IT service management and IAM brought under one roof

IT service management alone is complex in large companies. Added to this is the management of the different roles and access authorizations of the various users. As a rule, identity access management (IAM) systems are implemented for this purpose, also in the form of IDaaS (identity as a service) solutions. One such solution, described as "particularly innovative" by the KuppingerCole Report in September 2021, comes from the manufacturer Clear Skye. It is based on ServiceNow, another cloud-based platform that digitizes and standardizes workflows. ServiceNow is now established as a solution in more and more companies. As a result, Clear Skye's solution should be of particular interest to such users. John Milbourn, CEO of Clear Skye, and Marco Rohrer, Chairman of the Board of Directors of IPG Group, will explain more. The Kuppinger-Cole report highlights Clear Skye's IDaaS solution as an innovative solution for ServiceNow users. What makes the solution so unique for enterprises? JOHN MILBOURN: The more established an IT service management system is, the more difficult it is to implement a standalone IGA in an organization. The challenge is that the systems need to work together while being user-friendly. After all, with two separate systems for ITSM and IAM, end users must in practice "jump around" on a separate platform by linking between the different services (authorizations, HR, IT, EDP, etc.), or a complex integration of the two solutions must be undertaken. Clear Skye's IGA solution is a standalone ServiceNow module. As such, there is the distinct advantage of being able to access all types of IT services from one place through seamless integration. The user experience is greatly improved due to familiarity with the user interface. The entire service catalog thus has "One Face". However, this is not only beneficial for the end user, but also relevant for administration and operations. What does this mean for the implementation of the solution? JOHN MILBOURN: With our IDaaS solution, deployment is easier because only the IGA features need to be installed and configured, while the basic ServiceNow features already cover functions such as data stores and workflows. So if ServiceNow is already in use, adding Clear Skye takes very little time and effort. There is no need to set up a standalone system, but can buy directly from the ServiceNow store. How can you imagine this in concrete terms? JOHN MILBOURN: Die Bereitstellung auf die ServiceNow-Plattform ist unkompliziert und erfordert keine Einführung der zugrundeliegenden Technologie wie Datenbanken oder anderer Komponenten, wie bei traditionellen IGA-Projekten. Die IGA-Software von Clear Skye transformiert die digitalen Umgebungen, indem sie das Identitätsmanagement mit Funktionen wie ITSM, CMBD, GRC und Sicherheitsvorgängen an einem zentralen Ort ausrichtet. Die Integration ins GRC/IRM ist somit denkbar einfach. MARCO ROHRER: Natürlich können dabei eben trotzdem individuelle Anwenderanforderungen berücksichtigt werden. Bei der Implementierung arbeiten wir in eng mit Clear Skye zusammen und haben so den vollen Hersteller-Support auf direktem Wege. Diese enge und unkomplizierte Zusammenarbeit ermöglicht einen reibungslosen Ablauf und ein professionelles, für den Kunden zufriedenstellendes, Ergebnis. This looks like a simple workflow. Nevertheless, companies want to have a professional on hand to advise them. What opportunities does the partnership between Clear Skye and IPG Group offer? MARCO ROHRER: The IPG Group usually establishes the initial contact. Together with our manufacturer partner, we then develop an individual offer according to the customer's requirements. With our advisory service, we support the customer in an advisory capacity right from the start and also take on the entire project management as well as the technical consulting as a full service. Once the solution has been implemented, the question of operational support arises. What options are there for customers here? MARCO ROHRER: We generally recommend adapting the operation for Clear Skye to ServiceNow - if this is already in use. Individual vendor support for the IGA solution is covered by Clear Skye itself, which is like other solutions in the IAM environment. All other services such as 2nd level support and also consulting for further development are offered by IPG. Here, too, we work hand in hand and offer our customer the operating solution that suits them best, whether with a service contract with SLAs or on-call support.

Says John Milbourn, "With our IDaaS solution, deployment becomes easier because only the IGA functions need to be installed and configured."

IPG Group

Seit mehr als 20 Jahren ist die IPG Group Pionier und Experte im Bereich Identity und Governance Management. Das Unternehmen zählt namhafte Kunden aller Branchen wie auch Organisationen der öffentlichen Verwaltung in der Schweiz, Deutschland und Österreich zu den Anwendern eines umfassenden Schutzes von Benutzerdaten sowie Zugriffs- und Zutrittsrechten. Seit 2001 konnten über 1000 Projekte abgewickelt werden. > www.ipg-group.com

Clear Skye

Clear Skye ist ein Softwareunternehmen für Identity Governance & Administration (IGA). Es entwickelte eine neue Software für das Identitäts-, Zugriffs- und Risikomanagement in Unternehmen, um die Komplexität der Identitätsverwaltung einfacher zu gestalten. Clear Skye IGA basiert auf der Now-Plattform von ServiceNow und löst durch die Nutzung der bestehenden Plattform Probleme traditioneller IGA-Lösungen. > www.clearskye.com

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/it-service-management-und-iam-unter-einen-hut-gebracht/