There’s no doubt about it: managing identity services like Microsoft Active Directory (AD) and Microsoft Entra ID (formerly known as Azure AD) in-house can overwhelm internal IT teams – even those of large, multinational corporations.
The complexity not only strains resources but also exposes businesses to security risks and compliance challenges. Outsourcing to an experienced managed service provider (MSP) offers a strategic solution, enhancing operational efficiency, reducing costs, and fortifying security.
The Imperative for Managed Active Directory and Entra ID Services
The increasing complexity and resource demands of maintaining AD and Entra ID systems are compounded by the escalating risks of cyberthreats and the rigors of regulatory compliance. In-house teams often find themselves under-equipped to manage these challenges effectively, which can lead to operational disruptions and security breaches. Managed services address these issues head-on, offering specialized and highly trained identity and access management expertise as well as continuous innovation that internal teams often lack.
Comprehensive Benefits of Outsourcing
• Cost Management. By partnering with an MSP, businesses can significantly reduce both operational and capital expenditures. This shift transforms unpredictable IT costs into fixed, manageable expenses, allowing for better financial planning and resource allocation.
• Expertise on Demand. MSPs provide access to top-tier experts in AD and Entra ID management, ensuring that best practices in security and operations are always adhered to. This level of expertise is crucial for maintaining robust security postures and achieving compliance with standards like GDPR and SOX.
• Scalability and Flexibility. As organizations grow, their IT needs evolve. MSPs deliver scalable solutions that flexibly adapt to these changing requirements, ensuring that IT systems continuously align with business goals.
Our Managed Active Directory/Entra ID Services: A Closer Look
• Advanced Security Protocols. We implement multi-factor authentication, conduct regular security audits, and ensure compliance with international standards to safeguard your data and operations.
• Tailored Solutions. Recognizing that each business has unique needs, our services are customized to integrate seamlessly with existing IT environments, supporting specific business processes and workflows even if they are scattered across multiple countries or multiple entities.
• Around-the-Clock Monitoring. Our dedicated teams monitor your systems 24/7, ensuring that any potential issues are swiftly identified and addressed, minimizing downtime and maintaining business continuity.
• Transparent and Collaborative Governance. Our governance model emphasizes transparency and collaboration with our clients. By establishing clear communication channels and regular governance meetings, we ensure that our managed services are always aligned with your strategic objectives. These sessions provide an opportunity to review performance metrics, discuss service improvements and refine strategies to meet evolving business needs.
• Strategic Oversight. Our governance approach includes oversight by experienced managers who ensure that all aspects of service delivery adhere to agreed-upon standards and practices. This oversight extends to compliance with security standards, operational efficiency, and the proactive management of any risks or issues that may arise.
• Continuous Service Improvement. Integral to our governance model is a commitment to continuous improvement. We regularly assess our service delivery processes and outcomes to identify opportunities for enhancement. Leveraging insights from performance data, client feedback, and industry best practices, we continuously refine our services to provide superior value and adapt to the changing technology landscape.
Our Service Delivery Model
Our service delivery model is built on a foundation of ITIL best practices, which ensures structured and reliable management of services. This model supports continuous improvement and adapts to the emerging technologies and changing business needs. Key components include:
• Proactive Problem Management. Regular system audits and proactive issue identification help prevent disruptions before they affect business operations.
• Strategic Resource Allocation. We optimize resource use by aligning staff and technology with your business peaks and troughs, ensuring efficient service delivery without over-provisioning.
• Client-Centric Governance. Through regular reviews and governance meetings, we ensure that our services remain aligned with your business objectives and deliver tangible benefits.
Success Stories from Our Clients
AISN’s highly versatile AD Services Team brings more than two decades of experience in providing AD security and governance in complex enterprise environments for highly regulated industries.
Our most challenging and complex engagement has been with the Commonwealth of Virginia, which operates with an $87.5 billion budget, employs more than 65,000 individuals, and has thousands of unique requirements across more than 100 diverse organizations and offices. These separate entities, each with different leadership teams, require integration with 120+ localities and numerous educational institutions, all of which have their own specific needs. The Commonwealth also faces a litany of security and governance concerns and must adapt to shifting priorities with each new gubernatorial administration every four years.
Despite these challenges, AISN’s award-winning team leadership has excelled in fostering consensus within this highly diverse community, even under extremely difficult and sometimes controversial circumstances. Furthermore, in this role, the team has years of experience across a range of technologies, including but not limited to:
• Microsoft AD
• FIM
• Okta for MFA/SSO
• Quest One Identity
• Microsoft Entra ID
Our references can testify to our standards, security, governance, performance and achievements. To learn more about individuals within the Commonwealth of Virginia whom we currently support, contact us today.
Choosing to Outsource Active Directory and Entra ID Management
Choosing to outsource your AD and Entra ID management to an MSP can significantly enhance your operational efficiency, reduce costs, and bolster security. As demonstrated by our client success stories, the strategic value of managed services is clear.
Contact us now to discover how our managed services can transform your IT operations and help you achieve your business objectives.