Government Identity Management, Everything You Need to Know

Managing identity in the public sector comes with its own set of rules and challenges. You can be at the federal or locallevel, you always have to protect vast amounts of highly sensitive data andmeet strict regulatory standards. The stakes are sky-high.

Add on access management for a large workforceof permanent, temporary, contract and inter-agency staff, while balancingstringent security requirements, and you’ve got one of the most complexsecurity needs imaginable.

Then, there’s the fact that citizens expectseamless, accessible services that protect their data. Tasked with avoidingdata breaches, compliance failures, and a loss of public trust, only the mostrobust system is up to the challenge.

Welcome to your comprehensive guide togovernment identity management. We’ll explore why it matters, uniquechallenges, essential technologies, and best practices to help you operate withconfidence.

What is Identity Management in government?

Identity Management (IDM) in government refersto the policies, processes, and technologies used by a public sector agency tomanage the full lifecycle of its account holders. This includes internal (forpermanent and temporary employees) and external (for citizens) identities.

For government agencies, IDM is so much more than just login credentials and systems access. It involves streamlining inter-agency collaboration, ensuring secure access to physical facilities, andprotecting government and personal data.

Why governments need strong Identity Management Systems

Public sector agencies have a lot to handlewith Identity and Access Management (IAM). Naturally, each agency and eachlevel of government will have its own unique hurdles, but some of the mostfrequent issues we hear about include:

● Protecting data: Government agencies are custodians of some of the nation’s mostsensitive data. This includes confidential citizen records, classifiedintelligence, and critical infrastructure data. An IAM system is the first lineof defense, ensuring that only authorized account holders can access thisinformation.

● Preventing identity fraud: In government, the consequences of identity fraud are particularlysevere. Strong IAM systems – with features like multi-factor authentication andcontinuous monitoring – are crucial for preventing unauthorized access.

● Enabling citizen services: Governmental services are increasingly delivered online, from socialsecurity to voter registration. IAM is the foundation of these digitalservices, providing a secure way for citizens to complete tasks and shareinformation.

● Meeting compliance: A modern IAM system is essential for meeting the strict regulatorymandates and audit requirements. Frameworks and regulations to considerinclude:

○ Federal Identity, Credential, and Access Management (FICAM)

○ Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP)

○ CJIS (Criminal Justice Information Services).

Challenges of Identity Management in the public sector

There’s no doubt that IAM systems areessential to the success and security of governmental bodies. However,implementing and managing IAM systems can be challenging in this sector. Thoughyour organization will have specific issues to work through, some of the moreuniversal ones to think about include…

Legacy systems

The US federal government has a $100 billion legacy IT challenge. Manygovernment agencies still operate with outdated IT infrastructure anddisconnected access systems. These systems are often siloed, which makes itdifficult to implement a unified IAM policy.

Staff turnover

The public sector relies heavily on contractors and temporary staff, which presents a challenge for identity-based access control. The process of onboarding, credentialing, and deprovisioning account holders must be seamlessand efficient, while also meeting the same security standards as for permanentemployees.

Frictionless yet secure access

Government agencies need to balance giving account holders the easy access they need while maintaining a high level of security. Finding the sweet spot can be a challenge.

Complex processes

In a government environment, credentialing is a complex, multi-step process that often involves background checks and security clearances. Deprovisioning, revoking access when an account holder leaves, is also complex and, if not done correctly, can create a significant security risk.

Essential IAM technologies for government workforce security

IAM technology has risen to meet the uniquechallenges of the public sector. Here are some of the most popular technologiesadopted by government agencies to streamline and secure processes.

● Smart cards, PIV/CAC, and MFA Absolutions: Personal Identity Verification (PIV) cardsand Common Access Cards (CAC) are very popular in government agencies. Thesesmart cards, which often include biometric data and digital certificates, are aform of multi-factor authentication (MFA) that provides a high level ofidentity assurance for both physical and digital access.

● Role-based andattribute-based access control: Role-Based AccessControl (RBAC) simplifies identity management by assigning access privilegesbased on an account holder’s role. Even more advanced is Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC), whichgrants access based on a combination of factors, such as an account holder’slocation, time of day, and specific project.

● Privileged access management (PAM): Designated ‘privileged’ accounts have a highlevel of access to sensitive systems. PAM is a security technology thatprovides an extra layer of protection, ensuring that these accounts are onlyused for authorized purposes.

● Access control integration: This is when your IAM integrates physical access control (e.g.,doors, gates, turnstiles) with logical access control (e.g., login to ITsystems). You get a single view of all security events and ensure that accessdecisions are consistent.

● Identity federation for inter-agency collaboration: Identity federation allowsan account holder to use one set of credentials to access resources acrossmultiple, independent agencies. For example, a citizen may use the same logincredentials for their doctor surgery and their voter registration. This streamlinescollaboration, reduces administrative workload, and provides a higher level ofsecurity.

Benefits of effective governmentidentity management

Having overcome the challenges and adopted thesuite of technologies available to government agencies, many feed back to usthe following benefits. Some are exactly as you’d expect, others might take youby surprise.  

Stronger data protection

A modern IAM system protects against both cyber and physical threats. The high-level of identity assurance means onlyauthorized account holders can access sensitive information and physicalfacilities.

Streamlined onboarding

Automated IAM systems streamline the process of onboarding new employees and contractors, ensuring that they have the accessthey need on time. This reduces administrative workload and improvesoperational efficiency.

Faster deprovisioning

When an account holder leaves, an automated IAM system instantly revokes their access rights. This eliminates the risk offormer workers retaining access to sensitive systems and data.

Improved compliance and auditreadiness

A modern IAM system provides a verifiable, digital audit trail of access decisions, which is crucial for meetingcompliance mandates and ensuring you’re always ready for an audit.

Best practices for implementing IAM in government agencies

Implementing IAM in government agencies is achallenging process, but the rewards make it well worth the extra effort. Toensure success, follow this four-step process.

1. Assess: Start by conducting a thorough audit of your existing security systems, identifying compliance gaps. This will help you begin to map out how a new IAM system could work for you.
2. Centralize: The most effective IAM systems are centralized and integrated across all physical and logical access points. You can track all security events in one place and guarantee consistency in your decisions and responses.
3. Train: Training is crucial for a successful IAM implementation. Staff and contractors should learn why the new protocols exist, how to use the new system, and what to do if a security incident takes place.
4. Maintain: An IAM system is not a "set and forget" solution. It calls for continuous monitoring and identity lifecycle management to ensure that all access decisions are up-to-date and comply with regulations.

How acre security helps government agencies strengthen IAM

acre security provides access control that helps government agencies handle identity management without the stress. Our solutions provide critical integration between your physical access points andyour sprawling digital security infrastructure. This ensures securitymanagement is straightforward and consistent.

The major strength of acre security's approachis the ability to enforce federal standards. We support all the mostsought-after features including smart cards, intelligent access control, andidentity federation to ensure you offer the highest level of security andcompliance. Our solutions are reliable and scalable, so you can customizeaccording to your unique needs as they shift and change. We also have a team ofexperts on hand to help you with implementation and maintenance.

Time to get your agency's security zipped up? Explore our access control solutions to strengthen and streamline your identitymanagement.

The higher the stakes thestronger the system

Identity management is rarely more complex yetvital than in the public sector. Should something go wrong, the fallout wouldbe tough to recover from. A modern IAM system defends against cyber andphysical threats, protects sensitive data, and maintains the high level ofsecurity you require. The right IAM setup will streamline operations, meetcompliance mandates, and protect citizens, staff, and data.

Contact acre security today to discuss your IAM implementation and protect your agency.

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