Key Outcome-Driven Metrics to Measure Access Management Success

Thank you!

The 2023 SaaS report has been sent to your email. Check your promotional or spam folder.

Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

‍

Are your access management metrics actually telling you anything useful?

Most teams track login attempts, failed authentications, and session durations. But these numbers don’t answer the bigger question: Is access management improving security and efficiency – or just checking compliance boxes?

Traditional IAM metrics focus on system performance, not real-world business impact. That’s where Outcome-Driven Metrics (ODMs) come in. Instead of tracking isolated security events, ODMs measure how access management affects risk, productivity, and revenue – giving you data that drives decisions.

This article breaks down key ODMs that help you move beyond technical stats and prove the real value of your IAM strategy.

‍

TL;DR

Traditional IAM metrics fall short – they track activity but don’t show business impact. Outcome-driven metrics (ODMs) bridge the gap.
Poor access management leads to risk, inefficiencies, and compliance failures. Measuring the right ODMs helps prevent security gaps and streamline operations.
Essential IAM metrics include time to remove access, privileged access exposure, access request fulfillment time, and user experience scores.
Aligning IAM metrics with business goals proves ROI. Faster onboarding, reduced IT workload, and stronger compliance drive executive buy-in.
CloudEagle.ai simplifies IAM tracking and automation, helping businesses improve security, efficiency, and compliance with real-time access insights.

‍

1. Why Outcome-Driven Metrics Matter in Access Management

Most teams assume their access management (AM) strategy is solid because they have basic security controls in place. But without clear outcome-driven metrics (ODMs), how do you know if those controls are reducing risk, improving efficiency, or preventing security incidents?

A. The Hidden Risks of Not Measuring AM Effectively

When access management is measured poorly – or not at all – problems go unnoticed until they become major security or operational failures. Here’s what can happen when ODMs aren’t part of the equation:

Former employees and contractors still have access to sensitive systems
- Say one company found that 15% of ex-employees could still log into their internal databases months after leaving.
- Without measuring time to remove access, risks like insider threats and data breaches go unchecked.

Privileged accounts are mismanaged, increasing breach risk
- Attackers target admin credentials because they offer unrestricted access.
- A report found that 74% of breaches involve privileged account misuse, but without tracking the ratio of always-on vs. just-in-time privileged access, it’s impossible to manage risk properly.

Users experience constant friction, lowering productivity
- If employees wait days to get access to the tools they need, productivity takes a hit.
- Without an ODM tracking access request fulfillment time, IT teams might not realize how much manual approvals slow down work.

B. How ODMs Turn Access Management Into a Business Driver

When access controls are measured using outcome-driven metrics, organizations can:

See security risks before they escalate
- If access revocation time jumps from hours to weeks, it’s a red flag that IAM processes need fixing.

Improve user experience without sacrificing security
- Tracking the percentage of apps with SSO or MFA helps find the right balance between security and ease of use.

Make smarter investments in IAM tools
- If self-service adoption is low, it signals that employees still rely too much on IT for access requests.

ODM-driven access management isn’t just about security – it’s about efficiency, compliance, and business continuity.

2. Essential Outcome-Driven Metrics for Access Management

Tracking the right metrics is what separates an effective access management strategy from a blind guesswork approach. Outcome-driven metrics (ODMs) measure how well your IAM system is working – not just whether it exists.

Here are the key ODMs that directly impact security, efficiency, and user experience.

A. Security-Driven Metrics

These metrics show whether your access controls actually reduce risk or just create an illusion of security.

→ Time to Remove Access

Why it matters: The longer it takes to revoke access for former employees, the higher the insider threat risk.
What to track: Measure the average time (in hours) it takes to fully deprovision access after an employee leaves or switches roles.
Case in point: A study by the Identity Defined Security Alliance (IDSA) found that only 34% of organizations revoke system access on an employee’s last working day, while 50% take three days or longer (Security Magazine). In a real-world incident, UBS, a multinational investment bank, experienced a data breach when an ex-employee (Rene S.) stole confidential client data in just a few days and attempted to sell it to German officials to earn €1.15 million in the process. (Private Bank International).

