Topic starter
25/10/2026 11:02 am
TL;DR: Physical access becomes part of identity governance when badge systems are included in certification, lifecycle review and compliance reporting, according to AlertEnterprise. Badge access then needs the same review and removal discipline as application access.
Editorial analysis by NHI Mgmt Group, based on content published by AlertEnterprise: “Extending SailPoint Identity Governance to Physical Access: One Framework for Every Access Point”.
By the numbers:
- More than 3,100 enterprises run identity governance on SailPoint.
Key questions
Q: Why do simple automation tools create governance risk in IAM and IGA programmes?
A: Simple automation tools reduce the barrier to entry, which often spreads workflow creation beyond central IT.
Q: What is the biggest mistake teams make when governing physical access?
A: The common mistake is treating physical access as a facilities problem instead of an identity problem.
Q: How should identity governance teams include physical access in certification programmes?
A: Treat physical access as another governed entitlement, not a separate facilities process.
Practitioner guidance
- Extend access certification to physical entitlements Include badge holders in the same review cadence, evidence model, and approval workflow used for application access.
- Link physical access to identity lifecycle events Trigger badge provisioning and revocation from joiner, mover, and leaver changes so physical access does not drift from HR status.
- Unify audit evidence across access types Make the identity platform the source of truth for who approved access, when it was last reviewed, and when it was removed.
Bottom line: Physical access is part of the identity governance problem, not an adjacent facilities-only concern.
Glossary terms: Physical Access Governance, Access Certification, Identity Lifecycle Event, Governed Entitlement
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This topic was modified 7 days ago by NHI Mgmt Group
27/10/2026 7:18 pm
Physical access is the forgotten edge of identity governance: Most programmes are built to certify application access, but the same governance logic often ends at the badge system. That leaves a control boundary where the organisation can defend logical privileges yet still fail to govern the door, which is part of the same access estate. The practical conclusion is that identity governance is incomplete when facilities access sits outside it.
A few things that frame the scale:
- Nearly 60% of IT leaders cite restrictive cost and complexity as a weakness of legacy identity governance, according to the 2025 State of Identity Governance Report.
A question worth separating out:
Q: How do hospitals know whether physical access governance is actually working?
A: Look for synchronisation across badge, visitor, and workforce systems. If access is removed immediately across all three when a role changes or a contract ends, governance is working. If staff can still enter restricted spaces after offboarding, the control plane is fragmented and the programme is failing.
👉 Read our full editorial: Badge access needs the same governance as application access
This post was modified 7 days ago by NHI Mgmt Group