Higher education institutions continue to face growing pressure to manage complex identity and access needs. From onboarding prospective students to supporting alumni and emeritus staff, universities must ensure seamless, secure, and scalable identity management solutions. Yet, many still grapple with fragmented systems, legacy dependencies, and increasing regulatory demands.
Many of our sector clients have faced these same challenges and turned to a more bespoke approach to leveraging the market-leading products offered by Microsoft Entra to ensure they are prepared for today’s challenges and future-ready in mitigating and preventing threats to their student, staff, and partner ecosystem.
The Identity Dilemma in Higher Education
Managing identities in a university setting is no small feat. Students, staff, alumni, and even external collaborators require tailored access throughout their interactions with the institution. Yet, many universities rely on outdated and inefficient systems that struggle to support the dynamic needs of their growing diverse user base.
Take legacy identity platforms as an example: while functional, they often depend heavily on specific individuals or teams to maintain and troubleshoot. This creates vulnerabilities when those personnel move on or when institutional needs outgrow the system’s capabilities. Moreover, disconnected identity systems for different groups—students, staff, and alumni—lead to inefficiencies, redundant processes, and user frustration.
Security and compliance present additional hurdles. With sensitive data at stake, universities must ensure stringent access controls, align with regulations such as the Data Protection Act, and mitigate risks associated with unauthorised access or data breaches. Unfortunately, legacy systems and manual workflows often fall short, leaving institutions exposed.
The effects of these challenges ripple across the university ecosystem. Outdated access models and fragmented systems hinder scalability, complicate operations, and detract from user experience, ultimately impacting the institution’s ability to attract and retain students and staff. Implementing modern solutions such as Microsoft Entra Verified ID can help institutions reimagine their approach to identity and access management while addressing these challenges holistically, achieving both immediate improvements and long-term sustainability. To futureproof identity platforms, improving inflexible systems with cloud-based, scalable frameworks must be on the agenda. This shift eliminates reliance on specific individuals or bespoke systems, empowering technical teams to focus on innovation rather than maintenance. Modern IAM is about more than technology—it’s about creating seamless user experiences. Market-leading identity systems like Entra Verified ID, Entra ID Governance, or the Entra Suite bundle can help universities streamline the entire user journey, from a prospective student’s first open day to their transition as alumni or even staff. This unified approach ensures smoother access to resources and a consistent digital experience, no matter the user’s role. Modernising Identity Management with Microsoft Entra
Security and Scalability for a Growing Digital Landscape
As universities grow and expand into transnational partnerships, their identity systems must be agile enough to adapt. Through Microsoft Entra ID Governance and its attribute-based access model, universities can have more granular control over permissions, ensuring the right people have access to the right resources at the right time. This reduces administrative burden and enhances security, paving the way for scalable growth.
Robust governance frameworks are essential to protecting sensitive information while meeting legal requirements. The transition to a modern, cloud-based IAM platform ensures universities are equipped to handle technological evolution, external demands, and organisational growth with minimal disruption, all while keeping security at the heart of every step. Shared services are integral to addressing the complex challenges universities face in managing Identity and Access Management (IAM). These challenges often include fragmented systems across departments, inefficiencies due to duplicated processes, and difficulties in ensuring consistent security practices across faculties and campuses. By adopting shared services, universities can consolidate IAM processes and achieve significant benefits, such as a reduction in duplication of effort, enhanced operational efficiency, and ensuring consistent access policies across diverse user groups. This approach simplifies management for IT teams by enabling streamlined provisioning, faster deployment of updates, and the introduction of new features. Additionally, shared services promote collaboration within and between institutions. A unified IAM platform can support initiatives like joint research projects, shared library resources, or multi-campus programs. For instance, universities in a consortium could seamlessly share resources without compromising security or user convenience. This fosters stronger partnerships and enables institutions to function as interconnected networks rather than isolated entities. Scalable IAM solutions underpin this approach, accommodating institution-wide needs while allowing individual departments the flexibility to address unique requirements. This ensures that all stakeholders benefit from a unified system without sacrificing adaptability. Such a holistic strategy empowers universities to respond effectively to evolving academic, operational, and technological demands. Shared Services: A Collaborative Approach to IAM
Improve your security posture to enhance your university experiences
Uniquely positioned to guide universities through transforming their identity and access management systems, we offer tailored solutions that align with institutional goals, including operational efficiency, enhanced security, and scalable growth.
Ready to reach the full potential of your digital strategies? Our trusted advisors can help you build a secure and scalable identity foundation that empowers your educational institution to thrive in a digital-first world.
Find out more about our digital identity services, or speak to a specialist who can help guide you on your journey.
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