How to Build an Identity Roadmap That Doesn’t Get Shelved

The truth is: most identity roadmaps aren’t really roadmaps. They’re wish lists.

And wish lists get ignored.

If you want your identity program to survive budget cuts, shifting priorities, and leadership changes, you need a roadmap that's strategic, flexible, and defensible.

Here’s how you do it:

1. Build Around Business Outcomes, Not Technology Deliverables

Don’t frame your roadmap as "deploy SSO by Q2" or "start IGA implementation by Q4." Frame it as:

• "Reduce onboarding time by 60% in the next 6 months."

• "Achieve full SOX audit compliance by end of year."

• "Decrease privileged access risk by 50% through targeted reductions."

Technology is the means to get there, not the goal itself.

2. Align to Budget and Planning Cycles

Roadmaps that ask for funding "sometime later" will always lose to initiatives that show up ready for the next planning cycle.

• Know when budgets are built.

• Understand fiscal year cutoffs.

• Tie your funding requests to upcoming business initiatives or compliance deadlines.

Timing isn’t just a detail—it’s survival.

3. Prioritize Ruthlessly

You can’t fix everything at once. Nor should you try.

Prioritize:

• Highest risk areas (privileged access, orphaned accounts, etc.)

• Quick wins that build credibility (e.g., faster provisioning)

• Dependencies that unlock future initiatives (e.g., HR data cleanup before starting JML automation)

Make it clear which efforts deliver immediate business value—and which are building the foundation.

4. Create Flexibility Without Losing Focus

You’ll need to adjust. New regulations will hit. M&A will happen. Priorities will change.

But your roadmap should have:

• Core pillars that don’t move ("secure privileged access," "improve user experience," "prove compliance")

• Flexible paths on how you achieve those outcomes based on evolving business needs.

Being rigid gets you shelved. Being strategic keeps you funded.

5. Visualize It Like a Business Plan, Not a Tech Diagram

Executives don’t want swim lanes and Gantt charts. They want clarity.

Show:

• Outcomes on a timeline.

• Key milestones tied to business events.

• Risk reductions and efficiency gains by quarter.

Think "business transformation journey," not "project management chart."

Final Thoughts: Roadmaps Are Political Tools

The best roadmap doesn’t just explain what you’re doing—it sells why it matters to the business.

Get it right, and you’ll have leadership support, budget protection, and room to execute.

Get it wrong, and your identity program becomes "that IT thing we’ll get to later."

Next week: Managing up, down, and sideways as an IAM leader. (Spoiler: It's not just about securing accounts—it's about securing alliances.)