Transforming Identity and Access Management in Education: The Strategic Impact of Jamf’s Acquisition of Identity Automation

Over the last decade, educational institutions have become far more digital than in decades past. This has made identity and access management increasingly complex, creating challenges for some districts.

There is a growing need for scalable Identity and Access Management (IAM) solutions in K-12 and higher education. These environments frequently have high IT demands for user and application access requests and need automated solutions.

Jamf recently acquired Identity Automation, marking a significant first in the educational field. Jamf is an industry leader in Apple device management, while Identity Automation is a leader in identity management. Together, they provide institutions with Jamf’s security ecosystem and RapidIdentity, a robust IAM platform from Identity Automation, establishing new standards for secure access in education.

For schools and colleges, this is a turning point in identity lifecycle management and cybersecurity. For questions regarding identity and access management in education, contact Concensus Technologies, we enjoy making technology clear and actionable.

Understanding the Identity Challenge in Modern Education

Educational settings present unique IAM challenges. Each academic year, waves of onboarding and offboarding occur as new students and staff join while graduates and transitioning faculty leave. In a manually managed network, this process can quickly become overwhelming. Those changes require real-time adjustments and user accounts need access to various systems across the environment.

Historically, many institutions relied on manual processes for IT, which can result in:

• Delayed removal of inactive accounts, allowing unauthorized access.
• Delays in account creation, preventing students and staff from accessing critical systems
• Improper permissions due to lack of role-based access, leading to underutilized tools or excessive privileges

For this type of environment, an automated, policy-driven IAM system is essential. The Jamf + Identity Automation integration addresses this need, offering adaptive and scalable education-focused IAM capabilities.

Transformative Benefits of Jamf + Identity Automation

Dynamic Access

RapidIdentity grants or denies access based on context, such as school rosters, class schedules, or job requirements. This allows access to adjust automatically when a student changes classes or a substitute teacher is added for a day.

Streamlined Onboarding

A common issue for many districts is a delay in HR and the Student Information System (SIS). This slows down the onboarding process and can delay student and teacher access to critical resources. RapidIdentity can take care of this quickly and efficiently.

Adaptive Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Adaptive MFA adjusts authentication based on user behavior, device trust level, and location. For example, a student accessing content from a school-approved iPad may bypass MFA, while an unrecognized device attempting access at an unusual time will require it.

Federated Single Sign-On (SSO)

With federated SSO, students, teachers, and staff can have a more streamlined experience. This becomes essential in environments where accessibility and compliance are concerns.

Real-World Education Environments

Identity Automation’s RapidIdentity has a proven track record of performance in complex educational environments. Chicago Public Schools and Houston Community College are two institutions that have implemented RapidIdentity in their environments, managing tens of thousands of users. 

Jamf is now integrating this technology into its Apple-focused device management framework, providing unparalleled control for Apple-dominant institutions.

Looking Beyond 2025

Education is one of the fastest-evolving digital sectors, and cyber threats continue to grow. Intuitive IAM tools that provide and restrict access are critical.

By 2025, several trends will likely define the future of IAM in education:

• MFA Becomes Standard: Educational institutions will enforce age-appropriate MFA policies to manage content securely
• Federated SSO Adopted: Enables seamless transitions between K-12 and higher education platforms
• Regulatory Compliance: Privacy laws will continue to drive IAM adoption and enforcement
• Zero Trust Models: Device-aware, location-sensitive, and user-specific access controls will become standard

Partnering for Strategic IAM Implementation

Technology alone doesn’t solve IAM challenges. Ongoing optimization, implementation, and customization are critical. Concensus Technologies helps institutions develop, deploy, and maintain secure IAM solutions.

We can help institutions:

• Develop IAM strategies
• Ensure compliance with federal and state regulations
• Increase automation and lower operational overhead
• Improve user experiences

The combination of Identity Automation’s RapidIdentity and Jamf’s Apple-first approach is a major step forward in efficient identity and access management. This pairing provides scalable, secure solutions tailored to the unique demands of educational environments.

Contact Concensus Technologies for a no-obligation consultation to discover how we can help your district establish a secure digital environment.