Building a resilient IAM Program: Key steps for cybersecurity and compliance .

In our previous blogs, we discussed the impact of regulations on Identity and Access Management (IAM) and how risk management relates to identity security.

Now, it’s time to share key steps and actionable IAM controls for creating an IAM program that strengthens cybersecurity and ensures regulatory compliance.

1. Get Sponsorship
One of the most important prerequisites for a successful IAM program is securing sponsorship from top management and regularly reporting on coverage and compliance progress. Top-level backing is crucial, as modern IAM is no longer just a technical issue. To achieve regulatory compliance, IAM controls and governance must span all company functions.

2. Assess Risks
The next step is to inventory the IT assets that need protection. You can’t report on coverage or progress without knowing the full landscape. However, this doesn’t mean every IT asset must be covered by all IAM controls. Consider the risk level of each asset and act accordingly.

3. Break the Silos
Be prepared to adopt a holistic Zero Trust approach to security. Incident management processes should have access to identity-related information such as “Why does this user have this access?” and “Who approved it?” Network access controls should also act based on identity roles.

4. Strengthen Authentication Security
For security event dashboards to be reliable, user identities must be authenticated securely—ideally using multi-factor authentication (MFA). MFA is the single most effective control for mitigating account takeovers and credential breaches. Implement MFA everywhere.

5. Conduct Access Reviews
Organizations must be aware of all user access to sensitive data. Accesses are typically easy to assign, but revoking them can feel like a daunting task. Cyber regulations require the principle of least privilege for user access. A practical way to enforce this is through periodic access reviews, where system owners or managers review and revoke unnecessary access. These reviews also answer key questions like “Who approved this access?”

6. Manage Elevated Privileges
Not all access rights are created equal. Highly sensitive access—such as to databases, networks, or Active Directory domain administration—should be handled with extra care. Privileged Access Management (PAM) tools can provide session monitoring, including recording all activity. Elevated access should be integrated with the change management process, only granted for a defined time and tied to a change request ticket, with a clear justification for access.

These are complex topics for any organization and should be carefully prioritized according to current maturity levels and requirements. Realistically, full IAM implementation can take years. However, as long as the end goal remains in focus, the implementation can proceed in manageable phases.

Author:

Build Digital Trust with Epical
We specialize in helping organizations strengthen their digital trust through a full range of services, including IAM platforms, secure access control solutions, and Identity Governance and Administration (IGA).

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