Where to start your IAM journey?

Identity is where control is either maintained or lost

As organisations operate in increasingly complex environments, identity management and authorised access have become central to effective cyber and identity security. Without a well-functioning IAM capability, detecting, limiting and preventing cyber incidents consistently becomes difficult.

Identity and Access Management plays a key role in establishing Identity Security by providing control, visibility and structure around identities and access. This guide explains how IAM supports control, security and sustainable growth, and where to begin when establishing a solid IAM foundation.

Human error and identity risk

Industry analyses consistently show that human error is one of the most common causes of successful cyber incidents. Obsolete or misconfigured applications, social manipulation, unauthorised account access and improper permission escalation are just some of the weaknesses attackers exploit.

This is why IAM is often the first and most critical step in strengthening cybersecurity. By addressing how identities and access are managed, organisations reduce exposure at its source.

The challenge is not understanding its importance, but knowing where to begin.

Precision control over all accounts and access points

Experience shows that full visibility and control over both human and automated identities is essential. This means having precise control over all accounts and access points across the organisation.

When identities are not properly managed, attackers can obtain valid credentials and move undetected, creating serious security gaps. Preventing this requires structure, accuracy and continuous oversight.

Clear and traceable guidelines

If attackers succeed in expanding access rights, the risk of reaching the organisation’s most valuable assets increases significantly. These assets may include sensitive identity data, critical systems and privileged accounts.

Access allocation and removal must therefore follow clear, traceable and well-defined guidelines. Decisions need to be intentional, documented and regularly reviewed to maintain control over time.

Governance as the starting point

An effective IAM journey begins with governance: control and management of identities and access. Without this foundation, other security investments risk losing their value.

By keeping identities and access rights accurate and up to date, organisations can gradually extend IAM capabilities. This may include privileged access management, strong and adaptive authentication, and automated joiner, mover and leaver processes.

A governance-first approach to Identity Security provides insight, control and strong cyber resilience, and enables:


Protection against identity misuse

Reducing the risk of compromised identities being used in cyber incidents.


Stronger organisational awareness

Clear understanding of identity ownership and access responsibility across the organisation.


Full visibility and control of identities

Central oversight of both human and automated identities.


Continuous validation of access

Ensuring access remains appropriate across all systems and resources over time.


Controlled self-service access

Efficient allocation and removal of access rights with full traceability and control.

We liked the approach and the process that ID North presented to us. Their "Governance first" strategy was truly what made us choose ID North. A structured approach to the entire identity project that we could comprehend and actively participate in.
Anna Idorn
CISO at Ikano Bank

I truly appreciate how ID North position themselves as a leader in solutions and expertise for identity and access management. Their commitment to innovation and integrity builds a strong foundation of trust and accessibility in the digitalization ambitions of businesses and society.
Kevin Aytap
Chief Security Officer (CSO/CISO), Avanza Bank

As a leading player in digital banking in the Nordics, Nordnet places a high priority on security issues. The collaboration with ID North has enabled the implementation of an identity solution that has led to simplified processes for access management, compliance with regulatory requirements, and maintained a high level of security.
Mattias Karlsson
Process owner access management, Nordnet

We aim to future-proof our work in Identity and Access Management, both in terms of expertise and technical solutions. ID North supports us in this effort with their expertise and holistic approach to identity management. They are a trusted partner, focused on our best interests, and committed to long-term collaboration—values that are important to us.
Helén Fredh
Team Lead IAM & Head of Group Security, Livförsäkringsbolaget Skandia

We selected ID North along with SailPoint because we needed the best possible solution. We provide healthcare for many people, so we must set high standards for many things, especially when it comes to Identity Management.
Tobias Hermansson
Vice President Information Security at Capio

For us, security and stability are essential. As part of this, we collaborate with the team at ID North, who are not only highly skilled and dedicated but also professional, friendly, and accommodating.
Jessica Löfström
Acting Senior manager IBI, Digital Workplace, IAM Governance CV, Scania AB

We see this as one of the most critical areas in data protection and IT security. Even though we are a relatively small bank, we must adhere to the same regulations as the major banks. In the end, we settled for a combination of the leading product and the leading experts in Identity Security.
Olle Lindell
CISO Marginalen Bank
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