Why Identity Management

Ultimately IDM can pay off in time and money

By Deborah Radcliff

November 01, 2004 — CSO — Why Identity Management

n Reduced sign-on saves time for employees. In help desks, call centers and other places, time saved equals money saved.

n Automatic user provisioning streamlines the process of establishing or transferring employees' access to the resources they need.

n Automatic deprovisioning means that once employees leave, their system access can be shut off quickly and efficiently.

What to watch for:

n If you're planning on true single sign-on, think about stronger authentication. One lost password or laptop can create a lot more vulnerability.

n Successful projects start small and address very specific business needs. More functions can be added over time. Think reduced sign-on, not single sign-on, for example.

n Don't overlook the process and politics components.

Read more about identity management in CSOonline's Identity Management section.

Other stories by Deborah Radcliff

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• Identity Management in the Real World
• Federated Identity Management: Flying Duo