Identity & access management

IAM Implementation Challenges & Solutions

Identity and Access Management (IAM) sits at the intersection of security, compliance, IT operations and user experience, which makes it both strategically important and operationally complex, with implementation often hindered by legacy systems, integration difficulties, and evolving regulatory requirements.

Talk to our IAM experts today

The top IAM implementation challenges organisations experience

Implementing IAM is rarely straightforward. Legacy systems often lack support for modern authentication standards, making integration complex and resource intensive.

Conflicting priorities between security, IT and business teams add further strain, while poor-quality identity data can undermine automation and accuracy. On top of this, resistance to change from users can slow adoption, even when solutions are well designed.

These issues highlight just some of the difficulties organisations face when rolling out IAM. More broadly, six main challenges consistently emerge that must be addressed to achieve a secure and successful implementation.

Integration with Legacy Systems

Many organisations still rely on outdated or bespoke applications that do not support modern IAM standards (such as SAML, OAuth, or OpenID Connect).
Ensuring seamless integration without disrupting operations is a significant hurdle.

User Experience vs Security Balance

Strong security measures (MFA, strict password policies) can frustrate users.
Striking the right balance between usability and security remains a constant challenge.

Scalability and Performance

IAM must be capable of handling thousands or even millions of users across cloud, hybrid, and on-premises environments.
Poorly designed systems can cause bottlenecks or downtime.

Compliance and Regulatory Requirements

IAM must enforce the principle of least-privilege access, maintain detailed audit logs, and support standards such as GDPR, HIPAA, SOX, or PCI DSS.
Failure to align IAM with compliance requirements can result in penalties.

Identity Lifecycle Management

Onboarding, role changes, and offboarding users are complex, particularly in large or federated organisations.
Orphaned accounts or privilege creep can create serious security risks.

Security Threats and Insider Risks

IAM must defend against credential theft, phishing, brute-force attacks, and insider misuse.
Advanced authentication, monitoring, and anomaly detection are required but can be difficult to implement effectively.

How to overcome IAM implementation barriers

Intragen helps organisations overcome IAM implementation barriers by providing expert guidance on integrating legacy systems, streamlining identity lifecycle management, and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards.

Our solutions balance robust security with a smooth user experience, reducing friction and encouraging adoption across teams. In addition, Intragen offers tailored strategies to mitigate security threats and insider risks, enabling organisations to achieve a secure and scalable IAM environment. Here's how we can help:

Phased roll-outs

Beginning with high-impact, achievable objectives. Quick wins such as introducing Single Sign-On (SSO) for core applications or implementing Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for administrators help demonstrate immediate value while building organisational confidence in the programme.

Improved data governance

Reliable and consistent identity records form the foundation of any effective IAM programme. By standardising employee information, removing duplicates, and maintaining accurate HR records, organisations can automate account lifecycles more efficiently and reduce errors that can compromise security or frustrate users.

Zero trust principles

Shifts the focus from static access roles to risk-based, contextual access controls. Rather than granting broad permissions, access is continuously evaluated based on factors such as user behaviour, device security, and location. This approach not only strengthens security but also aligns access policies with actual business risk, making the system more adaptive and resilient.

Effective change management

A crucial to drive adoption and user satisfaction. Clear communication about the benefits of IAM, combined with targeted training and ongoing support, helps employees understand how the changes impact them positively. By involving stakeholders early and keeping the focus on user experience, organisations can reduce resistance, improve compliance, and ensure that the IAM programme delivers its full value.

