C H E Q U I N G
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C H E Q U I N G
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THE FIVE CRITICAL PILLARS OF CUSTOMER IDENTITY AND ACCESS MANAGEMENT
Managing access to systems can be challenging, especially when trying to strike a balance between customer experience and security. Customer identity and access management( CIAM) is at the core of ensuring a secure and seamless user experience across an organisation’ s entire ecosystem. Malithi Edirisinghe, Director, Architect – IAM at WSO2, shares her expertise on the five key pillars that make up a strong CIAM strategy.
n today’ s interconnected digital landscape,
I effective management of customer identities is not just a technical requirement but a strategic asset. Customer identity and access management( CIAM) systems are at the heart of this, ensuring secure and seamless user experiences across numerous digital interfaces. Whether for individual consumers or business clients, CIAM facilitates personalised interactions while safeguarding sensitive data, complying with global regulations and improving business enablement and operational efficiency.
For those less familiar, CIAM is a specialised application of identity management focused on managing and securing customer identities. At its core, CIAM is designed to facilitate seamless, secure customer interactions across various digital platforms( web apps, mobile apps, kiosks, etc.) while enhancing user experience and maintaining compliance with privacy regulations. Think of CIAM as the gatekeeper and guide within a digital amusement park. It not only ensures that customers can enter through the gates by authenticating through methods such as username / password and two-factor authentication, but it also directs them to the appropriate rides( services) based on their access privileges and preferences. This ensures a smooth and enjoyable visit that’ s both secure and personalised.
A robust CIAM strategy is built upon five key pillars, each representing a critical competency for effective customer identity and access management. Let’ s examine each of these pillars more closely:
1. User onboarding and registration
The first step in a CIAM process is user registration, which converts anonymous, casual website visitors into known, active, registered users. In consumer-facing applications, user onboarding can be streamlined with Bring Your Own Identity( BYOID) using social identifiers or email, mobile and username identifiers for basic identity verification. This approach is particularly common in scenarios like online shopping carts, food delivery services, streaming services and e-commerce platforms. However, for more sensitive applications such as banking, financial services, airline systems and government services, the verification process can www. intelligentfin. tech
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