What is best-of-breed and how does IAM support the strategy?

A best-of-breed strategy allows organizations to choose the applications that best meet their needs rather than relying on a single technology provider. But managing identities and access across multiple applications can quickly become complex. This is where Identity and Access Management (IAM) plays an important role.

What is a best-of-breed strategy?

A best-of-breed strategy involves selecting the software and applications that best meet the organization's requirements within each area, regardless of provider. For example, an organization may use one provider for communication, another for document management, and a third for its HR system.

This differs from a best-of-suite strategy, where an organization relies more heavily on a single provider or technology ecosystem for multiple applications and business functions.

What are the benefits of a best-of-breed strategy?

One of the main advantages of a best-of-breed strategy is the flexibility to select applications based on business requirements rather than being limited to a single technology ecosystem.

It also gives organizations greater flexibility to replace individual applications as requirements change, reducing dependency on a single provider.

A best-of-suite approach can simplify integration and administration by providing applications designed to work together. The trade-off is that individual applications may not always provide the functionality or flexibility the organization needs.

IAM enables the best of both worlds

Organizations need to weigh the benefits and challenges of each approach. While best-of-breed provides greater flexibility and choice, using applications from multiple providers can increase complexity.

Every application introduces identities, permissions, and access that need to be managed throughout the user lifecycle. A centralized Identity and Access Management approach helps organizations manage complexity while maintaining the flexibility of a best-of-breed strategy.

1. Centralized visibility across applications

With applications from multiple providers, maintaining visibility into users and access can become challenging.

By integrating applications with the IAM environment, organizations can gain better visibility into who has access to which applications and manage identities and permissions more consistently across their application landscape.

2. Fast and user-friendly access

Employees need efficient access to the applications required for their work, regardless of which provider delivers them.

Single Sign-On (SSO) can provide a consistent login experience across integrated applications, while automated provisioning helps ensure users receive the right access when they need it.

This reduces manual administration and improves the user experience across a best-of-breed environment.

3. Consistent access management across applications

IAM enables organizations to apply consistent access management processes across applications from different providers.

User accounts and access can be provisioned when employees join, adjusted when roles change, and removed when they leave the organization. This reduces manual work and the risk of outdated or unnecessary access remaining active.

Combining flexibility with control

A best-of-breed strategy gives organizations the flexibility to select applications based on their individual requirements, but that flexibility can introduce additional identity and access management complexity.

A centralized IAM approach helps bring identities, access, and lifecycle processes together across applications, allowing organizations to maintain greater control without giving up the flexibility of a best-of-breed strategy.

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