→ Privileged Access Management (PAM) Ratio

Why it matters: Unrestricted admin access is a goldmine for hackers. The more “always-on” privileged accounts exist, the greater the attack surface.
What to track: Measure the ratio of temporary, just-in-time (JIT) privileged access vs. always-on privileged accounts.
Pro tip: Organizations should aim for 90% of privileged access to be temporary, granted only when needed.

→ Multifactor Authentication (MFA) Coverage

Why it matters: MFA prevents 99.9% of credential-based attacks– but only if it’s actually used.
What to track: Measure what percentage of applications and users require MFA for login.
Common mistake: Many companies enable MFA for workforce apps but ignore customer-facing portals, leaving customer data vulnerable.

B. Operational Efficiency Metrics

Security is only part of the equation – access management also needs to be fast and efficient.

→ Access Request Fulfillment Time

Why it matters: If employees wait days for access, productivity plummets.
What to track: Measure the average time (in hours) it takes for IT to process access requests.
Example: A global manufacturing company can reduce its access approval time from 3 days to under 3 hours by automating approvals for low-risk apps.

→ Self-Service Adoption Rate

Why it matters: IT teams shouldn’t be flooded with basic access requests that employees could handle themselves.
What to track: Measure the percentage of users who use self-service portals for password resets, profile updates, and access requests.
Ideal benchmark: Over 60% of access requests should be resolved without IT intervention.

→ Automated Provisioning Percentage

Why it matters: Manual access provisioning is slow and error-prone. The fewer manual approvals needed, the more efficient the process.
What to track: Measure the percentage of access requests fulfilled via automation rather than manual intervention.
Efficiency boost: Companies that automate over 80% of access provisioning can save 500+ hours annually.

C. User Experience Metrics

Access management should secure systems without frustrating users.

→ SSO Adoption Rate

Why it matters: Single Sign-On (SSO) reduces login fatigue, improves security, and cuts down help desk calls.
What to track: Measure the percentage of apps integrated with SSO for seamless access.
Case study: A tech company integrated 80% of its business apps with SSO, cutting login-related support tickets by 56%.

→ User Access Friction Score

Why it matters: If security processes slow down employees too much, they’ll find workarounds – which creates more risk.
What to track: Measure how long it takes for users to complete authentication steps and track user complaints about login issues.
Pro tip: High-friction access management increases shadow IT, as employees start using unauthorized apps to bypass restrictions.

→ Customer Identity & Access Management (CIAM) Consistency

Why it matters: Customers expect seamless login experiences across apps, websites, and services.
What to track: Measure how consistently authentication flows are implemented across all customer-facing platforms.
Common issue: Many companies still require separate logins for different services, leading to frustration and higher churn rates.

D. Business & Compliance Metrics

Access management isn’t just about keeping the wrong people out – it’s also about proving that your organization meets security and compliance standards. Without clear metrics, passing an audit becomes a guessing game, and security gaps go unnoticed until it’s too late.

→ Audit & Compliance Pass Rate

Why it matters: Regulations like GDPR, HIPAA, and SOX require businesses to track who has access to what – and when it was granted or revoked.
What to track: Measure the percentage of IAM-related audits that pass without findings or compliance violations.
Common pitfall: Many companies fail audits due to incomplete access logs or delayed deprovisioning of user accounts after an employee leaves.

→ Access-Related Security Incidents

Why it matters: If access control failures are leading to data breaches, unauthorized access, or privilege misuse, it’s a sign that IAM policies aren’t working.
What to track: Count the number of security incidents linked to access control issues, such as:
- Unauthorized logins
- Privilege escalations
- Orphaned accounts exploited by attackers
Example: A global enterprise reduced security incidents by 45% after tracking and enforcing just-in-time privileged access instead of permanent admin rights.

→ Revenue Impact of IAM

Why it matters: Access management isn’t just about security – it can directly impact customer retention, employee productivity, and operational costs.

