The Challenge of Compliance
Research and education institutions juggle a tough balance: securing access to sensitive data while supporting the openness academic communities rely on. Each new compliance mandate adds complexity, challenging IAM teams to keep security airtight without slowing collaboration.
For higher education, the challenge is amplified. Federal agencies issue related requirements, often on different timelines. IAM leaders—CISOs, IT security officers, research computing teams, and implementers—must adapt systems that meet multiple frameworks while keeping them usable and cost-effective.
At InCommon, we can help you overcome these compliance challenges.
Key Compliance Requirements
Data protection and privacy—Protect student, faculty, and research data under FERPA, GDPR, and other mandates.
Security and risk management—Enforce access controls, MFA, and auditing to lower institutional risk.
Industry-specific requirements—Meet standards like HIPAA, CMMC, and PCI DSS across specialized data environments.
Identity and authentication standards—Follow IAM standards such as REFEDS MFA Profile and assurance frameworks.
Meet Federal Requirements
with InCommon
Gain secure single sign-on to federal systems, reduce integration overhead, and stay aligned with FISMA and agency standards.
Simplify compliance with IAM software that meets NIST and FISMA controls, while giving your institution role-based access and provisioning you can trust.
Give your community Wi-Fi that travels with them and meets federal security requirements through 802.1X authentication, WPA2/WPA3 encryption, and trusted roaming.
Cover all your domains with one annual fee using unlimited certificates that meet federal encryption standards, support FISMA compliance, and follow NIST guidelines.
Strengthen compliance and security with a standardized incident response framework that supports FISMA requirements and builds trusted communication channels.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is IAM compliance in higher education and research?
Why is IAM compliance important for colleges and universities?
What steps can institutions take to strengthen compliance?
How does InCommon help with federal requirements?
Do NIH and NSF require MFA?
Visualize Your IAM Framework
Getting started with IAM compliance can feel overwhelming. InCommon’s IAM Sketch is a visual, interactive way to map your IAM framework and see IAM compliance in action.
Get Involved
Need help making sense of IAM? Our team of experts specializes in helping research and education institutions implement effective IAM strategy and architecture. Reach out for guidance tailored to your organization’s needs.