What Is PIAM? Part 5: PIAM in Action — Enhancing Security Across Industries
Building on the critical role of the auditing process discussed in Part 4, let’s explore how comprehensive physical identity access management (PIAM) solutions are driving workplace experience and security governance across diverse industries. From power plants to patient rooms, airports to banks, keeping people and places safe is a big deal. HID SAFE™ is a tool that helps businesses in a bunch of different industries do just that. Whether you're in energy, aviation, healthcare, tech or finance, there’s a good chance you’ve got people coming and going, and you need to know who’s who.
Extended Identity Challenges
Traditional PIAM systems have primarily focused on employee identity management. However, industries like energy and healthcare now require comprehensive contractor identity management to ensure compliance and security.
Industries like energy, aviation and healthcare grapple with managing a diverse pool of individuals who require access to facilities and sensitive data. For instance, the energy sector relies heavily on contractors and subcontractors for field services, refinery turnovers and power plant operations. Ensuring stringent OSHA/HSE regulations, tracking worksite access and contact tracing in emergency situations present significant challenges.
Our article, Keeping Skies Secure: Unveiling the Hidden World of Airport Security, sheds light on the critical role identity management systems (IDMS) play in safeguarding the aviation industry.
In healthcare, the definition of a visitor has expanded to include traveling clinicians, medical reps, and various service providers, making identity verification and access control increasingly complex. Read more about PIAM in healthcare.
Compliance
In Part 3 of this series, we covered security governance and compliance, a critical factor driving the adoption of PIAM solutions across industries. In sectors like technology, where data centers house sensitive financial and personal information, controlling physical access to these spaces is paramount. Similarly, finance and energy sectors, dealing with market data and critical infrastructure, face comparable challenges. To protect sensitive assets and maintain operational integrity, these industries must adhere to a complex web of regulations. Many information security standards (NERC, CIP, SOX), include specific requirements for physical access control. Ensuring compliance is not just about avoiding penalties but also about safeguarding organizational reputation and customer trust.
Integrated Technology Ecosystems as a Driver of Workplace Experience
The modern workplace demands a digital workplace experience that integrates technology to enhance efficiency, security and the employee experience.
Industries such as technology and finance, known for their forward-thinking approach, are particularly keen on flexible solutions that can adapt to evolving business needs. A reliance on open integration frameworks and industry standards is crucial to unlock transformative opportunities and prevent vendor lock-in.
Healthcare organizations require robust integration between electronic health records, access control systems, kiosks and badging solutions to ensure patient safety and operational efficiency. In sectors like energy, telecom and logistics, integration with field-facing systems, including smart lockers and electronic locks, is essential for streamlining operations and optimizing resource utilization.
Solutions
PIAM solutions offer a comprehensive approach to managing physical access across various industries. By synchronizing identity and physical access controls, organizations can ensure that only authorized individuals gain entry to sensitive areas. This synchronization is particularly critical in industries like healthcare, where patient data security is paramount. Synchronization ensures that hybrid work security solutions are robust and reliable. PIAM solutions also automate internal policy enforcement, reducing human error and enhancing security, which is essential in highly regulated sectors such as finance and energy where compliance is non-negotiable. Finally, by demonstrating consistent compliance adherence, PIAM solutions provide organizations with the necessary evidence to withstand audits and regulatory scrutiny, safeguarding their reputation and avoiding costly penalties.
Conclusion
As industries navigate an increasingly complex security landscape, the role of PIAM will only grow in importance. By fostering collaboration between technology, security and operational teams, organizations across energy, aviation, healthcare and finance can unlock the full potential of PIAM solutions. The future of security lies in a holistic approach that prioritizes people, processes and technology.