Identity Management Consultant Tasks and Duties

Businesses, enterprises and organizations need the expertise of identity management consultants to address the increasing challenges posed by the rapid pace of technological change. As internet of things (IoT) technology, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) play bigger roles in networks across industries and more services migrate to the cloud, security needs are expanding beyond the capabilities of onsite IT resources. 

Identity management consultants can offer much-needed insight and assistance by assessing risks, developing solutions and implementing better systems for identity creation, user management and access control. The job covers a range of important duties and requires a combination of education and experience to address the unique needs of businesses in a variety of industries. 

Identity Management Job Overview

Identity management consulting incorporates a wide range of duties to provide optimal security through proper access control. 

Audits and Assessments 
Access and security audits are key in identifying vulnerabilities within existing systems. It’s the job of an IAM professional to conduct these audits along with threat and risk level assessments. 

Identifying Risks and Mitigating Threats 
The best solutions are built to the specifications of individual businesses and organizations. IAM specialists understand the complexities of modern systems and work to identify potential risks unique to each situation. Using this information, they deliver appropriate solutions to prevent as many threats as possible. 

Conducting Research, Analyzing Data and Creating Reports 
Auditing and risk management both require detailed technical research and understanding of the resulting data. Many businesses lack the resources and expertise required for proper analysis and need a third party to condense the findings into accessible reports from which suitable solutions can be built. 

Choosing Appropriate Types of Access Control 
Existing systems may be operating with outdated access control protocols and require modernization to strengthen security. An identity consultant understands the difference between rule-based and role-based access control and chooses the most appropriate option to maintain a “least privilege” level of access for all users. 

Designing, Configuring and Implementing IAM Solutions 
Complex systems require robust identity and access solutions, and IAM consultants may find it necessary to incorporate a wide range of tools to create an appropriate protocol, including: 

• Onboarding and offboarding 
• User provisioning and deprovisioning 
• Modern access management options, such as single sign-on (SSO), federated identities, multi-factor authentication (MFA) and privileged account management 

This requires working with one or more of the current identity and access solutions used by modern businesses and collaborating with other professionals to reach a successful outcome. A typical team may include consultants, analysts, programmers and other IT professionals. 

Ongoing Support 
Once new protocols are in place, identity management consultants stay on board to guide companies through the early days of implementation and provide additional support, ensuring all procedures are properly followed. 

Identity Management Job Titles

Identity management consulting is often a full-time job and demands varying levels of expertise. Lower-level positions may be listed with titles like: 

• Identity and access management consultant 
• Cyber identity and access management consultant 
• IAM technical consultant 
• IAM analyst 
• IAM engineer 
• IAM solution engineer 

It’s common for these positions to require less experience and education and include identity management duties such as managing networks, applications and users. High-level positions include: 

• Cloud security specialist 
• IAM experienced consultant 
• IAM senior consultant 
• IAM specialist 
• IAM technical specialist 

Because these jobs involve creating, implementing and overseeing complete identity management systems designed to meet specific security needs and also involve complex compliance standards, additional higher education is necessary. Some employers require identity and access management certifications and numerous years of experience working with relevant protocols, software and systems. 

Importance of the Identity and Access Management Role

Statistics show the critical need for more comprehensive IAM solutions across industries:

• Only 7 percent of businesses have “good visibility of all critical data” 
• Only 20 percent of businesses maintain complete visibility of all users 
• 77 percent of IT professionals say their organizations lack solid cybersecurity incident response plans 
• 56 percent of IT professionals cite targeted phishing as the biggest threat to network security 

Add to this a growing number of users, increased device diversity and the need for many companies to onboard either temporary employees or third-party vendors, and risk levels skyrocket. More endpoints being introduced into networks create more areas of potential vulnerability, leaving IT departments to face challenges for which they’re not prepared. 

The consequences of poor identity management and other weak security practices can be staggering: 

• The average cost of a data breach in 2018 was $3.86 million 
• “Mega” breaches, in which 1 million to 50 million records are involved, can cost between $40 and $350 million 

Eighty percent of breaches involve privileged credentials, and this highlights the importance of defining proper access levels, determining the appropriate scope of access for each user and maintaining boundaries across systems. Improving identity management procedures is a key component of risk reduction, and IAM consultants can provide the services businesses and organizations require to offload their IT departments and maximize the use of existing IT resources. 

Many companies are still fighting to get a handle on the data they receive, transmit and store, especially as cloud migration becomes more common. Identity management makes both onsite and cloud network environments safer for employees and customers by providing solutions for creating, protecting and managing identities in ways designed to prevent unauthorized access. 

