1695 – Identity Management In Action with Strata Identity’s Eric Olden

In this episode of the Thoughtful Entrepreneur, your host Josh Elledge speaks to the Co-Founder & CEO of Strata Identity, Eric Olden.

Eric broke down the concept of identity orchestration. He explained that it falls within a new software category designed to enable organizations to maintain identity management across multiple cloud platforms consistently and automatically.

This software ensures secure access to websites, applications, and data, effectively eliminating the need for manual and repetitive processes.

From a user's perspective, identity orchestration often operates seamlessly in the background. For instance, when someone logs into a website using their Google ID, it exemplifies identity management.

While this process may appear straightforward for individual users, complexity arises when managing identities for numerous users or a substantial workforce numbering in the thousands. This is precisely where identity orchestration steps in, simplifying the entire process and promoting interoperability.

Strata Identity primarily collaborates with large enterprises like Kroger, 3M, and the State of Minnesota, managing identity for their customers, employees, and partners. Eric's experience running Oracle's security and identity division gave him insights into big enterprises' challenges in managing identity across multiple clouds. This led him to establish Strata Identity and develop software to address this issue.

Strata Identity's pricing model is unique. Instead of charging based on the number of users, they focus on securing applications and the number of identity providers used. This allows organizations to pay for their needs, making the service more accessible and cost-effective.

Key Points from the Episode:

Introduction of Eric Olden, co-founder and CEO of Strata Identity
Explanation of identity orchestration as a new category of software
Importance of identity orchestration in managing identity across multiple cloud platforms
Strata Identity's focus on large enterprises and their experience in managing identity for customers, employees, and partners
Unique pricing model based on securing applications and number of identity providers used
Benefits of deploying Strata Identity's software, including cost savings and system upgrades without changing applications
Specialization in solving complex use cases, such as mergers and acquisitions
Importance of using standards like SAML or OpenID Connect

About Eric Olden:

Eric Olden is a visionary technical leader known for his profound contributions to internet security and identity management. With a career spanning innovation in web security and cloud technology, he co-founded and served as CEO of Symplified, a pioneer in cloud identity and access management.

At Symplified, Eric played a pivotal role in developing one of the earliest cloud identity management solutions and forged integrations with major cloud platforms like AWS, establishing a global cloud service for Identity and Access Management (IAM).

His journey in identity management began as the CTO and co-founder of Securant/ClearTrust, where he co-authored AuthXML and contributed to its incorporation into the SAML standard, a cornerstone in modern identity management. RSA acquired Securant, cementing Eric's legacy in the field. He's founded three software companies, generating over $235 million in equity value and holds multiple patents.

Eric is known for his hands-on approach to product strategy and team building, emphasizing customer development and fostering a strong team culture, significantly impacting the tech startup ecosystem. His passion lies in solving overlooked problems and creating pioneering markets in web SSO, Identity Federation, and Cloud SSO.

About Strata Identity:

Strata Identity is a pioneering company dedicated to providing secure identity solutions for all applications across various cloud platforms and identity providers, all while avoiding vendor lock-ins, complex modernization projects, and application abandonment.

Founded by Eric Olden, Eric Leach, and Topher Marie, Strata Identity strongly emphasizes culture and core values, including openness, honesty, integrity, transparency, accountability, and empowerment.

The company's mission revolves around breaking the shackles of identity and access management challenges by aligning its values with its actions.

Strata Identity's distributed team of Maverics spans North America, with the founders exemplifying the company's culture by starting the venture while on a surfing trip despite living in different parts of the United States.

This commitment to culture and shared values drives the team to believe in what they are building, akin to catching the perfect wave – a moment of pure magic. Strata Identity's team plays a central role in its ambitious endeavors.