Enterprise Identity Management: Why Your Business Needs It

Table of Contents 

• What is enterprise identity management? 
• Why identity management matters for enterprises

• Key features of an enterprise identity management system 
  

• Benefits of strong identity management 

• Common challenges in enterprise identity management, and how to solve them 

• How acre security supports enterprise identity management
   

Security today encompasses both digital and physical aspects. It is both. Businesses must simultaneously control access to systems, data, and buildings. 

Without the right approach, identity gaps create risk. Enterprise identity management addresses this by unifying identity, access, and compliance under a single framework. 

Acre Security helps organizations manage digital and physical access with a single, scalable solution. 

What is enterprise identity management? 

Enterprise identity management is the process of controlling and monitoring access to both physical and digital resources across an organization. It creates a single framework for managing every user identity, from the moment it is created to when it is removed. 

An EIM system connects your building access control with your IT infrastructure. This includes networks, applications, and data storage. It ensures that employees, contractors, and visitors can only access the areas and systems for which they are authorized. 

EIM encompasses key activities, including authentication, authorization, provisioning, deprovisioning, and ongoing access reviews. By unifying these functions, it reduces security gaps and eliminates duplicate identity records across systems. 

Read more: What is Identity Management? The Complete Guide 

Why identity management matters for enterprises 

Enterprise identity management makes identity a core part of your security strategy, not an afterthought. This matters because: 

Weak identity systems are a leading cause of security breaches. They allow insider threats, stolen credentials, and unauthorized access. 

Compliance standards like GDPR, ISO 27001, and HIPAA require strict identity controls. Non-compliance can result in significant fines and legal action. 

Hybrid work adds complexity. Companies now mix cloud, on-premises, and remote systems. Physical locations also require secure entry for staff, visitors, and contractors. 

Read more: The Evolution of Access Control and Digital Identity 

Key features of an enterprise identity management system 

A strong enterprise identity management system should include: 

Centralized identity database

A single source of truth for all user identities across the enterprise. This eliminates duplicate accounts, reduces errors, and ensures accurate access records. It also supports real-time updates, so changes in HR or IT systems are reflected everywhere. 

Role-based and attribute-based access control 

Role-based access control (RBAC) assigns permissions based on job roles, ensuring users have only what they need to do their work. Attribute-based access control (ABAC) uses factors like department, location, or clearance level for even finer control. Both reduce the risk of unauthorized access. 

Single sign-on and multi-factor authentication 

Single sign-on (SSO) allows users to access multiple applications with one secure login, reducing password fatigue. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) adds extra identity checks, such as a mobile code, biometric scan, or security token, making it much harder for attackers to gain access. 

Identity lifecycle management 

Automates the process of creating, updating, and removing user accounts. This ensures new hires get the right access immediately, role changes are reflected instantly, and accounts are removed as soon as someone leaves the organization. It prevents unused accounts from becoming a security risk. 

Integration with physical access control 

Connects doors, gates, and entry points with digital permissions. For example, if a user’s IT account is disabled, their building badge or mobile credential is also deactivated. This creates a single, unified access policy for both the physical and digital environments. 

Flexible deployment 

Supports cloud-native, on-premises, or hybrid deployments to fit different operational needs. Cloud options allow for rapid scaling and remote management, while hybrid models can keep certain sensitive data on-site without losing the benefits of modern identity management tools. 

Read more: Privileged Identity Management (PIM): What It Is and Why It’s Critical for Security 

Benefits of strong identity management with a well-built system, businesses can:

• Strengthen security and reduce breaches. 

• Speed up compliance checks and audits. 

• Onboard and offboard employees faster. 

• Manage physical and digital access from a single location. 

• Reduce admin work while improving user experience. 

For example, hospitals that use advanced access solutions have reported an average return on investment of 37 percent over three years. 

Common challenges in enterprise identity management, and how to solve them 

Even with advanced tools available, many enterprises struggle to manage identities effectively. Common challenges include: 

Identities spread across multiple systems and locations 

When user data is stored in separate HR, IT, and access control systems, it is hard to get a complete picture. This can lead to outdated records and inconsistent permissions. 

Solution: Implement a centralized identity database that integrates with all core business systems. This creates a single source of truth and keeps records accurate in real time. 

