To access modern infrastructure as a service or cloud it requires “Identity Management” to ensure
Systems are protected, both logically and physically, against unauthorised access.
Easy of Access.
Ease of Onboarding and Off-boarding Users.
These can be fulfilled through
On stop station for change management, tracking, tracing.
Centralised User Management.
Role Based Access Control Policies and Permissions.
The adoption of cloud computing has introduced new paradigms in IAM, offering centralised solutions that differ significantly from traditional on-premise setups. This article compares IAM on cloud versus on-premise, focusing on centralised identity and access management (IAM), single sign-on (SSO), and role-based access control (RBAC).
Centralised Identity Provider(IDP):
A centralised identity provider(IDP) is a must to validate and authenticate user access. One such IDP is G-suite which is widely compatible with most cloud and SaaS providers. Check for IAM integration with G-suite Gmail Ids.
With an IDP you can store your organisation's end user credentials in one central place which becomes the single source of truth for user identities.
Self-Managed Identity Management (IAM):
Such systems are installed and managed within an organisation's own datacenters. These systems offer complete control over IAM processes, enabling organisations to tailor the solutions to their specific needs. Centralised IAM on-premise typically involves integrating various applications and services through middleware, creating a unified identity repository.
Advantages:
Control: Organisations have full control over their IAM policies, infrastructure, and data.
Customisation: High levels of customisation to meet specific security and compliance requirements.
Data Sovereignty: Ensures that sensitive identity data remains within the organisation's premises, which can be crucial for compliance with local data protection laws.
Disadvantages:
Cost: High upfront costs for hardware, software, and skilled personnel to manage and maintain the systems.
Scalability: Limited by physical infrastructure, making it challenging to scale quickly in response to changing demands.
Complexity: Requires significant effort to integrate diverse systems and maintain consistent security policies across all platforms.
Cloud Managed:
Cloud-based IAM systems are provided as a service by cloud providers like AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud. These systems offer centralised management of identities across multiple cloud and on-premise applications, leveraging the cloud provider's infrastructure.
Advantages:
Scalability: Cloud IAM solutions can easily scale to accommodate growing or fluctuating user bases without significant additional investment.
Cost Efficiency: Reduced capital expenditure, as cloud providers manage the underlying infrastructure. Costs are typically operational (pay-as-you-go).
Accessibility: Provides global accessibility, allowing users to authenticate from anywhere with an internet connection.
Integration: Simplifies integration with other cloud services and applications, often with built-in connectors and APIs.
Disadvantages:
Control: Less direct control over IAM infrastructure and data, which might be a concern for highly regulated industries.
Dependency: Reliance on the cloud provider's availability and security measures.
Single Sign On (SSO):
The IDP must be enabled with Single Sign On(SSO) for ease of access, onboarding and off -boarding.
For example, with G-suite as your IDP, all end users can login to multiple apps using SSO. They need not remember different credentials for each side. So it's easy to onboard new users and also easy to off board as you just need to delete it from one central place.
Self-Managed:
On-premise SSO solutions allow users to authenticate once and gain access to multiple applications within the organisation’s network. These solutions often use protocols like LDAP, Kerberos, or SAML.
Advantages:
Security: Reduces password fatigue and associated security risks by minimising the number of credentials users must manage.
Customisation: Tailored integration with legacy systems and specific internal applications.
Performance: Potentially lower latency as authentication requests remain within the local network.
Disadvantages:
Maintenance: Requires ongoing maintenance and updates to ensure compatibility and security.
Scalability: May struggle with scalability, particularly as the organization grows or as new applications are added.
Complex Implementation: Integrating SSO with multiple on-premise applications can be complex and resource-intensive.
Cloud SSO:
Cloud-based SSO solutions enable users to access cloud and on-premise applications using a single set of credentials. They often leverage OAuth, OpenID Connect, and SAML for federated identity management.
Advantages:
User Experience: Enhanced user experience with seamless access to multiple cloud and on-premise applications.
Central Management: Simplifies user and access management through centralized policies and directories.
Quick Deployment: Rapid deployment with pre-built connectors for popular applications.
Disadvantages:
Network Dependency: Relies on internet connectivity, which can be a point of failure.
Vendor Lock-In: Potential risk of dependency on the cloud provider’s ecosystem.
Role Based Access Control (RBAC):
There must be well defined policies and permissions for Role Based Access Control(RBAC) of various infra resources.
Well defined IAM Roles for cloud console, api and services.
Service accounts with access to console API are protected
Mapping of IAM Role to Email Groups.
Self-managed:
On-premise RBAC involves defining roles and permissions within the organisation’s infrastructure, often managed through directory services like Active Directory.
Advantages:
Granular Control: Fine-grained control over roles and permissions tailored to organisational needs.
Security: Data and policies remain on-premise, potentially enhancing security for sensitive environments.
Compliance: Easier to align with specific compliance requirements that mandate data residency.
Disadvantages:
Management Overhead: Requires significant resources to manage and update roles and permissions.
Scalability: Can be cumbersome to scale, particularly in dynamic or rapidly growing environments.
Cloud Managed:
Cloud-based RBAC allows for centralised management of roles and permissions across multiple cloud services and on-premise applications.
Advantages:
Flexibility: Easily adjust roles and permissions as organisational needs evolve.
Efficiency: Streamlined management through centralised dashboards and automation capabilities.
Integration: Seamlessly integrates with a wide range of cloud services and applications.
Disadvantages:
Control: Less direct control over the infrastructure managing RBAC policies.
Complexity: Complexity in managing hybrid environments where cloud and on-premise systems coexist.
Conclusion:
Both self-managed and managed IAM solutions have their merits and drawbacks. On-premise self-managed IAM offers high levels of control, customisation, and data sovereignty, but often at the expense of scalability and cost efficiency.
In contrast, cloud-based IAM provides scalable, cost-effective, and accessible solutions, though it may entail relinquishing some control and managing dependency on cloud providers.
Ultimately, the choice between on-premise and cloud IAM will depend on an organisation's specific requirements, including regulatory compliance, budget constraints, scalability needs, and strategic IT objectives.
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