Automated Access Workflows

Streamlining Access Management Through Automation and Delegation

The Challenge of Manual Access Management

Traditional access management processes are often:

• Time-consuming: Manual provisioning can take hours or even days
• Error-prone: Human mistakes in permission assignments are common
• Resource-intensive: IT and security teams spend significant time on routine tasks
• Inconsistent: Manual processes can lead to variations in access policies
• Slow to respond: Delays in granting access can hinder productivity

On average, manual access management can consume up to 30% of IT teams’ time, with each request taking 30 minutes to several hours to process.

Automating Access Workflows with Axiom

Axiom’s automated access workflows address these challenges by:

1. Reducing time spent on access management by up to 80%
2. Minimizing human errors in permission assignments
3. Freeing IT and security teams to focus on strategic tasks
4. Ensuring consistent application of access policies
5. Accelerating access provisioning to boost productivity

Key Features

Customized Approval Flows

• Create tailored workflows based on your organization’s structure and policies
• Set up conditional approvals based on access type, user role, or resource sensitivity

Automated Provisioning

• Integrate with identity providers and target systems for automatic access granting
• Reduce manual intervention in routine access requests

Delegation of Approvals

• Assign approval responsibilities to appropriate team members or roles
• Enable managers to approve access for their direct reports

Contextual Decision Support

• Provide approvers with relevant information for informed decision-making
• Display user details, access history, and potential risks associated with the request

Audit Trail and Reporting

• Maintain comprehensive logs of all access requests, approvals, and changes
• Generate reports for compliance and security audits

Implementation Process

1. Assessment: Analyze current access management processes and pain points
2. Design: Create custom workflows tailored to your organization’s needs
3. Integration: Connect with existing identity management and target systems
4. Testing: Verify workflow efficiency and accuracy in a controlled environment
5. Deployment: Roll out the automated workflows across the organization
6. Monitoring and Optimization: Continuously refine processes based on usage data and feedback

Benefits

• Reduce access provisioning time from days to minutes
• Decrease IT and security team workload on access management by up to 80%
• Improve security posture through consistent policy enforcement
• Enhance user productivity with faster access to required resources
• Simplify compliance with automated audit trails and reporting

Axiom’s Automated Access Workflows transform time-consuming, error-prone manual processes into efficient, accurate, and consistent access management operations.

Access Scopes

Streamlining Access Management with Predefined Rules

Access Scopes provide a structured, preconfigured approach to managing resource access. By defining who can request access, who approves it, and for how long access is granted on a per-resource basis, organizations can create a “paved road” for efficient and secure access management.

Key Components of Access Scopes

1. Requestor Definition: Specify which users or groups can request access to each resource.
2. Approver Assignment: Designate individuals or roles responsible for approving access requests for each resource.
3. Access Duration: Set predetermined time limits for access to each resource.

How Access Scopes Work

1. Resource-Specific Configuration:
   • For each resource (e.g., database, application, system), administrators define:
     • Eligible requestors
     • Designated approvers
     • Standard access duration
2. Guided Request Process:
   • Users see only the resources they’re eligible to access
   • The system automatically routes requests to the correct approvers
3. Streamlined Approval:
   • Approvers receive contextual information about the request
   • Predefined durations simplify the decision-making process
4. Automatic Access Management:
   • Upon approval, access is granted for the preconfigured duration
   • The system automatically revokes access when the time period expires

Benefits of Access Scopes

• Reduced Administrative Overhead: Minimize the need for case-by-case decisions on access requests
• Consistent Policy Enforcement: Ensure access rules are applied uniformly across the organization
• Improved User Experience: Provide clarity on what resources users can access and for how long
• Enhanced Security: Limit access durations and ensure proper approvals for each resource
• Simplified Compliance: Easily demonstrate adherence to access control policies during audits

Implementation Process

1. Resource Inventory: Catalog all resources requiring managed access
2. Policy Definition: Determine access policies for each resource or resource type
3. Scope Configuration: Set up Access Scopes in the Axiom platform for each resource
4. Integration: Connect with identity management and target systems
5. User Communication: Inform users about the new process for requesting access
6. Monitoring and Refinement: Continuously assess and adjust scopes based on usage patterns and feedback

Use Case Example

For a production database:

• Requestors: Members of the Development and QA teams
• Approvers: Database Admin team lead and Security Officer
• Duration: 8-hour access for developers, 24-hour access for QA testers

This preconfigured scope streamlines access requests, ensuring that only appropriate team members can request access, the right individuals approve it, and access is limited to necessary timeframes.

Access Scopes create a balanced approach to access management, providing structure and consistency while maintaining the flexibility to adapt to specific organizational needs. By implementing Access Scopes, organizations can significantly reduce the time and effort required for access management while improving security and compliance.