IAM serves as a business enabler to an organization by providing enhanced security, compliance with industry regulations, opportunities for new business initiatives that rely on secure access, reduced IT administration and help desk costs and improved employee productivity from features such as self-service password resets.

Of course many IAM implementations are successful and deliver real business results.

Following these five best practices can make your IAM project one of them:

• Know where you're going: understand where you are and where you're headed.
• Get the right people involved: everyone from end users to IT, marketing and business executives need to play a role.
• Implement incrementally: use a phased approach that delivers value early and often.
• Educate, educate, educate: end users, business and IT staff alike need to be educated on the new technology and process changes.
• The job is never done: like a new car, an IAM solution needs routine attention to stay in top form.

Using these five best practices to guide an IAM implementation brings numerous benefits. For one, the phased approach enables you to quickly realize value from your investment, rather than waiting for many months or years. As you implement more phases, you continually add to that value. With an effective internal communications effort, you can educate end users and executives alike about the value of the project, thereby ensuring the funding you need to fully realize the strategic vision.