An IAM Software is something that can either make or break your company. It can be something really helpful and awesome for the overall growth of your company or something that really brings you down so choosing your IAM Vendor carefully is something you definitely need to do. Here is a list of things that will really help you assess your IAM Vendor in the right way to make the best decision.

1. Experience and Track Record

Experience and track record is everything when it comes to choosing the right IAM vendor. You might be fooled by a fancy website or some spineless claims but dig deeper. It is great to talk about your vendor’s experience and track record. They should be able to provide concrete proof of previous success and only then must you trust them. Usually, newer vendors show a lot of ambition but they fizzle out pretty quickly. It is better to go for the experience than vision in this one!

2. Compare Claims and Promises

Often times the claims and promises an IAM Vendor makes are not directly corresponding with the IAM they are providing. Prepare your set of questions, think it through, ask, and inquire to get the best idea about claims that can actually be proven to be the truth and the promises that are just there for frills and fluff. 

3. Consider the Cost

Costs can vary drastically and they can really strain or ease a company. It is easy to figure out costs. Ask yourself, do some market research, and consider if the vendor is generally in the same ball park as the competitors. Both extremes are bad: one where the costs are too low for services that are too good to be true and vice versa.

4. Impact of the Vendor’s Solution

You need to consider how the Vendor’s IAM solution will impact both things; the business and the users. Take a closer look at the policies that have been proposed by the vendor and see how they will impact the users and the business in the long run. Consider if they are too simplistic or too complex to really chalk out the impact.

5. Relevance of Industry Compliance

Regulatory issues and industry compliance are very important aspects to consider if you are looking for a suitable vendor. You would need a vendor who is well aware of the regulatory procedure involved. All these issues effect the IAM and your ultimate goal is the smooth working of the system which is impossible if your vendor ignores this detail.

6. Risk Management Tactics of the Vendor

After considering your vendor, think and question yourself if the vendor takes risk management as seriously as is important for your company. If not, they are not the ones for you. Another thing to consider is if the vendor has experience earlier of dealing with a security incident. That will really give you clarity about the kind of processes they follow once turbulence comes.

Here’s hoping you make an informed decision about your IAM vendor and that your company truly benefits from it.