user identity is the most critical security perimeter because without it, organisations are completely blind by not being able to see who is accessing their systems or what data they are accessing, and therefore open themselves up to potentially huge financial losses caused by data breaches, which will also destroy customer trust.

For organisations in the UAE and Saudi Arabia scaling their businesses and needing to meet the strict regional compliance requirements, implementing an IAM solution that includes Single Sign-On (SSO), Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), and a robust Privileged Access Management process is essential.

Working with an established IT Support Services in Saudi Arabia will ensure that your IAM solution gets implemented appropriately, maintained correctly, and continually enhanced with advanced protective measures to combat new and evolving cyber threats, providing your hybrid workforce with a safe and efficient way to conduct business from any location.