STAMFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 21, 2002-- In an economic climate in which businesses are required to justify costs for implementing new projects, a recent multiclient study by Gartner, Inc. (NYSE: IT - News and ITB - News) Consulting determined companies can attain large savings and high return on investment (ROI) by implementing identity and access management (IAM) solutions.

"IAM is as much about business process management as it is about technical infrastructure management," said Roberta Witty, research director for Gartner. "It is also one of the few information security areas in which ROI can be realized through head count reduction and productivity gains."

IAM is defined as automated provisioning of user accounts and access rights, extranet access management (EAM) and end-user self-service password reset solutions.

According to the study, ROI of nearly 300 percent and savings of $3.5 million can be achieved over three years by a business of 10,000 employees implementing an automated provisioning solution. User provisioning is the combined business and technical solution that companies use to manage user access to systems, Web and non-Web applications including accounts, access rights and the access request approval process.

"The majority of money saved through automated provisioning would come from head count reduction and productivity gains," Witty said. "Included in the savings is a reduction of security administration hours by 14,000 per year and help desk hours by 6,000 per year."

Another finding of the study concluded that EAM implementation also delivers a high ROI. For a business supporting 50,000 external users, ROI of 375 percent can be achieved over three years. EAM is the technology companies use to control user access to Web-based applications including authentication, authorization and single sign-on.

"Cost reduction is a major factor for implementing EAM," Witty said. "However, EAM also drives improved user experience, improved service levels and security risk management."

A company implementing EAM solutions for 50,000 external users would save 24,000 hours per year in security administration and 17,800 help desk hours per year, according to the study.

With EAM and user provisioning, the study found the volume of users and applications drives ROI benefits. Companies with a large number of users and applications would achieve a higher ROI and cost savings compared to companies with fewer users or applications.

Gartner Consulting conducted the multiclient study from June through October. Ernst & Young LLP, Microsoft, Netegrity and Protiviti sponsored the study that focused on understanding enterprise implementation of automated IAM solutions. The study included development of an ROI model and total cost of ownership (TCO) model.

For more information about the study or the ROI and TCO models, please contact Joan Rosania at joan.rosania@gartner.com

About Gartner

Gartner, Inc. is a research and advisory firm that helps more than 10,500 clients leverage technology to achieve business success. Gartner's businesses consist of Research, Consulting, Measurement, Events and Executive Programs. Founded in 1979, Gartner is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, and has 4,000 associates, including more than 1,000 research analysts and consultants, in more than 75 locations worldwide. Fiscal 2002 revenue totaled $907 million. For more information, visit www.gartner.com.

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     Allison Haines, 203/316-6216
     allison.haines@gartner.com