Quest Software Announces One Identity Manager Data Governance Edition

IT management solutions specialist Quest Software announced the expansion of One Identity Manager Data Governance Edition, designed to enable business managers to control who has access to data and to protect their organization by approving and fulfilling access requests.

The platform also includes a host of capabilities that enable automated, scalable and secure management of unstructured data by the information owners, such as dashboards that allow IT departments to view trends and monitor data access activity. Pricing starts at $35 per managed person.

In addition, simplified auditing allows identification of who has been accessing particular files and folders, as well as the ability to view access requests, data ownership controls and verification of access in preparation of an audit. The platform enables organizations to monitor user and resource activity, and configure and schedule a recertification process for data owners to verify and attest to employee access.

“Access governance is a major push for organizations of all sizes, and data governance is perhaps the most difficult component of those initiatives. We’ve seen countless organizations doing the best they can with what they have, and coming up short with regard to governance of unstructured data. With Quest One Identity Manager Data Governance Edition, we’ve moved data governance into an achievable, business-driven exercise,” John Milburn, vice president and general manager of identity and access management for Quest said in a press statement. “Now organizations of all sizes can confidently report that access to unstructured data is requested, approved, fulfilled, and audited within a unified solution that places the control and visibility in the hands of people who are closest to daily business decisions.”

A recent survey of Quest customers found that 86 percent of organizations believe the security of unstructured data is important, deeming it a top to secondary priority, with more than half of all respondents believing that 50 to 100 percent of their enterprise data is unstructured. Just 15 percent of respondents said they are confident they would be able to track data back to the appropriate owners. Overworked IT departments are struggling to keep pace with data requests, as well, with 68 percent of survey respondents saying once a request for data is submitted and approved, it takes more than half a business day before IT can manually fulfill the request.

“CIOs tell us that they struggle with providing users with the proper access to applications and data, while maintaining effective controls to meet regulatory requirements and protect that data. The Quest One Identity Manager Data Governance Edition helps organizations understand what unstructured data they have and who has access to it,” Bill Moore, senior business development manager of IT security consulting firm Tribridge, said in a prepared statement.

“It establishes a process to make sure each user has the access they need, but nothing more, and that the right people approve and fulfill the requests. It also helps line-of-business executives understand the impact of granting access and provides them with the certification necessary for compliance,” he continued.