What to track: Identify revenue-related metrics such as:
- How faster onboarding improves workforce efficiency (e.g., “New hires get full access on Day 1, saving 3,000 hours annually.”)
- How seamless authentication improves customer retention (e.g., “Streamlined login reduced cart abandonment by 15%.”)
- How IAM automation reduces IT costs (e.g., “Automated provisioning cut manual workload by 40%, saving $500K in IT expenses.”)

E. Aligning ODMs with Business Outcomes

Tracking IAM metrics is one thing – proving their impact on the business is another.

Security teams often struggle to justify IAM investments because executives care about bottom-line results, not login success rates. Outcome-driven metrics (ODMs) help link access management improvements to revenue growth, cost savings, and risk reduction.

→ How ODMs Drive Business Value

Risk Reduction → Fewer Security Incidents
- Tracking time to remove access ensures that ex-employees don’t have lingering credentials.
- Reducing privileged access exposure minimizes insider threats and credential-based attacks.

Cost Savings → Lower IT Workload
- Automating provisioning cuts manual effort and speeds up new hire onboarding.
- Self-service IAM tools reduce IT support tickets related to password resets and access requests.

Revenue Growth → Better Productivity & Customer Experience
- Faster employee onboarding means teams can start working sooner.
- Seamless customer authentication reduces friction, improving retention and conversion rates.

→ Real-World Example: IAM Success in Action

A leading enterprise used IAM automation to speed up employee onboarding and reduce IT workload. By tracking ODMs and improving their access request fulfillment process, they:

Cut employee onboarding time by 4 days
Reduced HR staff involvement per new hire from 20 hours to 12 hours
Improved overall operational efficiency with AI-driven IAM processes

(Source: Business Insider)

By measuring the right IAM metrics, they didn’t just enhance security; they turned access management into a strategic advantage that saved time, money, and resources.

‍

3. Why Measuring Access Management Outcomes Matters

Access management isn’t just an IT function – it’s a critical pillar of cybersecurity, efficiency, and compliance. Yet, many organizations still rely on surface-level metrics that fail to show the real impact of their IAM strategy.

A. Access Management Is Now a Cybersecurity Priority

Cybercriminals aren’t breaking in – they’re logging in.

62% of breaches involve stolen or misused credentials.
74% of privileged access breaches result from weak access controls.
According to Gartner, the IGA market grew by 14.3% from 2022 to 2023, with a projected 13.9% growth from 2023 to 2024 (as of 1Q24).

Organizations are investing heavily in identity governance and access management, yet many still fail to track whether these investments reduce risk. Without clear outcome-driven metrics, security teams have no way to measure what’s working and what’s leaving them vulnerable.

B. The Cost of Poor Access Management Metrics

Without the right metrics, access management becomes a black box – you assume it’s working until something breaks. Here’s what can go wrong:

Security Risks Increase
- Orphaned accounts (former employees with active credentials) create major vulnerabilities.
- Privilege creep allows employees to accumulate unnecessary access, making lateral movement easier for attackers.
- Lack of MFA coverage leaves accounts exposed to credential-stuffing attacks.

Operational Inefficiencies Drain Productivity
- If access approvals take too long, employees sit idle, waiting for permissions.
- Manual provisioning increases IT workload, slowing down business operations.
- Inconsistent access policies cause delays and confusion across departments.

Compliance Failures Lead to Fines & Legal Risks
- Regulations like GDPR, HIPAA, and SOX require organizations to demonstrate access controls and timely revocation.
- Without clear metrics on access governance, failing an audit becomes a real financial risk.

C. How ODMs Justify IAM Investments to Executives

Executives don’t care about failed login attempts; they care about business risk and ROI. ODMs help bridge the gap by:

Showing tangible security improvements
- Example: “We reduced privileged access exposure by 40% by implementing JIT controls.”

Highlighting efficiency gains
- Example: “Self-service access requests cut IT workload by 35%, allowing faster approvals.”

Providing compliance proof
- Example: “Time to remove access is now under 12 hours, reducing insider threat risks.”

Tracking the right ODMs turns access management from an expense into a strategic investment.

