A comprehensive guide to how READI extends identity governance to disconnected, legacy, and hard-to-reach applications.
Every enterprise runs applications that sit outside the reach of its identity governance program. These are disconnected applications: systems that lack modern APIs, do not support standards like SCIM or SAML, or rely on proprietary interfaces that identity governance and administration (IGA) platforms cannot natively integrate with.
Disconnected applications include legacy line-of-business systems, Win32 desktop applications, mainframe and terminal-based environments, internally built tools, file share systems, and SaaS applications that do not offer enterprise-grade identity integration. In most large organizations, these applications number in the hundreds.
The governance risk is significant. When applications are disconnected from the IGA platform, the organization cannot automate provisioning or deprovisioning for those systems. User accounts persist after employees leave, creating orphaned access. Access reviews cannot cover these applications, leaving audit gaps. Security initiatives such as zero trust and least privilege cannot be fully implemented because the IGA has no visibility into who has access to what in these systems.
The result is a governance program that covers a fraction of the actual application landscape, with the remainder managed through manual processes, spreadsheets, email requests, and IT tickets.
IGA platforms such as SailPoint, Saviynt, Omada, and One Identity are designed to govern applications that support modern integration standards. They work well with systems that offer REST APIs, SCIM endpoints, LDAP directories, or database-level access. These platforms provide robust policy engines, access certification workflows, and identity analytics for connected applications.
The challenge is architectural, not a product shortcoming. IGA platforms are built to consume and act on structured identity data through standardized protocols. When an application does not expose its identity data through any supported protocol, the IGA platform simply cannot reach it. This is true regardless of how sophisticated the IGA platform is.
Organizations typically respond to this gap in one of several ways: they build custom connectors (expensive, fragile, and hard to maintain), they use file-based imports (manual, error-prone, and not real-time), or they accept the gap and manage those applications outside of governance (risky and audit-unfriendly).
None of these approaches scale. As application portfolios grow through organic adoption, mergers, and acquisitions, the number of disconnected applications increases faster than custom connector development can keep up.
READI is the identity foundation that removes connectivity and complexity barriers, enabling IGA platforms to deliver complete governance across all applications.
READI serves as the foundational layer that unifies identity data across every application, enabling IGA platforms to operate with complete, accurate, and actionable coverage. By abstracting the complexity of application connectivity, cleansing and normalizing identity data, and providing controlled delegation and advanced workflow capabilities, READI removes the barriers that slow and constrain identity programs.
READI is not an IGA platform. It is the complementary foundation that extends IGA reach to applications the platform cannot natively connect to, and provides the automation and workflow capabilities needed to act on governance decisions across every system.
The READI platform includes several core capabilities:
Connector Studio provides the tools to build, configure, and manage connectors that integrate any application with the identity program. Connectors handle account aggregation, entitlement collection, and provisioning actions across the full range of application types.
Bot Studio is the automation engine that executes identity workflows, remediation actions, and operational tasks. It provides an extensible platform for building any automation the identity program requires, from simple account provisioning to complex multi-step workflows that span multiple systems.
Access Studio is a governed application builder that enables organizations to create purpose-built applications for identity use cases such as delegated administration, custom access request workflows, and specialized governance interfaces. Access Studio applications are fully governed within the READI platform.
Smart Connector is a no-code connectivity capability that uses computer vision and large language model technology to navigate web, Win32, and legacy terminal applications. Using plain English instructions, Smart Connector produces governable Python scripts that can read from and write to applications that have no API or integration interface. Smart Connector is not robotic process automation. It uses AI to understand application interfaces and generate reliable, auditable integration code.
Behind these capabilities sits the READI platform itself: a unified identity directory (Atlas) that normalizes and consolidates identity data from all connected sources, a data transformation engine that maps and cleanses identity attributes across disparate schemas, and an execution infrastructure that runs automations on-premises or in the cloud.
READI is designed to complement IGA platforms, not compete with them. The integration model is straightforward: READI provides the connectivity and execution layer, while the IGA platform provides the governance policy engine.
In a typical deployment, READI connects to applications that the IGA platform cannot reach natively. READI aggregates account and entitlement data from those applications, normalizes it, and feeds it to the IGA platform for governance processing. When the IGA platform makes a governance decision (approve an access request, certify an account, revoke access), READI executes that decision in the target application.
This creates a bi-directional integration where the IGA platform governs and READI executes. The IGA platform sees all applications as connected, regardless of whether the underlying connectivity is native or provided by READI.
