The Truth About IAM: There’s No Fail-Safe But There Is a Smart Way Forward

IAM Is a Business Transformation Not a Tech Project

The biggest pitfall organisations face is treating IAM as just another IT implementation. Successful IAM programmes begin with strong governance and executive sponsorship. IAM must align with business goals, compliance requirements and security strategy. In other words: start with the “why” before the “what.”

Understand Your Identity Landscape Before Changing It

You can’t fix what you don’t fully understand. A thorough assessment is essential – mapping identity sources, access models, application dependencies and integration points. This upfront visibility prevents costly surprises later and sets realistic priorities.

Identity and Security Are Now One Conversation

IAM no longer operates in isolation. It sits at the centre of modern cybersecurity. To succeed, organisations must integrate IAM capabilities across the ecosystem – from Privileged Access Management (PAM) and Identity Governance and Administration (IGA) to Access Management (AM) and Cloud Infrastructure Entitlement Management (CIEM). Identity is now the control point for security.

Deliver in Phases – With Risk in Mind

Trying to “boil the ocean” guarantees failure. The best IAM programmes deliver in manageable, high-impact phases. Start with your highest-risk assets, prove value quickly, build trust and expand from there. This approach drives momentum and keeps the business engaged.

Security Must Never Come at the Expense of Users

If IAM creates friction, users find workarounds – and security fails. Designing for user experience is essential. Adaptive authentication, seamless single sign-on and self-service capabilities strike the balance between protection and productivity.

Tools Don’t Create Maturity – People and Process Do

Too many organisations think IAM maturity comes from buying the latest platform. It doesn’t. Without strong governance, role modelling, lifecycle processes and clear ownership, even the best tools fall short. Success lies in process discipline, not licenses.