Identity Governance and Administration (IGA)

What is IGA?

Identity Governance and Administration (IGA) is a cybersecurity framework that helps businesses control who can access systems, apps, and data. It combines identity governance, user access governance, and identity lifecycle management to make sure employees only get the access they actually need.  

In simple terms, IGA helps businesses improve employee access control, reduce security risks, and support least privilege access across the organisation.

How does IGA work?

IGA works by controlling access from the moment an employee joins until the day they leave. A typical Identity Governance and Administration process includes:

• Creating user accounts

• Assigning role-based access control based on job roles

• Approving or denying access requests

• Reviewing permissions regularly

• Removing access when staff leave or change roles

• Enforcing least privilege access so people only get what they need

For example, a finance employee may automatically receive access to accounting software, while HR systems stay restricted.

This helps businesses reduce access management security risks, improve user access governance, and avoid the classic “Dave left six months ago but still has access” problem.

Why is IGA important for businesses?

According to the UK Government’s 2025 Cyber Security Breaches Survey, 43% of UK businesses reported a cybersecurity breach or attack in the last 12 months, with phishing and compromised accounts remaining major concerns.  

Good IGA security reduces those risks by controlling who can access what across the business. IGA helps businesses:

• Reduce unauthorised access

• Improve employee access control

• Support compliance and audit requirements

• Protect sensitive customer and business data

• Strengthen access management security

• Enforce least privilege access across teams

It also saves time for IT and HR teams by automating access requests and approvals.

Key features of Identity Governance and Administration

Key Identity Governance and Administration features usually include:

• Identity lifecycle management - Automatically creates, updates, and removes user access when employees join, change roles, or leave.

• Role-based access control (RBAC) - Gives employees access based on their job role instead of assigning permissions manually every time.

• User access governance - Tracks who has access to systems, files, and applications across the business.

• Access reviews and certifications - Helps managers regularly review permissions and remove unnecessary access.

• Least privilege access - Ensures employees only get the minimum level of access needed to do their job.

• Access request workflows - Allows staff to request access securely with approvals handled automatically.

• Audit and compliance reporting - Creates records of access activity to support compliance and security checks.

Identity Governance and Administration explained with an example

Imagine a UK business with 40 employees using Microsoft 365, Slack, and payroll software.

A new employee joins the sales team on Monday morning. Instead of IT manually setting everything up, the company’s IGA system automatically gives them access to the tools they need for their role. They can use email, sales software, and shared client folders straight away.

But they cannot access HR records or finance systems because they do not need them.

Six months later, the employee moves into a management role. Their permissions update automatically.

Then, they eventually leave the business. Their access is removed the same day, so no old accounts stay active in the background.

Simple changes like these help businesses improve employee access control, reduce security risks, and avoid the usual “Who still has access to this?” chaos.

Identity Governance and Administration vs IAM

Identity Access Management (IAM) focuses on authentication and access management security. It controls logins, passwords, and user access to systems.

Identity Governance and Administration (IGA) goes further. It manages who should have access, why they need it, and whether that access is still appropriate over time.

Common mistakes businesses make with IGA

Common IGA mistakes include:

• Giving employees more access than they actually need

• Forgetting to remove access when staff leave

• Using shared logins across teams

• Relying on manual spreadsheets for access reviews

• Never reviewing old permissions

• Giving temporary contractors permanent access

• Treating identity governance as just an IT problem

These issues may sound small, but they can create serious access management security risks over time. Efficient IGA security keeps access organised, controlled, and regularly reviewed as the business grows.

Is IGA only for large enterprises?

Not anymore.

Large enterprises were early adopters of Identity Governance and Administration because they managed thousands of employees and complex systems. But today, even SMEs rely on cloud software, remote working, and multiple user accounts.

That means smaller businesses face many of the same access management security risks.

Modern IGA tools are now more affordable and easier to manage. That makes them practical for growing businesses too. Even basic identity governance processes, like role-based access control and automatic offboarding, can significantly reduce security risks and admin headaches for all businesses.