Cochlear’s inspiring journey in identity security transformation
Cochlear Limited, headquartered in Sydney, Australia, represents a global leader in hearing and implantable solutions. Established in 1981, the organization operates across more than 180 countries, delivering innovative solutions to approximately 750,000 recipients worldwide. Distinguished by its commitment to technological advancement, Cochlear invests 12% of its $2 billion revenue in research and development initiatives. As a publicly listed entity on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), Cochlear maintains its mission to empower individuals to connect and live full lives through cutting-edge hearing technologies.
Challenge
Cochlear encountered substantial operational challenges in managing identities across its global infrastructure. Identity management processes remained fragmented, with each regional division—Cochlear Americas, Cochlear EMEA, and Cochlear APAC—implementing disparate operational procedures. This fragmentation resulted in onboarding delays exceeding five days, inconsistent access provisioning protocols, and resource-intensive manual processes for contingent workforce management, including contractors and consultants. Furthermore, limited visibility into manufacturing system identities and excessive privilege permissions created significant security vulnerabilities, rendering the existing system both unsustainable and operationally inefficient.
Solution
Cochlear deployed a comprehensive centralized identity management solution designed to standardize and automate processes across all global operations. The platform's integrated "identity cube" architecture established a unified source of truth for user accounts spanning multiple applications, enabling centralized oversight and strategic control. Through implementation of a least-privilege access framework and adoption of role-based access controls, Cochlear substantially strengthened its overall security posture. Strategic integration with ITSM platforms delivered enhanced self-service capabilities for end users, optimizing access request workflows and driving measurable operational efficiency improvements.
- Industry
- Healthcare
- Company size
- 5,000+ employees
- Products
- Identity Security Cloud
"Identity security has been a strategic gamechanger for our organization. This transformation extends beyond cost reduction—it delivers operational efficiency, enhanced user experience, and unlocks critical business insights."
Jigar Lodhia, End User Compute Manager, Cochlear
