What is Access Management?

Access management is all about making sure the right users have the right access to the right digital environments and resources, while keeping unauthorized users locked out — and sensitive data safe.

In a global organization, limiting valid user access to vast stores of critical data and decentralized systems can seem like a Herculean task. That’s where access management really shines.

Robust access management solutions help verify users' identities, establish detailed access policies, and facilitate seamless access to appropriate resources while protecting against costly breaches. Done right, access management can not only be a smooth and effective process; it can actually help boost productivity, too.

Effective access management relies on implementing a set of tools and controls to maintain a secure environment. Here are some best practices for access management:

1. Multi-layered security – Like a delicious parfait, the more layers the better. Utilize MFA, SSO, passwordless, and adaptive access policies to reduce risk and streamline a secure login experience for users.

2. Comprehensive coverage – Today’s global, perimeter-less organizations need an access management solution that supports public and private applications in the cloud and on-premises, across various endpoints (BYOD, Windows/MacOS, iOS/Android), and all types of users (employees, partners, third parties, and contractors).

3. Take a least-privilege approach – Giving users only the minimum level of systems and data access necessary to perform their jobs helps reduce the risk of unauthorized access and data compromise.

4. Continuously monitor and adjust access levels – Implement comprehensive audit trails and monitoring systems. Evaluate potential threat metrics at each login attempt and continually adjust permissions in real time.

Enabling access management requires implementing a set of processes, tools, and policies to control and monitor access.

MFA and passwordless authentication – Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is the practice of adding multiple, unique authentication methods to verify a user’s identity at login. By providing a layer of protection to a user or company’s data, MFA helps to prevent malware, phishing, and ransomware attacks.

Single sign-on (SSO) – SSO is an authentication process that allows a user to access multiple applications or systems with a single set of login credentials (such as username and password).

Adaptive access policies – Adaptive access is an authentication method that dynamically adjusts user access to applications, files, and other resources by looking at a number of factors, including the user’s time of login, location, and device.

Device trust – Device trust refers to the confidence that a particular device attempting to access a network, system, or application is secure, compliant, and not a potential threat.

Access management involves comprehensive coverage of all of your resources and who has permission to access them, ensuring that users can only reach areas appropriate for their roles. Consider the following challenges:

Complexity and scale – Access management becomes increasingly complex as organizations grow in size and complexity. Handling permissions for numerous users, systems, and applications can be challenging to coordinate and maintain. Having a highly scalable security solution like Duo is key to long-term success.

Dynamic environments – Frequent changes in personnel, roles, and projects make timely updates and removal of unnecessary access crucial.

Variety of users – You may employ a variety of users–employees, third parties, or contractors–that need access to your systems.

Integration with cloud services – As organizations increasingly adopt cloud services, integrating access management across on-premises and cloud environments requires careful planning to ensure seamless and secure transition among various digital platforms.

Various endpoints – Endpoints represent the interaction points between users and the network. Defenders must take into account a variety of endpoints including corporate-owned, third-party and BYOD systems running Windows, Linux, MacOS, iOS, Android and more.

Compliance – Regulatory standards and compliance requirements often mandate secure access management controls. Ensuring compliance with these standards is crucial for avoiding legal and financial consequences.

Access management protects against breaches by providing strong multi-layered defenses and innovative capabilities that allow legitimate users in and keep bad actors out.

Multiple layers of security – Combining MFA, passwordless authentication, and SSO delivers a multi-layered security solution that reduces risk and streamlines user experience.

Easy user experience – Effective access management solutions offer seamless and simple experiences for admins and users alike, from implementation to daily use. A user-friendly system encourages compliance and reduces risk.

Comprehensive coverage – Good access management solutions support public private, and hybrid cloud infrstructures as well as on-premises systems, diverse endpoints, and users of all kinds.

Early threat detection – Spot unusual behavior and prevent security breaches before they happen. Access management with integrated behavioral analytics helps defenders understand how users typically access information and quickly thwarts risky access attempts.

Regulatory Compliance – Access management is a core security function often required by regulation and liability insurance providers.

When global furniture manufacturer La-Z-Boy needed to protect corporate, manufacturing, and retail employees against cybersecurity threats, the opted for a zero trust framework approach with onboard multi-factor authentication (MFA). Since many La-Z-Boy employees use their own personal devices (BYOD), the company needed a solution that was easy to adopt and adhere to. La-Z-Boy also has to stay compliant with CCPA, GDPR and PCI DSS, all of which require multi-factor authentication.

Using the Duo Trusted Access platform, La-Z-Boy implemented zero trust with a coordinated MFA rollout. La-Z-Boy set user-specific policies by role, location, group and more to validate the identity of users and ensure the device security before granting access to only the applications and data users needed to do their specific responsibilities.

With Duo's Device Health app, La-Z-Boy is able to continuously monitor devices connecting to its networks, check for security posture and patch status, and remind users to install updates or risk having their devices blocked.