For many overseas IT managers, one of the biggest shocks when supporting UK operations is just how uncompromising the government IT policy is about IT governance.
While other regions may treat identity and access controls as an internal “best practice”, it can feel more like an expectation in the UK.
It reflects a business culture shaped by regulatory pressure, cyber-insurance requirements, and a national expectation of demonstrable accountability across every access decision you make.
Why Identity Governance Is Treated as Risk Management
In the UK, identity governance forms the backbone of organisational risk mitigation. Identity isn’t merely an IT function — it’s a business assurance tool.
UK government IT policy regulators, auditors, insurers, and even commercial clients expect organisations to prove that every access permission is justifiable, traceable, and controlled.
For overseas IT managers, this means that global identity practices that work perfectly well in other regions may not be strict enough for the UK environment.
To remain compliant, you must align local processes with UK expectations for documentation, auditability, and lifecycle visibility.
Documented JML Processes — Not Just Workflows, Evidence
Joiner–Mover–Leaver (JML) processes sit at the centre of UK government IT policy.
In many global organisations, JML workflows are documented but inconsistently applied. In the UK, inconsistency is interpreted as a governance failure. Every access decision must be:
- Documented
- Auditable
- Triggered by a controlled business process
- Aligned with HR-validated job roles
This level of discipline isn’t optional — it’s the baseline.
RBAC Must Match HR-Approved Job Functions Directly
Role-Based Access Control is widely used globally, but UK organisations expect a much tighter alignment between job function and permission level. If HR doesn’t approve a role’s responsibilities, then IT shouldn’t be granting access against it.
This means overseas IT teams must revisit how global roles map to local functions. A “standard global access role” may not meet UK expectations if it deviates from HR-approved local job descriptions.
Privileged Access Management — Even Small Companies Must Comply
Perhaps the biggest cultural difference for overseas managers is the UK’s attitude toward privileged accounts. While some countries allow more flexibility, the UK treats privileged access as a significant liability that must be tightly governed.
Even small businesses are expected to implement:
- Just-in-time privileged access
- Full session logging
- MFA enforcement at every admin level
- Strict separation of duties
- Zero shared admin accounts
If you don’t implement these controls, insurers and auditors will flag it immediately.
Conditional Access Is Assumed, Not Advanced
In many regions, Conditional Access policies are considered an enhancement. In the UK, they are considered the minimum acceptable standard. IT managers should expect to implement:
- Location-based access controls
- Device compliance rules
- Continuous access evaluation
- Risk-based authentication
Anything less is viewed as outdated and insufficient.
Account Lifecycle Logs Must Stay in the UK
Finally, identity lifecycle logs must remain in the UK or an equivalently protected region. Many overseas IT managers overlook this requirement, accidentally storing logs in global systems that don’t meet UK data protection expectations.
Strong identity governance isn’t just expected in the UK — it’s enforced by culture, regulation, and risk frameworks. Overseas IT managers who adapt to these expectations early will safeguard their organisation, satisfy UK stakeholders, and streamline their long-term governance strategy.
Managed IT Support in London
We appreciate IT governance in the UK can feel overwhelming and intimidating. If you feel as though you need advice and assistance, reach out to our IT professional in London. We’re happy to help.
You can also find out more information about IT governance in the UK using our Essential IT Checklist for Overseas Businesses Operating in the UK