Transitioning your IAM architecture for today’s multi-cloud world

The era of multi-cloud is here to stay, and with it comes new challenges in identity and access management across distributed environments. As enterprises transition from legacy identity systems to cloud or multi-cloud infrastructures, they need an IAM architecture that provides security, compliance, and operational efficiency.

Orchestration helps companies manage identities across multiple cloud platforms, ensuring seamless integration between legacy systems and modern cloud identity services. Understanding IAM architecture is key to navigating this complex landscape, and by exploring its role in identity management, security models, and DevSecOps, businesses can develop a strategy that supports both innovation and security.

What is an IAM architecture?

IAM architecture refers to the framework and technologies used to manage digital identities, authentication, and authorization across an organization’s IT infrastructure. It encompasses identity providers, access control mechanisms, identity governance, and security policies to ensure secure and efficient access to applications, data, and services.

Traditional identity management systems were built on the “castle-and-moat” security model, where security perimeters protected internal applications and data. This worked well when systems were on-premises, but with the move to the cloud, organizations must rethink their approach. The modern IAM landscape requires a dynamic and adaptable architecture capable of managing identities across multiple cloud providers and technology layers.

Key technologies in IAM architecture

IAM architecture relies on various technologies to manage and secure digital identities effectively. These include:

• Identity providers (IDPs). Services that store and authenticate user identities, such as Okta, Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD), Google Identity Platform, and Ping Identity.
• Single Sign-On (SSO) solutions. Technologies like SAML (Security Assertion Markup Language), OAuth, and OpenID Connect enable users to log in once and access multiple systems.
• Multi-factor authentication (MFA). Adds additional security layers with tools like Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator, Duo Security, and Yubikey.
• Access management & authorization. Solutions such as AWS IAM, HashiCorp Vault, and CyberArk enforce role-based and attribute-based access control (RBAC & ABAC).
• Identity governance & administration (IGA). Platforms like SailPoint, Saviynt, and One Identity help manage identity lifecycle, compliance, and access reviews.
• Privileged access management (PAM). Tools such as CyberArk, BeyondTrust, and Delinea protect and control access to critical systems.
• Identity orchestration platforms. Solutions like Strata’s Maverics, WSO2 Identity Server, and ForgeRock Identity Platform ensure interoperability between legacy and cloud identity systems.
• Directory services. Services like Active Directory (AD), Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP), and Google Cloud Directory manage and store identity information.
• Federated identity management. Technologies like Shibboleth, AWS Cognito, and Auth0 allow users to access multiple systems across different organizations via federated trust models.
• API security & identity-as-a-service (IDaaS). Identity-aware security policies protect API access with tools like Kong, Apigee, and Okta API Access Management.

Not all these technologies will be present in every IAM infrastructure; their presence will depend on the industry, the company’s age, and the services it provides, among other factors. 

Orchestrating legacy identity systems to the cloud

Managing IAM in a multi-cloud environment is complex. Each cloud provider has its own identity system, which creates silos that make it difficult to maintain consistency across platforms. As enterprises adopt multiple cloud solutions — three on average, with some using as many as seven — managing identities across these environments becomes increasingly challenging.

 Identity orchestration bridges this gap by allowing different identity systems, such as Okta or Active Directory, to work together without replacing them. This approach enables organizations to maintain security and access control consistently across their entire cloud infrastructure.

Instead of treating identity as a static element confined to a single system, identity orchestration dynamically manages users, applications, and policies across multiple platforms. This allows businesses to move forward with cloud adoption strategies without being constrained by legacy IAM limitations.

The two axes of IAM architecture in multi-cloud

IAM architecture in a multi-cloud environment can be understood in two key dimensions: east/west identity management and north/south identity management.

East/west identity management

This refers to managing identity across different cloud providers, such as AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud. Since each platform comes with its own built-in identity system, organizations need a strategy to manage users and applications consistently across these environments.

North/south identity management

Beyond user identities, IAM architecture must also consider applications, microservices, and infrastructure components. The IAM stack extends across multiple layers:

• Application tier involves managing identities at the application level and ensuring that users and services can securely access cloud applications.
• Platform-as-a-service (PaaS) tier requires authentication and secure interactions between microservices and APIs.
• Infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) tier focuses on securing identity configurations for compute resources, storage, and networking infrastructure.

These two dimensions illustrate that identity is everywhere in a multi-cloud world. A modern IAM architecture must account for distributed identities across multiple platforms and technology layers.

Moving beyond legacy IAM infrastructures to a secure, adaptive future

As enterprises continue their digital transformation, they must shift from traditional castle-and-moat security to a more adaptive, identity-centric approach. A modern IAM architecture enables organizations to:

• Implement Zero Trust security models that verify every access request.
• Ensure compliance across multiple cloud environments.
• Support innovation by enabling secure, scalable access to cloud-native applications.

By adopting identity orchestration and modern IAM solutions, enterprises can successfully navigate the complexities of multi-cloud security while maintaining both agility and control. The castle walls may have disappeared, but with the right IAM strategy, organizations can build a strong, flexible security framework fit for the cloud era.

Navigating identity management in a multi-cloud world requires an understanding of emerging trends, best practices, and strategic solutions. To explore the latest insights and benchmarks in multi-cloud IAM, download the State of Multi-Cloud Identity 2025 Report today.