According to Gartner, shadow IT now accounts for 30% to 40% of IT spending in major organizations.. By 2027, 75% of employees are expected to use technology outside of IT’s active monitoring, up from just 41% in 2022. This exponential growth has enabled the rapid adoption of SaaS, with the average business running hundreds of cloud applications, many of which are unmanaged or unknown to IT.

Many companies use more than half of all SaaS software without permission, and incidents involving this software occur every 4.9 seconds. As more employees turn to unauthorized apps for convenience and productivity, organizations face increasing risks, including inconsistent access rights, security gaps, and potential compliance failures.

The global average cost of a data breach has reached $4.88 million in 2024. To stay competitive, organizations need a more effective way to manage access to resources.  Instead of relying on manual processes that are slow and unreliable, organizations are seeking automated solutions that ensure every user has the proper access at the right time, across all systems. Auxin Security protects and manages identities with expertise, helping organizations overcome complex cybersecurity threats.

What SCIM is all about

With the rapid growth of cloud applications and shadow IT, managing user identities and access across many platforms has become a big challenge for organizations. SCIM, or System for Cross-domain Identity Management, is an open-standard protocol designed to automate the creation, modification, and deletion of user accounts across different systems.

SCIM connects identity providers, such as Okta, Microsoft Entra ID, or Google Workspace, with various cloud applications through a unified Application Programming Interface (API). When an employee joins, changes roles, or leaves, SCIM automatically updates all connected applications with the correct user information. This automation prevents outdated accounts and reduces security risks caused by manual errors.

Since most companies utilize hundreds of cloud applications, SCIM’s ability to keep user data aligned across all platforms is essential for smooth and secure operations. Explore how securing SaaS apps is crucial in the era of generative AI for more context.

Manual user management is hard

IT teams manually controlled user access before SCIM. Admins had to update permissions in each application separately for those who had departed or changed roles. This process is slow, unreliable, and becomes increasingly challenging to manage as the number of apps grows.

Manually providing usually results in security gaps. For example, when employees leave, their accounts may not be deactivated quickly, leaving doors open for unauthorized access. Nearly one-third of cyberattacks now exploit these unmanaged or shadow IT resources. Data breaches cost businesses on average $4.88 million in 2024.

Therefore, the economic consequences are extreme. These risks make it clear that manual user management is no longer enough. Auxin Security’s threat modeling services can identify vulnerabilities in manual processes and show the need for automation.

How SCIM works

Bruce Schneier, a renowned cryptographer and computer security expert, has stated, “Anyone can invent a security system so clever that they can’t think of how to break it.” SCIM’s value lies in its standardization and automation, which help simplify and secure identity management.

SCIM operates by creating a direct link between an organization’s identity provider, such as Okta, Microsoft Entra ID, or Google Workspace, and the cloud applications employees use every day. The applications function as service providers that receive and utilize updates, whereas the identity provider is the direct source of the truth regarding user information. The identity provider sends these updates through the SCIM protocol to all connected applications anytime a user’s information changes—that could be a new email address, department, or role.

At the core of SCIM are two primary resources: Users and Groups. User resources store essential information, including names, email addresses, and distinctive identifiers, whereas Group resources define groups of users, such as teams or departments, along with their corresponding access levels.

This simplifies and reduces mistakes because modifications to the identity provider, such as additions, updates, or removals, automatically affect all connected applications. Auxin Security’s cloud cybersecurity services ensure that this linked communication remains secure and compliant.

SCIM and JIT provisioning are not the same

Just-In-Time (JIT) provisioning is another method that creates user accounts automatically but only when a person logs in for the first time through Single Sign-On (SSO). Accounts are made “on the fly” during initial login.

While JIT is useful for quick account creation, it has limitations. It does not automatically handle ongoing updates or account removals. For example, if an employee changes roles or leaves, JIT does not update or deactivate their accounts. IT teams must manage these changes manually or with other tools. 

In contrast, SCIM provides continuous coordination. It automatically updates user information and access rights in real-time and removes accounts as necessary. This makes SCIM more efficient for organizations managing large numbers of users and complex access rules. Auxin Security offers DevSecOps consultation, integrates security throughout the development lifecycle for automated and secure processes, a clear distinction to the reactive approach of JIT. 

Why SCIM helps your business 

Implementing SCIM brings many benefits. It reduces IT workload by automating repetitive tasks, such as onboarding and offboarding. It improves security by maintaining current access rights and reducing unauthorized access. SCIM also helps organizations stay compliant by keeping accurate records of user access. Like SaaS applications enhanced by generative AI, SCIM helps power and personalize business software. 

For SaaS providers, supporting SCIM is essential, especially when working with large organizations. By automating identity management with SCIM, organizations can improve security, save time, and ensure users always have the proper access at the right time. Auxin Security provides expert consultation in Container Security and secure containerized environments, offers comprehensive assessments, and best practices that complement SCIM in protecting applications and data.  

Let’s make user management easy 

SCIM adoption is expected to increase by 60% by 2026 as enterprises prioritize automated identity management, thereby improving security and compliance. Auxin Security offers a resilient security framework for your organization through its balanced approach to Security, Risk, and Data Protection.