Balancing security and convenience 

Tight security can frustrate users if it slows them down. Weak security can expose the business to risk. 

Solution: Use role-based access control, multi-factor authentication, and single sign-on to create secure yet efficient workflows. These tools protect systems without making everyday access a burden. 

Legacy systems that do not integrate well 

Older access control or IT systems may not support modern integration standards, creating gaps in coverage. 

Solution: Choose an enterprise identity management platform with open architecture and API support. This allows new tools to connect with existing infrastructure and extends the life of legacy investments. 

Poor visibility of current access rights 

Without clear oversight, it is difficult to know who has access to sensitive areas or systems. This increases the risk of insider threats. 

Solution: Use reporting and analytics tools to review permissions regularly. Automated alerts can flag unusual access patterns before they become problems. 

Manual processes that slow operations 

Onboarding, offboarding, and permission changes handled manually can take days, increasing the risk of errors and security lapses. 

Solution: Automate the entire identity lifecycle. Provision and deprovision accounts instantly when an employee joins, changes roles, or leaves. 

How acre Security supports enterprise identity management 

acre Security unifies physical and digital identity in a single, scalable platform. We help enterprises modernize identity management without replacing all existing infrastructure. The result is unified control and stronger protection across the organization. 

Our solutions are used in healthcare, manufacturing, education, government, and commercial real estate. Here’s how. 

Open architecture 

Our platform uses open APIs to integrate with core business systems such as HR, ERP, CRM, and EHR. This creates a connected environment where identity and access updates happen automatically across all systems. 

Automation tools 

FITS (Functional Integration Toolkit Scripts) let's security teams create custom workflows without writing code. You can automate processes such as automatic badge deactivation when an employee leaves or sending real-time alerts for unusual access activity. 

Advanced access control 

Our Feenics-powered access control is cloud-native and also available in hybrid deployments. It includes role-based controls, multi-factor authentication, and mobile credentials via acre Wallet. Users can unlock doors with their smartphones using Bluetooth Low Energy, NFC, or Ultra-Wideband. 

Visitor management 

FAST-PASS and our Virtual Receptionist give full visibility into who is on site at any moment. Visitor details can be checked against watch lists, and reports can be generated for audits or investigations. These tools improve both security and the guest experience. 

Intrusion detection and secure networking 

acre Intrusion provides proactive monitoring, moving from reactive alerts to threat anticipation. Comnet by acre supplies secure, high-performance networking built for mission-critical environments such as hospitals, transport hubs, and industrial facilities. 

Continuous updates 

We believe security systems should improve over time. Our regular software updates add new features, strengthen protection, and enhance usability so systems remain current and reliable for years. 

Conclusion 

Enterprise identity management is essential for protecting people, places, and data. It delivers stronger security, easier compliance, and better control across all environments. 

acre security provides the tools and expertise to make enterprise identity management simple and effective. 

Learn more about how we can help secure your organisation. 

FAQs 

What is enterprise identity management (EIM)? 

Enterprise identity management (EIM) is the process of controlling and monitoring access to both physical and digital resources across an organisation. It provides a single framework to manage every user identity from creation to removal. 

Why is enterprise identity management important? 

EIM strengthens security, reduces insider threats, and ensures compliance with regulations like GDPR, ISO 27001, and HIPAA. It unifies identity control across systems, applications, and facilities. 

What are the key features of an enterprise identity management system? 

Core features include a centralised identity database, role-based and attribute-based access control, single sign-on, multi-factor authentication, identity lifecycle management, integration with physical access control, and flexible deployment options. 

How does EIM improve security? 

EIM ensures that only authorised users can access sensitive systems and areas, reduces excessive permissions, and provides full visibility into user activity through logging, analytics, and alerts. 

Can enterprise identity management integrate with physical access control? 

Yes. Modern EIM solutions connect IT permissions with building access so digital and physical security follow the same unified policy. 

What challenges does EIM solve for businesses? 

EIM addresses identity silos, outdated permissions, legacy system gaps, poor visibility of access rights, and slow manual onboarding and offboarding processes. 

How does Acre Security support enterprise identity management? 

Acre Security is a scalable platform that unifies digital and physical access control. Features include open API integration, automation tools, cloud and hybrid deployments, visitor management, advanced access control, intrusion detection, and continuous system updates.