As organizations scale across geographies and functions, the old models of access management are no longer sustainable. Enter physical identity and access management: a more advanced and adaptive approach for companies wanting to rethink physical security. Because what once worked for small, centralized teams is now a source of risk and frustration for enterprise security. It’s not the worst problem to have though. It signals growth and evolution in the way we all look at modern security.
Physical identity and access management (PIAM) offers a solution. PIAM is a modern access framework that moves beyond rigid access enforcement to align identity, location, and policy in an agile, logical, and auditable way. This article explores what PIAM is, why it matters, and how it’s helping security teams meet modern demands without losing control.
What is physical identity and access management (PIAM)?
At its core, PIAM is a framework for managing who has access to physical spaces, under what conditions and for how long. Unlike traditional access control systems that depend on centralized authorization, PIAM aligns access decisions with business context based on role, location, project, or business unit.
The most effective PIAM platforms provide an intuitive interface built upon a digital twin of the organization. In this way, PIAM puts decision-making in the hands of those who have the best judgement about access – like room owners or local section heads – instead of distant security admin teams.
What frustrates security professionals about legacy systems
Ask any experienced security manager, and they’ll tell you: legacy access control systems weren’t designed for larger organizations. Traditional systems create security blind spots, audit risks and operational delays. This erodes trust in the access process itself.
Some of the most common frustrations with legacy systems include:
- Centralized bottlenecks: A handful of admins process all requests across multiple sites. Decision-making is detached from system operation.
- Manual workflows for access approvals: Permissions involve long email chains and decision-making by overworked security officers who lack critical information.
- Lack of clarity: It’s hard to know who actually has access to where and why. Even users may not know where they have access. The requester’s role and access justification are typically absent.
- Poor oversight: Lack of good access governance leads to friction and security gaps during changes like renovations or role transitions. Security teams have limited or outdated visibility since Excel sheets are unreliable.
The result? Employees, contractors, and visitors experience wasteful delays. Or security risks rise due to blanket approvals or rubber-stamp permissions just to keep things moving.
PIAM and the principle of delegation
One of PIAM’s most transformative features is delegated responsibilities. Instead of every decision going through a centralized bottleneck, PIAM enables those closest to the business context. like team leads or department heads, to manage access within their domains.
Through delegation, PIAM makes access security:
- More accurate: Puts decision-making in the hands of those who understand the operational need.
- More efficient: Minimizes approval delays caused by multiple hand-offs with distant admins.
- More accountable: Creates a clear, auditable record of access decisions at the local level.
Central security teams still define global policies and oversee compliance, but they’re no longer the sole gatekeepers for every badge update or door change. When governance aligns with business logic, security becomes both more effective and more agile.
Self-service and automation
Unlike many traditional PIAM systems, Nedap’s PIAM solution Pace introduces self-service workflows that reflect the way modern organizations operate.
Rather than filling out spreadsheets or email requests, access is managed through an intuitive interface based on a digital twin— a virtual representation of the physical environment. Google Maps is a well-known example of a digital twin. Just like a local business owner can update Google Maps information, room owners can independently update access parameters directly on the PIAM interface. This provides instant visibility into who has access and who is responsible for approving access.
Pace also goes beyond what average PIAM systems can do, with automated access rules. For example, “all IT staff have access to Server Room A during rollout.”
With PIAM automation, workflow and oversight improve since:
- Access can be granted based on attributes like job title, department, or project membership.
- Temporary access can expire automatically after a defined period.
- Notifications and audit logs are generated by default, not added as an afterthought.
Governance and Compliance Benefits
Beyond operations, PIAM provides measurable gains in governance and compliance:
- Audit readiness improves with clear, time-stamped records of who has access, who approved it, and why.
- Least privilege enforcement becomes practical, not just aspirational, when roles and access are aligned through automation.
- Change management is streamlined. As departments reorganize or buildings evolve, delegated stakeholders can update access configurations in real time without waiting on IT.
For organisations subject to regulatory frameworks or physical security mandates in critical infrastructure, PIAM supports both the technical controls and the evidence trail required for compliance.
Scale securely with PIAM
Physical identity and access management acknowledges that access decisions are human, contextual, and dynamic. By bridging physical security with identity governance, PIAM empowers organizations to scale securely without sacrificing agility.
For security professionals tired of the inefficiencies, blind spots and audit risks of legacy systems, PIAM offers a way forward: one rooted in delegation, powered by automation and aligned with modern business needs. If you’re ready, then Nedap is ready to pave that way forward with you.
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