New access management solutions and sign-in protocols are making it harder for hackers to steal, guess or fake credentials. However, it’s still common for businesses and organizations to use outdated identification and authentication methods with loopholes even amateur hackers can exploit. Because 75 percent of breaches are the result of external threats, it’s essential to close these loopholes. 

Profile of an Identity Management Consultant

Ideal candidates for identity management consultant positions are self-driven and not afraid to take the initiative. The job requires strong leadership and management skills, a commitment to hard work, the ability to juggle diverse projects and good problem-solving and troubleshooting capabilities.

Companies frequently list the following educational and technical requirements that IAM consultants must demonstrate in their identity and access management resumes: 

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in information technology, cybersecurity, computer science, information systems security or a related field 
• One or more IAM certifications 
• One or more years of IT consulting experience 
• Two or more years of experience implementing key elements of IAM protocols 
• Knowledge of IAM software and systems, such as Oracle, SailPoint, CA Identity Suite or IBM’s security solutions 
• Proficiency in word processing, presentation and reporting software, cloud systems, HTTPS, XML and/or Java 

Additional experience with specific aspects of identity management may also be required depending on the level of the position. Other critical skills include: 

• A solid understanding of IAM concepts and systems 
• Knowledge of key IAM standards 
• The ability to work with a variety of identity, access and privileged account management solutions 
• Aptitude in technical research and the willingness to perform necessary research 
• Ability to work with others to create, implement and teach new protocols 
• Knowledge of current compliance regulations and the solutions necessary to meet them 

Ongoing training is often an integral part of a career in identity management. Companies also prefer candidates with customer-oriented mindsets and the desire to fulfill the specific needs of clients. 

Where to Find Identity Management Jobs

The same technologies creating the high demand for IAM specialists also make it possible to perform many consulting duties remotely. Employers are increasingly offering this option, but most positions appear to involve at least some amount of travel to onsite locations. 

Companies across industries are facing similar network security challenges requiring input and guidance from consultants in the IAM field. Individuals with the proper qualifications can find positions with: 

• Educational institutions, especially colleges and universities 
• Enterprise-level companies seeking help to establish essential protocols 
• Financial institutions 
• Healthcare providers and networks 
• IT consulting firms 
• Providers of IAM products 
• Security product and service providers 
• Small- and medium-sized businesses setting up or expanding their networks 

Salaries in the field are generous and range from around $43,000 to over $123,000 per year. According to PayScale, the average annual salary for identity management consultants is just over $76,000; Glassdoor reports a higher average of $100,408. Depending on the identity management job position, responsibilities and company structure, additional income may be available in the form of commissions and bonuses. 

Challenges for Today’s Identity Management Professionals 

Identity management consultants address the challenges faced by companies in diverse industries as they seek to improve security protocols and incorporate more stringent rules for access control. Trends in technology necessitate the retirement of outdated login and authentication methods, such as single-factor or password-based logins, in favor of options incorporating factors recognized as more reliable. Protecting login credentials from theft and compromise could prevent the majority of breaches. 

To minimize the potential extent of breaches should they occur, IAM specialists must address other common challenges: 

• The accumulation of access rights beyond those needed to successfully perform a job or role 
• Lack of regulation for device access, especially in companies with BYOD policies 
• User access via unsecured connections, such as Wi-Fi hotspots 
• Increasing numbers of remote workers using devices with varying levels of security 
• The need to assign unique identities to devices and applications for smoother workflows 
• Proper user provisioning and deprovisioning 
• The need to bridge the gap between applications with different authentication protocols or security standards 

The introduction of new IoT technologies and the incorporation of the blockchain into IAM protocols will create greater complexity within systems in the future, and compliance standards are likely to continue to adapt in response. Companies are already struggling to meet existing standards, including GDPR, and face significant penalties if they fail. It’s the job of IAM consultants to provide help navigating these changes and ensure all protocols meet the required standards. 

Even as security measures improve, hackers are adapting their strategies to get around new solutions. IT professionals report an increase in targeted attacks on individuals, such as spear phishing, in an attempt to steal privileged credentials and therefore gain deeper access into networks. Companies must be prepared with the latest access management tools and the knowledge required to identify and prevent potential cyberattacks. 

Providing identity management consulting services is a demanding undertaking but opens the door to a lucrative field with many opportunities for growth. Qualified individuals enjoy good job prospects across industries. Although the position requires a significant amount of education, knowledge and experience, compensation is often generous. Those who are willing to continue learning to stay abreast of changes in regulations and standards can enjoy a dynamic work environment in which new innovations brings new challenges in need of creative solutions.