Identity & Access Integration
Apply a coherent access model across applications with different capabilities and constraints.
We map identity sources, applications, users, policies, and exception paths before integrating native standards or engineering an access layer around systems that cannot support the required controls directly.
Discuss Your Access Requirements
Improve access without rewriting every application
An organisation may have several identity stores, authentication methods, role models, and manual account processes across its applications. Some applications support current identity standards; others are proprietary, bespoke, or too difficult to change safely.
We start with the current identity and application landscape. Native federation is used where it fits. Where an important system lacks suitable support, an access gateway or overlay can introduce a controlled entry point while leaving the application in place.
The access capability can include:
- Federated authentication and single sign-on using the standards and identity sources supported by the environment
- Access gateways for constrained applications enforcing authentication or policy before requests reach systems that cannot do so themselves
- Identity-aware application integration carrying the right user and service context across APIs, proxies, and internal systems
- Role- and attribute-based policy aligned to responsibilities, application behaviour, and necessary exceptions
- Multi-factor and conditional controls applied where the risk and available identity platform justify them
- Joiner, mover, and leaver workflows coordinating account and permission changes across systems with different lifecycle capabilities
- Access evidence and audit trails supporting operational investigation and relevant governance requirements
- Directory and identity-provider integration retaining appropriate sources of identity rather than creating unnecessary duplicates
If access is fragmented across existing, legacy, vendor, or bespoke applications, we can map the identity flows and define a controlled integration sequence. Where the requirement extends into account handling, workflow and process automation may form part of the response.
Technology selected for the identity environment
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Identity & SSO Protocols
SAML 2.0, OAuth 2.0, OpenID Connect
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Directories & Identity Stores
Active Directory, LDAP, Microsoft Entra ID, Okta, compatible identity providers
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Identity Platforms
Keycloak, authentik, Gluu, or proprietary services where suitable
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Access Gateways & Proxies
NGINX, HAProxy, Traefik, Caddy, bespoke intermediary services
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Policy & Enforcement Patterns
RBAC, ABAC, conditional access, MFA, TOTP, WebAuthn/FIDO2
Where an identity layer can bridge application differences
The design needs to account for native application support, user experience, policy enforcement, failure behaviour, administration, and who operates each component.
What the integrated access layer needs to provide
The objective is coherent authentication, policy and lifecycle control, with evidence available for investigation and governance, while respecting the limitations and ownership of each application.
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Consistent Entry Points
Users follow a clearer authentication path across applications where the underlying systems permit it. -
Coordinated Identity Lifecycle
Account and permission changes can be propagated across systems with explicit ownership and exception handling. -
Proportionate Authentication Controls
MFA and conditional policy are applied according to risk, user context, and available platform capability. -
Access Aligned to Responsibilities
Roles and attributes reflect the work users perform while preserving justified exceptions and administrative control. -
Evidence for Investigation and Audit
Relevant access events are available for investigation, review, and governance processes. -
Existing Directory Integration
Appropriate directories and identity providers remain authoritative, reducing unnecessary duplication of identity data.
Start with identities, applications and exception paths
We begin with identity sources, application behaviour, user groups, policies, operational responsibilities, failure modes, and relevant governance requirements. The architecture follows from that current state.
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Identity and Application Review
We map directories, identity providers, applications, sign-in flows, service accounts, user groups, roles, exception paths, and existing administration. This identifies which systems can integrate natively and which require an additional integration layer.
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Access Design and Rollout Plan
We define federation, gateway, policy, lifecycle, logging, availability, and recovery requirements. Component choices can include open-source or proprietary services according to fit and ownership.
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Build, Integrate, and Validate
We configure native integrations and engineer gateways or adapters where required. Testing covers sign-in, authorisation, account state, policy, logging, dependency failure, and recovery before controlled onboarding.
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Prepare Administrators and Support Teams
We provide administrators and support teams with documentation and operating guidance, including how future applications are assessed and added. We assign ongoing responsibilities as part of the handover.
Delivered access services around established applications
Case study: unified access across telecoms platforms
Customer and staff SSO introduced without modifying the vendor applications.
A UK business communications provider needed customer SSO across self-service, support, and PBX portals, and staff SSO across administrative backends. In the Unified Access and Real-Time Integration Across Telecoms Platforms project, we built focused access proxies around the established systems.
Customers could activate existing accounts and use consistent credentials across the connected portals. Staff gained one SSO entry point and password-reset path, while specified technical and network-operations roles retained direct backend access.
Work with application capabilities as they are
We distinguish applications that can federate natively from those that need a gateway, adapter, or retained exception. This avoids pretending every system supports the same identity model.
Component and policy choices remain explicit
Open-source and proprietary identity components are selected according to fit. Policy ownership, dependencies, operating responsibilities, and trade-offs are documented.
Support as identities, policies, and applications change
Identity integration continues to evolve as applications, user populations, roles, and security requirements change. Support needs a clear view of both the access layer and the systems behind it.
Formal response arrangements are available through SLA-based technical support. Engineering support hours can cover planned onboarding, policy changes, investigation, and improvement.
If an access failure crosses several services or produces incomplete evidence, technical investigation and operational diagnostics can help isolate the behaviour before a change is made.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have a question about an application, identity source, or access limitation? Talk to us.
Apply a coherent access model across applications with different capabilities
Tell us which applications and identity sources are involved, where current access breaks down, and which controls are required. We can assess native integration and overlay options before defining the rollout.
