BPP, a leader in professional education, faced significant challenges managing access to AWS environments and critical databases. Their manual access processes caused delays, overprovisioning, and an overwhelming IT workload, hindering productivity and increasing security risks. By adopting Axiom’s cloud-native access solution, BPP transformed its access management approach. The results? A 95% drop in privileged access operations, all while achieving operational efficiency and ensuring regulatory compliance.
“Axiom has fundamentally changed how we do privileged access. What used to potentially take days and create unnecessary risk is now effortless, efficient, and completely secure. The ability to provide privileged access so quickly has allowed us to reduce standing permissions. Being able to “craft” requests has also enabled us to create standard roles without needing the permissions to be perfect from the start, as they can so easily be added to an individual request. The support from Axiom on this journey has been second to none.”
– Shaun Walker, Head of Cyber Security Engineering, BPP
Introduction
BPP is a global name in professional education, with expertise in law, finance, data, and technology. Operating at enterprise scale with startup agility, BPP depends heavily on its cloud-based business model. However, as the organization grew, managing secure access to sensitive AWS environments and databases became a persistent roadblock. Manual workflows led to inefficiencies, bottlenecks, and security vulnerabilities, slowing down their ability to deliver innovative, user-focused solutions.
Challenges
BPP’s existing access management processes presented several critical issues:
- Lengthy Delays: Gaining access to AWS environments and vital databases sometimes took 1–3 days, significantly delaying projects and frustrating engineers.
- High IT Workloads: Manual, ticket-based workflows generated hundreds of access requests each month, diverting IT teams from strategic priorities.
- Overprovisioning Risks: Access sometimes being granted for longer than required, exposing BPP to unnecessary risk.
These inefficiencies not only reduced productivity but also heightened risks in regulatory and audit contexts. To solve these issues, BPP needed a modern solution that could streamline access, enforce least-privilege principles, and reduce human intervention.
The Solution
BPP partnered with Axiom to overhaul its privileged access management system, leveraging innovative, cloud-native tools designed for automation, security, and simplicity. Key features of the solution included:
- Just-in-Time (JIT) Access: Axiom slashed wait times from 1 hour at best and 3 days at worst, to under a minute, enabling engineers to start tasks immediately.
- Automated Decision-making: Low-risk requests were auto-approved through smart routing, while sensitive access required informed approvals, ensuring agility without compromising security.
- Slack Integration: With workflows embedded directly into Slack, users could request, approve, or revoke access without leaving their primary communication platform.
- End-to-End Lifecycle Management: Approvals, revocations, and audits were fully automated, eliminating the need for spreadsheets, tickets, or guesswork.
This tailored solution delivered a seamless balance of security, efficiency, and user-friendly functionality, perfectly aligning with BPP’s commitment to innovation and compliance.
Outcomes
Since implementing Axiom, BPP’s access management has been dramatically transformed:
- Increased Productivity and User Satisfaction with Up to 99% Faster Access Times: Access requests that previously took up to 3 days can now be resolved in under a minute.
Boosted IT Efficiency & Operational Control: Axiom’s automated access workflows cut manual intervention by 20–30%, with most remaining approvals reduced to a single click, resulting in a 95% drop in privileged access operations and dramatically streamlining security processes.- Increase Security Posture by Eliminating Standing Access: By drastically reducing the time it takes to gain access, BPP was able to reduce standing permissions, reducing security risks and audit exposure.
- Audit-Ready by Default: Axiom’s automated reviews and comprehensive visibility ensured seamless compliance with regulatory requirements.
These improvements allowed BPP engineering teams to regain productivity, enabled IT staff to shift focus to higher-value projects, and strengthened the organization’s overall security posture.
Conclusion
BPP’s journey demonstrates the transformative power of modern access management. By partnering with Axiom, they eliminated operational inefficiencies, enhanced security, and established a robust, compliant foundation for future growth. With automated workflows, dynamic access rules, and seamless Slack integration, Axiom enabled BPP to reclaim time, reduce risk, and focus on what truly matters: empowering learners.
Looking to optimize cloud access for your organization? Book a demo with Axiom today and take the first step toward smarter, more secure access management.