READI is a certified SailPoint Technology Partner and integrates with SailPoint ISC, SailPoint IdentityIQ, Saviynt, Omada, One Identity, and other IGA platforms. The integration preserves the IGA platform’s governance workflows, audit trails, and reporting capabilities while extending their reach to every application in the environment.
Access visibility gaps. When hundreds of applications are not connected to the IGA platform, the organization has no centralized view of who has access to what. READI connects those applications and surfaces their identity data into the governance program, closing visibility gaps that leave auditors and security teams without answers.
Manual offboarding risk. Disconnected applications are where orphaned accounts persist longest. Without automated deprovisioning, former employees retain access to file shares, business systems, and internal tools long after their departure. READI automates the full offboarding lifecycle across every connected application, eliminating the manual steps where accounts get missed.
Audit pressure. Regulatory and internal audits require evidence of governance coverage across the application portfolio. Applications outside the IGA create audit findings. READI brings those applications under governance, enabling access certifications, producing audit trails, and providing the evidence auditors require.
Stalled security initiatives. Zero trust, least privilege, and role-based access control programs depend on complete identity data. When significant portions of the application landscape are ungoverned, these initiatives stall. READI provides the complete identity foundation these programs need to succeed.
Application onboarding bottleneck. In many organizations, the queue of applications waiting to be onboarded to the IGA stretches months or years. Custom connector development is slow and resource-intensive. READI accelerates onboarding by providing multiple connectivity methods (API connectors, Smart Connector, file-based connectors) that can integrate virtually any application without lengthy custom development cycles.
Remediation gaps. Identifying a governance issue is only half the problem. Executing the remediation action in a disconnected application typically requires a manual ticket or direct login. READI automates remediation execution, ensuring that governance decisions made in the IGA platform are actually enforced in the target application.
Several vendors address disconnected application connectivity alongside IGA platforms, including Cerby, Aquera, and RedBlock AI. While these solutions share a common goal of extending governance to disconnected applications, they differ significantly in scope, architecture, and what happens after connectivity is established.
Application type coverage. Some connectivity solutions focus primarily on SaaS applications and web-based interfaces. Others specialize in file-based governance workflows or API gateway services. READI connects to any application type: modern web applications, Win32 desktop applications, line-of-business systems, mainframe environments, legacy terminal applications, file-based systems, and proprietary platforms. The hardest governance gaps are rarely in SaaS. They are in the internal, legacy, and desktop applications that have been accumulating for decades and that resist standardized integration approaches.
Platform depth beyond connectivity. Most connectivity solutions focus on establishing the link between an IGA platform and a target application. READI provides a complete platform behind that connectivity. This includes data transformation and normalization across disparate identity schemas, property mapping that reconciles different attribute models, a unified identity directory (Atlas) that consolidates identity data from all sources into a single normalized view, and a general-purpose automation engine (Bot Studio) that can execute any workflow the identity program requires. Connectivity is the entry point to READI, not the ceiling.
Extensibility beyond governance integrations. Because READI includes Access Studio (a governed application builder) and a general-purpose automation platform, it can address identity program gaps that go well beyond connecting applications to an IGA. Delegated administration portals, custom access review workflows, remediation automation chains, and purpose-built governance applications can all be constructed on the same platform. This means READI can fill virtually any gap in an identity program, not just the connectivity gap.
Connectivity approach. Solutions in this space use various technical methods: SCIM gateways, browser-based automation, agentic AI agents, or file-based collection. READI provides multiple connectivity methods so the right approach can be matched to each application’s characteristics. API-based connectors handle applications with programmatic interfaces. The Smart Connector uses computer vision and LLM technology for no-code connectivity to web, Win32, and terminal applications. File-based connectors handle batch integration scenarios. PowerShell-based extensibility covers everything else. This multi-method approach means READI is not limited by a single connectivity architecture.
Pricing alignment. READI is priced by the number of human identities under management, with unlimited connectors and automations included. This model means there is no incremental cost to connect additional applications or build additional automations, which removes the financial barrier to achieving complete governance coverage.
Chief Information Security Officers gain visibility into access across the complete application portfolio. READI closes the governance blind spots that create risk exposure and audit findings, providing the data foundation that security strategy depends on.
IAM Directors and Managers see the operational friction of application onboarding reduced significantly. Applications that would take months to integrate through custom connector development can be connected through READI in a fraction of the time, allowing the IGA program to reach its coverage goals.
Identity Architects and Engineers get an extensible platform that integrates with their existing IGA investment. READI works within the established governance architecture rather than requiring a parallel system. The automation platform is programmable and adaptable to the specific requirements of each identity program.
