Making Security Seamless - The Common Identity Platform

The email log-in process is familiar to everyone. It can be repetitive, depending on how good your memory is, and frustrating depending on each individual server’s password requirements. 

A password on its own is no longer a secure enough form of identification. Thanks to the growing number of user account breaches, more measures must be introduced to ensure user data security is taken seriously. Now, receiving a confirmation code via text, or a one-time passcode via email to verify your identity is often part of the process. 

But the stages of validation that are user-facing are only a small piece of the puzzle. Behind the scenes, the process is far more complex and with a clear goal - to protect user identity from security breaches. 

Data security breaches have increased continually despite the continued sophistication of technology. Year-on-year, predictions are made regarding the number of breaches we will see, with each year predicted to be higher than the last.

The fallout of these breaches can be astronomical for businesses. From server outage to potential legal challenges, this is something all businesses should avoid. 

Technology advances offer businesses more opportunities to manage personal data. Users are now trusting businesses with bank details, maiden names, and home addresses, all of which is gathered through a process of engagement across a number of platforms. With this comes a huge responsibility for businesses to maintain trust, while adhering to the rules. 

Striking A Balance Between Seamless And Secure 

Customers are increasingly savvy about their data and want reassurance that it’s in safe hands. Delivering a first class customer experience is an essential part of any business, and this includes guaranteeing a user authentication experience that is both seamless and secure. But a balance needs to be struck. If authentication is too heavy handed, customers won’t come back. If data isn’t sufficiently secure, they might not even sign up in the first place. Organisations should aim for their authentication processes to act like a digital bouncer at a premium club: welcoming customers warmly whilst managing threats and keeping bad actors away.  

Unfortunately, many businesses today are falling short when it comes to both customer experience and security. Access for users to digital services is the crossroads where technical execution meets customer expectation. Organizations need to manage huge complexity and users expect a smooth login experience wherever they are. It also presents a big challenge for app developers who need to incorporate these secure authentication experiences into their projects. To address this and get a balance between the two requires a set of tools that makes it possible to adapt the authentication process to the app, location, or website that the user needs to access. 

Building a Common Identity Platform 

We know that not every developer can be an identity specialist, however developers are still expected to provide sophisticated applications that perform consistently and securely across digital services. The only way to do this effectively and efficiently is through one cohesive platform for authentication and identity management, a Common Identity Platform. So, what benefits can this bring to businesses? 

1) Earn customer trust:   As a consumer, if it takes two minutes to log into your streaming service when your favourite sport is on, or quickly check your bank balance on the move, you will naturally feel frustrated. Customers need to trust that authentication mechanisms will be efficient and access will be speedy, otherwise they will go elsewhere - and that trust requires the consistency that comes from one cohesive platform. Getting it right will pay dividends in brand loyalty that will benefit a business’s bottom line. 

2) Empower developers:   A Common Identity Platform empowers developers to easily integrate and deploy Identity and Access Management (IAM) solutions across digital services, clients, and devices in a flexible, scalable, and secure way. Critical identity policies can be managed centrally, meaning app developers are able to ensure consistent authentication and access performance, making the most of the reusability the technology solution offers. Developers can be reassured that the identity solutions within their applications meet a very high level of compliance.

3) Leverage existing investment:   Large organisations are likely to have several legacy systems in place, whether acquired through mergers and acquisitions or just through organic growth over time. It’s not feasible - practically or financially - for any established business to set up entirely new security systems from scratch, and it’s not safe to stay as they are. Creating a Common Identity Platform enables developers to integrate legacy systems with new ones, cutting costs whilst ensuring businesses benefit from the latest and most sophisticated security technology. 

Businesses don’t need to struggle with managing complexities when a simple solution is available. By establishing a Common Identity Platform, it is perfectly possible to achieve a seamless identity management service.

Only by integrating consistent authentication experiences into the myriad of digital services on offer can companies create the exceptional experiences that future proof their business by keeping customers coming back. 

Jacob Ideskog is  Chief Technology Officer at Curity

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