Every organisation dealing with sensitive information faces it: audits. Sometimes annually, sometimes project-based or as part of a certification like ISO 27001. And although audits are intended to strengthen security, many teams find them primarily a burden. Especially when it comes to access management.

Who has access? Who had access? Why does someone have access? When is access withdrawn? And how do you demonstrate that?

In organisations without a well-structured IAM process, this becomes a massive puzzle. Identities are stored in the HR system, accounts are created in Active Directory, SaaS applications manage their own users, and externals are registered completely differently. The result is that no one knows exactly what reality looks like.

Audits therefore become not a check of security, but a search for evidence. IAM puts an end to that.

Why auditors focus specifically on access management

Auditors know that access management is one of the main weak points in information security. A forgotten account, an external who retains access too long, or an employee who retains old rights can directly lead to data leaks. Therefore, auditors often focus on the same points:

• is there a formal access policy

• is access strictly granted according to policy

• is there separation of duties

• are accounts closed in a timely manner

• is there visibility on external access

• are access rights reviewed periodically

• is each change traceable

Without central IAM, this is almost impossible to prove.

The daily reality without IAM

Many organisations recognise the same pattern. Employees start, and IT manually creates accounts in multiple systems. Access is based on requests and emails. When someone leaves, people rely on reminders and task lists. Sometimes accounts are closed in one system but forgotten in another.

During an audit, this all comes to light. Teams spend days gathering information. Evidence is sought in mailboxes, screenshots, export files or Excel lists. No one is sure if everything is correct.

For auditors, this is a red flag: lack of control.
For organisations, it feels like an annual burden.
IAM completely changes that dynamic.

How IAM drastically simplifies audits

IAM ensures that access management is no longer dependent on disparate actions but on a central process. Joinly plays a crucial role in this by using HR as the source for identity data and enforcing access policy via RBAC and ABAC.

1. HR systems remain leading for identity

HR registers employees as always. Joinly automatically synchronises all relevant data, such as start date, end date, role, and department. This results in a reliable picture of who is active within the organisation.

2. Access is determined by policy

Instead of individual requests, Joinly determines access based on:

• RBAC: role-based access for roles and departments

• ABAC: access based on attributes such as contract type, location, or team

This ensures access is always explainable. Auditors no longer need to debate why someone has access. The policy provides the answer.

3. Provisioning and deprovisioning happen automatically

One of the biggest audit findings stems from forgotten offboarding. With Joinly, access is automatically withdrawn once an end date is reached or an employee changes roles.

No disparate actions. No mistakes. No risks.

4. Everything is traceable and reproducible

Joinly records every change in access rights and accounts. Auditors can precisely see:

• what happened

• when it happened

• why it happened

• which policy was the basis

Evidence is generated automatically.

5. External access is managed just as professionally

Auditors are increasingly alert to supplier risks and external access. Joinly treats externals as full identities in the IAM process. They receive controlled access, based on policy, and are automatically closed when a collaboration ends.

How audits look with Joinly IAM

The difference is striking. Organisations that have implemented IAM well no longer experience audits as stressful but as a structured process.

Through Joinly, you easily have:

• a real-time overview of accounts, rights, and roles

• an overview of automation rules

• a demonstration of provisioning

• insight into the audit trail

Auditors see a consistent process rather than disparate actions. They see clear logic, auditability, and traceability. This reduces findings and improves compliance.

IAM transforms audits from a burden to a confirmation of maturity.

Joinly as the foundation for audit-proof IAM

Joinly is designed for organisations that use many SaaS applications, work with external parties, and are under strict audit standards. The platform makes IAM manageable and comprehensible without manual steps, complex configurations, or dependence on specific employees.

With Joinly, the elements auditors find most important are automatically arranged:
reliable identity, policy-driven access, automatic processing, full logging, and consistency in every process.

This makes IAM not just a technical solution but a strategic certainty.

Access management need not be a bottleneck anymore

Audits become a nightmare when processes depend on people and manual work. IAM removes that dependency and replaces it with logic, automation, and control. As a result, access management becomes predictable, safe, and reproducible.

With Joinly, a future-proof, audit-compliant organisation emerges regardless of growth, complexity, or staff turnover.