Real-world blockers when implementing IAM

Even strong strategies often encounter practical roadblocks when implementing IAM:

Limited budgets or perception of IAM as purely a cost - Many organisations struggle to allocate sufficient funding for IAM projects, often viewing them as a cost centre rather than a critical investment in security and operational efficiency. This perception can result in under-resourced deployments, delayed rollouts, or compromises on essential features.
Vendor lock-in restricting flexibility and migration - Dependence on a single IAM vendor’s technology can limit an organisation’s ability to switch platforms, integrate new applications, or adopt emerging standards. This lack of flexibility can hinder long-term agility and increase costs over time, especially as business needs evolve.
Lack of in-house expertise in advanced IAM concepts - Implementing and managing modern IAM solutions requires specialised skills such as identity federation, access governance, and advanced authentication methods. Without sufficient in-house expertise, organisations may struggle with proper configuration, optimisation, and ongoing maintenance, increasing the risk of implementation failure.
Shadow IT and unsanctioned cloud services - When business units independently use third-party applications outside the control of central IT, it creates inconsistencies and gaps in access management. This makes it difficult to enforce security policies, monitor activity, and maintain a unified IAM framework, exposing the organisation to potential security risks.

Intragen's IAM implementation expertise

Intragen's specialist support can help overcome these hurdles. Our experts can implement IAM architectures that align with your organisation’s objectives, and develop custom connectors where standards are not available.

We bring proven methodologies that reduce rollout risks and provide a roadmap for evolving from basic Single Sign-On (SSO) to full access governance and analytics.

Discuss IAM with our experts

Building trust through IAM

Trust is at the heart of IAM. It can be reinforced through:

Transparency, showing how IAM protects both users and data.
Consistency, with policies applied uniformly across all environments.
Compliance assurance, delivered through clear audit trails and reporting.
User-centric design, offering seamless logins and self-service options.

When IAM is implemented in this way, it strengthens confidence not only within the organisation but also with regulators, customers and partners.

What an implemented IAM system means for your business

IAM is a demanding but rewarding journey. Although legacy systems, limited resources and cultural resistance create real obstacles, these can be overcome with a structured, expert-led approach. Done well, IAM does more than secure systems - it simplifies user experience, builds trust and enables the organisation to grow with confidence.

Why do many IAM projects fail or face delays?

Many IAM projects are delayed because organisations often underestimate how complex and wide-ranging Identity and Access Management (IAM) can be. Common issues include unclear goals, unreliable data, a lack of executive support, and poor coordination between teams.

IAM isn’t just an IT project - it involves people from HR, security, and other parts of the business. To succeed, organisations need clear objectives, defined responsibilities, and a step-by-step plan that delivers visible results early on.

How can IAM be integrated with legacy systems and applications?

Integrating IAM with legacy systems is one of the most common challenges during implementation. Many legacy systems don’t support modern sign-in standards such as SAML, OAuth, or OpenID Connect, which makes automation and centralised management more difficult.

To overcome this, organisations can use identity gateways, custom connectors, or API-based links to share identity information between older and cloud-based systems. Carrying out a thorough review during the planning stage helps reduce risks and ensures a smoother IAM rollout.

How can we phase IAM implementation to reduce risk?

A step-by-step approach to IAM implementation helps reduce complexity and show early progress. Organisations often start with Single Sign-On (SSO) and Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) to make access both easier and more secure. Later stages can introduce user account setup, access reviews, and full identity lifecycle management.

Each stage should include clear goals, opportunities for user feedback, and ways to measure success - helping to drive ongoing improvements and smoother adoption across the organisation.

How do we handle user adoption and minimise disruption?

Getting users on board is one of the most important factors for a successful IAM implementation. Even the best-designed system can fail if employees find it confusing or disruptive.

Communicate early, offer clear guidance, and emphasise the benefits - such as quicker logins, self-service password resets, and stronger security. Begin with pilot groups, gather feedback, and fine-tune processes before rolling out more widely.

When users see IAM as something that makes their work easier rather than a barrier, adoption rates improve dramatically.

How can automation help reduce IAM operational complexity?

Automating IAM removes manual tasks, improves accuracy, and strengthens security. Connecting IAM with HR and directory systems allows user accounts to be automatically created, updated, or deactivated as employees join, move within, or leave the organisation.

Automated identity management also makes compliance checks and audits simpler, reducing day-to-day workload and allowing IT teams to focus on more strategic priorities.