The Core Problem: Lack of True Integration
At the heart of the issue is the inability of current IGA tools to integrate seamlessly with the sprawling ecosystem of enterprise applications. Existing solutions often fall short of the promises they make, due to:
- A lack of connectors to specific applications and there is in fact a very long tail of ungovernable apps in any given enterprise,
- Inadequate APIs that hinder orchestration and automation, or
- The complexity of reasoning required to operate non-standard applications effectively for critical workflows like joiner, mover, and leaver scenarios
This failure leads to an inevitable and inefficient outcome: manual and repetitive work (rework).
The Reality of “Automation” in IGA
While IGA platforms are marketed as identity lifecycle management workflow engines for end-to-end automation, the reality for most implementations is far less revolutionary. Over half of the workflows in a typical deployment ultimately generate tickets for IT or service desks. Why? Because these tools lack the sophistication or flexibility to handle anything more complex than basic CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) operations for user management.
When faced with nuanced or application-specific tasks, the rigid decision trees and parochial controls of current IGA tools falter, leaving IT operators to pick up the slack. The result is not an automated, efficient identity governance system but a ticket-routing engine disguised as innovation.
The Heavy Lifting of Implementation
The incumbents in the IGA space have long relied on armies of systems integrators to deploy their solutions successfully. This dependence underscores the reality: nothing works off the shelf. Every deployment requires significant customization, fine-tuning, and manual intervention to achieve even a semblance of functionality.
For organizations, this means:
- High costs associated with implementation and continuous maintenance,
- Extended timelines to operationalize Identity Lifecycle Management workflows, and
- A reliance on external experts to maintain and evolve their systems.
The Unsolved Gap
The biggest narrative gap in the IGA space remains the lack of a truly comprehensive, adaptive, and integrated solution. Organizations are forced to compromise on automation, while their IT teams are burdened with manual processes that these tools are supposed to eliminate.
A Path Forward
To truly transform the IGA landscape, the next generation of solutions must address these challenges head-on. This means:
- Building robust and scalable approach to integration that is completely application agnostic.
- Leveraging advanced technologies like AI and machine learning to handle complex reasoning within real-world workflows. Shifting away from rigid decision trees to more dynamic, context-aware reasoning and decision-making models.
- Creating truly enterprise-aligned platforms that adapt to unique enterprise needs.
The IGA market is ripe for disruption, but success will require more than just iterative improvements on legacy ideas. It will demand a paradigm shift—a reimagining of how identity, governance, and administration can and should work in the modern enterprise.
Conclusion
Until this gap is addressed, organizations will continue to face the same implementation challenges, the same inefficiencies, and the same dependence on manual intervention. The IGA space needs bold, innovative thinking to deliver on its promises of automation, efficiency, and seamless identity management. It’s time for solutions that actually work - not just in theory, but in practice.
Cheers,
Sinan Eren
Co-Founder/CEO
