What is Identity as a Service?
Index
Definition
Basics
Identity as a Service, or IDaaS, is an umbrella term for cloud-based identity and access management solutions (IAM systems) delivered as a service over the internet. It allows businesses to centrally and securely manage identities, roles, and permissions within a cloud environment.
Traditional IAM systems require extensive hardware, software, and maintenance. In contrast, IDaaS operates entirely in the cloud, saving businesses resources while offering user-friendly platforms that:
- Provide Single Sign-On (SSO) and Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA),
- Manage access rights centrally, and
- Enforce security policies consistently.
Differences Between IAM and IDaaS
Classic IAM and IDaaS share similar goals but differ in deployment and usage:
| Feature | IAM | IDaaS |
| Deployment | On-premises, hybrid, or cloud | Cloud-based (SaaS) |
| Infrastructure | Requires internal resources | Managed by external providers |
| Flexibility | Highly customizable | Focus on standardization and integration |
| Use Cases | Organizations with complex, custom requirements | Businesses seeking simple, scalable solutions |
| Cost Model | High initial investment, operational costs, possibly subscription-based | Pay-as-you-go or subscription-based |
IDaaS vs SaaS
IDaaS is a specialized form of Software as a Service (SaaS). While SaaS provides general applications, IDaaS focuses on identity and access management with features like:
- Single Sign-On,
- Multi-Factor Authentication, and
- Centralized access control.
Comparison:
- SaaS: Software for end-users, e.g., office tools or CRM systems.
- PaaS: Platforms for developing custom applications.
Advantages of IDaaS
IDaaS offers businesses numerous benefits that simplify daily operations and IT administration:
- Centralized management of all identities and applications makes administration simpler and more efficient.
- Companies can flexibly scale resources and pay only for what they use. This promotes efficient, cost-effective usage without unnecessary expenses.
- Another key benefit is increased security. Strong authentication mechanisms such as Multi-Factor Authentication and continuous monitoring ensure high protection against unauthorized access.
- Additionally, IDaaS enables flexible access to data and applications, anytime and anywhere, which is essential in today’s increasingly mobile work environments.
This means you can take advantage of the many benefits of the cloud, allowing IDaaS to operate more flexibly and responsively than often more complex IAM solutions.
Key Considerations Before Implementing IDaaS
Before implementing Identity as a Service (IDaaS), businesses should consider several important aspects, just as they would when introducing an IAM system. Ultimately, the solution must meet all requirements and integrate seamlessly into corporate processes.
Data Protection and Security
The primary concern is data protection and security. Companies must ensure that the IDaaS provider adheres to strict security standards and processes personal data in compliance with international privacy regulations such as GDPR.
Services hosted in Germany often offer an added advantage as they comply with strict data protection requirements. Additionally, they enjoy trust among many companies and users since the data remains in Germany, reducing access by third countries, particularly outside the EU.
Integration with Existing Systems
The integration with existing systems is the second important aspect. The solution should seamlessly integrate with existing applications like AD, Microsoft 365, or HR systems to facilitate the transition.
This means businesses can seamlessly connect their existing user and access policies with cloud-based services, resulting in unified and efficient identity management across on-premises and cloud environments.
User-Friendliness and Delegation
For an IDaaS solution to be successful, it must be user-friendly and easy to manage. Practical self-service features are important: Users should, for example, be able to reset passwords independently or make access requests without overburdening the IT department. This can be managed through roles or attributes.
Choosing the Provider
Choosing the right provider is crucial for the successful introduction of IDaaS. The provider should be reliable and offer a stable and secure solution. Additionally, the solution must be scalable to grow with the company.
High security standards are also essential to ensure the best possible data protection. The provider’s support should be easily accessible and quick to resolve problems. A clear plan for the transition simplifies the switch and minimizes potential risks.
Distributed Identity as a Service
Today, businesses use complex IT environments with
- on-premises systems,
- private clouds, and
- multiple public cloud services.
It is often challenging to manage all identities centrally, especially when external users like guests or partners are involved, whose identities are managed in different systems.
Distributed Identity as a Service (DIDaaS) goes a step further than traditional IDaaS solutions by decentralizing identity management across various systems. This allows companies to manage their identities flexibly and consistently in different environments.
The my-IAM RealIdentity solution from FirstAttribute combines the advantages of IDaaS with a distributed architecture. This makes the solution more scalable and adaptable for large companies operating in multiple regions or with various cloud services. Additionally, it eliminates the need to add a new central application. Identity management is distributed across already existing applications, enabling faster authentication and secure permission management.
my-IAM People Connect integrates these into a centralized, user-friendly interface that provides all the necessary contact features. This eliminates data silos and enables accessible, user-friendly contact management.
You can also contact our team by phone at
+49 89 215 442 40.
Conclusion
With increasing digitization and cloud usage, the demands for security and efficiency in businesses are growing. IDaaS offers a solution that is ideally suited to the challenges of modern work environments. Companies benefit from a secure and user-friendly way to manage identities and access in the cloud.
More About the my-IAM Platform
The my-IAM platform unifies all identities from various source systems and makes them available for any kind of applications and apps. Alongside the Teams-integrated app my-IAM PeopleConnect, it includes the business services my-IAM RealIdentity and my-IAM RealGroup.
