SolarWinds Access Rights Manager - Short Review

SolarWinds Access Rights Manager (ARM) Overview

SolarWinds Access Rights Manager (ARM) is a comprehensive solution designed to assist IT and security administrators in managing, provisioning, deprovisioning, and auditing user access rights across an organization’s IT infrastructure. This tool is crucial for protecting organizations from the risks of data loss and breaches while also ensuring compliance with various regulatory requirements.

Key Features and Functionality

User Provisioning and Management

ARM simplifies the process of setting up and managing new user accounts using standardized, role-specific templates. This allows IT teams to create secure accounts quickly and at scale, particularly for access to Active Directory, file servers, and Microsoft Exchange.

Access Rights Auditing and Reporting

The tool provides robust auditing capabilities, enabling administrators to visualize who has access to what systems, data, and files, and when they accessed them. It generates customized reports with just a few clicks, which is essential for demonstrating compliance with regulations such as GDPR, PCI DSS, and HIPAA.

Active Directory and Azure AD Management

ARM includes powerful Active Directory (AD) and Azure AD management features. It simplifies AD user provisioning and deprovisioning, monitors and reports on AD user permissions, and helps in managing group policies and permissions. This ensures that user credentials are secure and that any unauthorized access attempts are promptly identified and mitigated.

Automation of Provisioning and Deprovisioning

The software automates repetitive tasks such as user account provisioning and deprovisioning, reducing the scope for human error and increasing productivity. This automation is particularly useful for rapid response to account termination requests and for streamlining user onboarding processes.

Self-Service Permissions Portal

ARM features a web-based, self-service permissions portal that delegates user access rights management to data owners. This approach reduces the workload on IT administrators and enhances convenience by allowing data owners to manage access permissions directly.

Data Owner Concept

The tool introduces a data owner concept, where data categories are defined, and functional owners are assigned. This allows for the delegation of parts of permissions management to data owners, ensuring that access rights are managed more effectively and securely.

Compliance and Risk Management

ARM is designed to help organizations comply with various regulatory mandates by monitoring suspicious account activity, detecting changes in user authorizations, and delivering custom reports. It also minimizes the impact of insider threats by ensuring secure access controls and providing detailed visibility into user access rights.

Exchange and SharePoint Integration

The software integrates with Microsoft Exchange and SharePoint, simplifying the management of permissions and auditing for these platforms. It automates Exchange audit reporting and secures access to data, further supporting compliance efforts.

In summary, SolarWinds Access Rights Manager is a powerful tool that streamlines access rights management, enhances security, and simplifies compliance reporting. Its automation features, self-service portal, and detailed auditing capabilities make it an essential solution for IT and security administrators aiming to protect their organizations’ sensitive data and ensure regulatory compliance.