‍

4. Implementing Outcome-Driven Metrics in Access Management

Tracking the right access management metrics is only half the battle – the real challenge is turning those numbers into actionable insights. Without a structured approach, even the best outcome-driven metrics (ODMs) become just another set of unused data points.

This section covers best practices for tracking ODMs, integrating them into IAM strategies, and overcoming common challenges.

A. Best Practices for Tracking and Reporting ODMs

To make ODMs useful, organizations need consistent tracking, clear reporting, and executive buy-in. Here’s how to do it effectively:

Define success metrics from the start
- Identify the most impactful ODMs for your organization, such as access request fulfillment time, privileged access exposure, and MFA adoption.
- Set realistic benchmarks based on industry standards and internal historical data.

Automate data collection
- Use IAM platforms and security information and event management (SIEM) tools to track ODMs in real time.
- Automate reporting with IAM dashboards instead of relying on manual spreadsheets.

Make reports business-friendly
- Executives don’t care about login failures; they care about risk reduction and efficiency gains. Translate ODMs into business outcomes, such as “IAM automation cut IT workload by 40 percent, saving $500,000 annually.”
- Use visual dashboards instead of data-heavy reports to make metrics easier to digest.

Review and adjust regularly
- Track ODMs monthly or quarterly to ensure IAM strategies stay aligned with business goals.
- Adapt metrics over time as security threats and compliance requirements evolve.

B. How to Integrate ODMs into IAM Strategy and Dashboards

To make ODMs actionable, they must be embedded into IAM frameworks and security operations.

1. Build ODM tracking into IAM workflows

Set automated alerts for critical thresholds, such as when time to remove access exceeds 24 hours.
Ensure IAM policies enforce best practices, such as requiring privileged access to be just-in-time rather than always-on.

2. Use IAM dashboards for real-time insights

Create IAM dashboards that visualize key ODMs for security, efficiency, and compliance.
A dashboard could show MFA coverage by department, orphaned accounts by risk level, and average access request approval time.

3. Align IAM strategy with business goals

HR and IT: Track how IAM improves employee onboarding speed.
Security teams: Monitor ODMs tied to risk reduction and compliance readiness.
Finance and procurement: Use ODMs to track cost savings from IAM automation.

C. Common Challenges in Adopting an Outcome-Driven Approach (and How to Overcome Them)

Challenge 1: Teams focus on traditional security metrics instead of business outcomes

Many IAM teams still track login failures and authentication success rates without tying them to business impact.
Shift focus to measurable results, such as how IAM automation reduces IT workload or how improved access controls reduce security incidents.

Challenge 2: Lack of executive buy-in for tracking IAM outcomes

Security teams struggle to justify IAM investments because leadership doesn’t see the return on investment.
Presenting ODMs in business language, showing how IAM impacts cost savings, productivity, and compliance.

Challenge 3: Data silos make tracking ODMs difficult

IAM data is scattered across multiple systems, such as HR, IT, and security logs, making it hard to centralize tracking.
Integrate IAM platforms with SIEM tools, HR systems, and security dashboards for a unified view of ODM performance.

Challenge 4: Resistance to automation

Some teams hesitate to automate IAM processes due to fear of losing control or compliance concerns.
Start small by automating low-risk processes, such as password resets and onboarding low-sensitivity roles, then scale up based on success.

‍

5. Turn Access Management Into a Measurable Success

Tracking login attempts and failed authentications won’t tell you if your access management strategy is working. Outcome-driven metrics (ODMs) give you real answers, showing whether IAM investments are reducing risk, improving efficiency, and driving business value.

When access management is measured effectively, security isn’t just an IT function; it’s a competitive advantage.

→ Smarter IAM Decisions With CloudEagle.ai

Measuring IAM success is one thing – optimizing it is another. CloudEagle.ai helps businesses automate access provisioning and streamline IAM operations to reduce security risks and compliance headaches.

With real-time insights and automated workflows, CloudEagle.ai ensures access management isn’t just secure but also efficient and business-driven.