Security and Compliance Leaders can demonstrate governance coverage across applications that were previously unmanaged. Access certifications, audit evidence, and compliance reporting extend to every connected application, reducing the scope of audit findings related to incomplete coverage.
IT Operations Teams are relieved of manual provisioning, deprovisioning, and access tracking for disconnected applications. The manual ticket-based workflows that consume operational time are replaced with automated execution, reducing errors and freeing capacity for higher-value work.
When evaluating platforms that extend IGA governance to disconnected applications, consider these criteria:
Breadth of application connectivity. Can the platform connect to the full range of application types in your environment, including web, desktop, legacy, terminal, and proprietary systems? Or is it limited to specific application categories?
Bi-directional integration with your IGA. Does the platform both feed identity data into the IGA and execute governance decisions from the IGA? One-directional data collection without provisioning capability leaves a significant gap.
Automation and workflow capability. Can the platform execute complex, multi-step workflows, or is it limited to simple account operations? Identity programs require automation that can handle conditional logic, multi-system coordination, and exception handling.
Data normalization. Does the platform normalize identity data from disparate sources into a consistent schema? Raw data from disconnected applications is often inconsistent, incomplete, and structured differently from application to application.
Delegated administration and self-service. Can the platform support governed self-service interfaces for business users who need to manage access in applications they own?
No-code or low-code connectivity options. For applications that lack APIs or standard interfaces, does the platform offer a no-code approach to building connectors, or does every integration require custom development?
Pricing model transparency. Is the pricing model predictable and does it scale reasonably? Models that charge per connector or per automation create a financial disincentive to achieving complete governance coverage.
SailPoint encourages IdentityIQ (IIQ) customers to modernize to Identity Security Cloud (ISC), and READI supports that journey. SailPoint refers to this transition as a modernization rather than a migration, reflecting the architectural shift from on-premises, heavily customizable deployments to a cloud-native, configuration-driven model.
Mature IIQ deployments often carry years of customization: BeanShell rules, custom Java code, bespoke connectors built against proprietary application interfaces, and complex workflows that orchestrate provisioning across applications with no standard integration. When moving to ISC, these customizations do not translate directly. ISC is designed around standard connectors, configuration-based workflows, and REST API extensibility. Applications that relied on custom IIQ connectors may lose connectivity entirely during the transition.
READI addresses two specific gaps in the modernization process:
First, connectivity continuity. Applications that had custom IIQ connectors but lack SCIM, REST, or other ISC-supported integration methods can be transitioned to READI connectors. This ensures that no governance coverage is lost during or after the modernization. The IGA continues to govern those applications through READI’s bi-directional integration with ISC.
Second, custom workflow migration. Complex IIQ workflows and business rules that cannot be replicated in ISC’s configuration model can be rebuilt as READI automations. The business logic is preserved in a maintainable, governed platform rather than being abandoned or manually reimplemented.
READI is not a migration tool and does not compete with ISC’s native capabilities. Where ISC provides native connectivity and governance features, those should be used. READI specifically addresses the applications and automations that fall outside ISC’s native reach, ensuring the modernization does not create new governance gaps.
Microsoft has announced the end of mainstream support for Microsoft Identity Manager, with the end-of-life date set for January 2029. Organizations with significant investments in MIM workflows, synchronization rules, and provisioning logic need a path to migrate those capabilities before support ends.
MIM deployments often include complex synchronization flows between HR systems, Active Directory, and downstream applications, along with custom provisioning logic for applications that lack standard connectors. These workflows represent years of accumulated business rules and operational knowledge.
READI provides a migration path for MIM workflows. Bot Studio can replicate the synchronization, transformation, and provisioning logic that MIM performs, while Connector Studio provides the application connectivity. Organizations can migrate MIM workflows incrementally, running READI alongside MIM during transition and decommissioning MIM components as their READI equivalents are validated.
This migration path preserves the business logic embedded in MIM while moving to a modern, actively supported platform that is purpose-built for identity automation and governance.
Financial services. Banks, insurance companies, and investment firms operate under heavy regulatory oversight and manage large portfolios of legacy applications. Mainframe systems, proprietary trading platforms, and decades-old account management tools are common. READI’s ability to connect to these legacy systems and bring them under governance addresses a persistent compliance challenge in this sector.
Healthcare. Hospitals and health systems run a mix of electronic health record systems, departmental clinical applications, and legacy patient management tools. Strict offboarding requirements driven by HIPAA and patient data protection make governed deprovisioning critical. Many of these clinical applications lack modern identity integration, making them natural candidates for READI connectivity.
Pharma and life sciences. Highly regulated research and manufacturing environments rely on specialized laboratory information management systems, quality management platforms, and research tools that often lack enterprise-grade identity integration. Compliance requirements demand governance coverage across these systems.
