7 Tips To Make Sense Of The Gartner IAM Magic Quadrant
Navigating the Gartner IAM Magic Quadrant can initially seem daunting, given its comprehensive analysis of vendors. However, understanding its methodology and nuances can help both IAM vendors aiming for a spot in the Quadrant and businesses seeking the best solution. Here’s a breakdown of seven critical sections of the report:
1. Market Definition/Description
Understanding the IAM market as defined by Gartner is crucial:
“Gartner defines access management (AM) as tools that establish, enforce and manage journey-time access controls to cloud, modern standards-based web and legacy web applications.”
For example, Gartner-approved capabilities provided by AM tools could include:
API access control
User authentication (e.g. least privilege and zero trust principles)
Advanced lifecycle management capabilities
Journey-time orchestration in the context of access management
Internal access administration (e.g. user onboarding and provisioning)
Reporting for compliance purposes
Gartner’s market definition ensures businesses are comparing vendors catering to the same market segment. When you align your vendor evaluations with Gartner’s definition, you’re better poised to select a solution that truly fits your needs. On the other hand, vendors should streamline their offerings to fit within this defined market. By doing so, they enhance their visibility and relevance in the Quadrant.
Caption: This graph shows where the top vendors lie in the four quadrants. Source
2. Inclusion Criteria
The inclusion criteria are akin to the gatekeepers of the Magic Quadrant. They stipulate the fundamental requirements a vendor must meet to be considered. For businesses like yours, this gives you confidence that every vendor in the Quadrant has already met a baseline of quality and capability. Vendors aiming for a spot should meticulously tailor their pitches and presentations to highlight how they meet or surpass these criteria.
3. Exclusion Criteria
While the inclusion criteria set the stage, the exclusion criteria provide a reality check. Knowing who didn’t make the cut – and why – can offer you clarity on Gartner’s stringent standards. In contrast, vendors should steer clear of pitfalls that lead to exclusion. Avoiding exclusionary factors is paramount, whether this means ensuring a significant market presence or ramping up core IAM capabilities.
4. Evaluation Criteria Part 1 | Ability to Execute
A vendor’s operational prowess comes to the forefront with their ability to execute, encompassing everything from product quality to overall business health. For businesses, the Magic Quadrant offers a peek into a vendor’s operational strengths and potential longevity in the market. Vendors can bolster their position by relentlessly improving product quality, fortifying their financial health, and refining their customer service approach.
Table 1: Ability to Execute Evaluation Criteria
Source: Gartner (November 2022)
5. Evaluation Criteria Part 2 | Completeness of Vision
A vendor’s foresight is illuminated through their completeness of vision. Businesses can glean insights into whether a vendor is merely keeping pace or truly pioneering the future of IAM using the Magic Quadrant. This criterion serves as a testament to a vendor’s innovation and adaptability. Vendors can impress Gartner by immersing themselves in continuous market research, aligning their strategies with emerging trends, and remaining receptive to user feedback.
Table 2: Completeness of Vision Evaluation Criteria
Source: Gartner (November 2022)
6. Market Overview
The IAM market is in constant flux, marked by innovations, challenges, and shifts highlighted in the Magic Quadrant report. The market overview section gives businesses a panoramic view of IAM industry activity, helping you align with prevailing best practices and be attuned to upcoming changes. Vendors can carve out a competitive edge by staying in sync with market movements and preemptively addressing emerging needs in their product offerings.
7. User Reviews
In an age of information overload, authentic user reviews stand out. They offer businesses a raw, unfiltered view of a vendor’s offerings, echoing the voice of real-world users. Gartner’s rigorous process ensures these reviews are comprehensive and trustworthy. Vendors can enhance their Quadrant positioning by nurturing customer relationships, promptly addressing concerns, and cultivating an ecosystem where satisfied users are advocates.
Navigate The IAM Landscape With A Gartner-Approved Vendor
The Gartner IAM Magic Quadrant provides you with a clear compass to navigate the IAM vendor space. By breaking down the market, evaluating vendors meticulously, and incorporating valuable user reviews, it offers companies like yours a robust tool to make strategic decisions in the realm of Identity and Access Management.
But there’s more to the IAM industry than the Magic Quadrant report. Recognized as a Cool Vendor in the 2023 Gartner Cool Vendors Report in Identity-First Security, Rezonate is making waves with our forward-thinking approach. Our commitment to identity-centric security tackles the pressing challenges of compromised identities and rising breach costs. Explore Rezonate’s platform or request a demo to see firsthand how identity-first security can redefine your protection strategy.