Higher education. Universities manage diverse identity populations (students, faculty, staff, alumni, contractors) across sprawling application landscapes that include learning management systems, research platforms, administrative tools, and departmental applications. Budget constraints make custom connector development impractical at the scale required.
Manufacturing. Production environments include shop floor systems, quality control applications, supply chain platforms, and industrial control system interfaces that operate outside standard IT governance. READI extends governance to these operational technology environments.
READI is the identity foundation that removes connectivity and complexity barriers, enabling IGA platforms to deliver complete governance across all applications. It provides application connectivity, identity data normalization, workflow automation, and governed application development capabilities that extend the reach of IGA platforms to disconnected, legacy, and hard-to-reach applications.
No. READI is not an IGA platform. It is a complementary foundation that works alongside IGA platforms such as SailPoint, Saviynt, Omada, and One Identity. READI provides the connectivity and execution layer while the IGA platform provides the governance policy engine. Together, they deliver complete governance coverage.
READI is a certified SailPoint Technology Partner. It integrates bi-directionally with both SailPoint ISC and SailPoint IdentityIQ. READI aggregates account and entitlement data from connected applications and feeds it to SailPoint for governance processing. When SailPoint makes governance decisions, READI executes those decisions in the target applications.
READI connects to virtually any application type: modern web applications, Win32 desktop applications, line-of-business systems, mainframe environments, legacy terminal applications, file-based systems, and proprietary platforms. It provides multiple connectivity methods (API-based connectors, the Smart Connector for no-code connectivity, file-based connectors, and PowerShell extensibility) to match the right approach to each application.
The Smart Connector is a no-code connectivity capability that uses computer vision and large language model technology to navigate application interfaces. Using plain English instructions, it produces governable Python scripts that can read from and write to applications. Smart Connector works with web, Win32, and legacy terminal applications. It is not robotic process automation; it uses AI to understand interfaces and generate reliable, auditable integration code.
READI is priced by the number of human identities under management. Connectors and automations are unlimited, so there is no incremental cost to connect additional applications or build additional workflows. For current pricing details and packaging options, visit the READI pricing page.
No. READI is designed to complement and extend your existing IGA investment, not replace it. READI handles the applications and workflows that your IGA cannot reach natively, while preserving the IGA’s governance policies, certification workflows, and reporting capabilities.
READI is not a robotic process automation (RPA) tool. While RPA tools automate repetitive tasks by recording and replaying user interface interactions, READI is purpose-built for identity governance. It provides structured, governable connectivity to applications, normalizes identity data, integrates bi-directionally with IGA platforms, and provides a full automation and application development platform. The Smart Connector uses computer vision and LLM technology to generate integration code, which is fundamentally different from RPA’s record-and-playback approach.
Several vendors address disconnected application connectivity, including Cerby, Aquera, and RedBlock AI. READI differs in several key ways: it connects to the broadest range of application types (including Win32 desktop, mainframe, and legacy terminal applications, not just web and SaaS); it provides a full platform behind connectivity (data transformation, unified identity directory, extensible automation engine); and it goes beyond connectivity to offer governed application development and workflow automation that can fill virtually any gap in an identity program. For a detailed comparison of evaluation criteria, see the “How READI Differs from Other Connectivity Solutions” section above.
Yes. When modernizing from SailPoint IdentityIQ to Identity Security Cloud, applications that relied on custom IIQ connectors may lose connectivity because they lack SCIM, REST, or other ISC-supported integration methods. READI can take over connectivity for those applications, ensuring no governance gaps open during the transition. Complex IIQ workflows and business rules that cannot be replicated in ISC’s configuration model can also be rebuilt as READI automations. READI does not replace ISC’s native capabilities but specifically addresses the gaps that arise during modernization.
Yes. With Microsoft Identity Manager reaching end of life in January 2029, organizations need to migrate MIM synchronization flows, provisioning logic, and business rules to a supported platform. READI’s Bot Studio can replicate MIM’s synchronization and provisioning workflows, while Connector Studio provides the application connectivity. Organizations can migrate incrementally, running READI alongside MIM during the transition.
READI serves any industry where disconnected applications create governance gaps. It is particularly relevant in financial services, healthcare, pharma and life sciences, higher education, and manufacturing, where regulatory pressure, legacy application density, and diverse identity populations make complete governance coverage both critical and difficult to achieve.
READI is developed by READI (readibots.com), a certified SailPoint Technology Partner. For more information, visit readibots.com or contact the READI team to discuss how READI can extend your identity governance program.