A surprise cake for the 5-year anniversary (from left: Managing Directors Ingo Ruhloff and Peter Dauner)

In summer 2016, Ingo Ruhloff and Peter Dauner realized a long-cherished dream by founding their own IT consulting firm, Ruhloff & Dauner GmbH. Their vision to focus exclusively on Identity & Access Management (IAM) and Micro Focus IAM products (formerly Novell/NetIQ) from the outset has developed into a remarkable success story over five years. Ruhloff & Dauner has won numerous prominent clients, built an exceptionally experienced consulting team, and established itself as a leading IAM specialist in the DACH region. Even the pandemic couldn't slow the company - on the contrary, with sensitive corporate data being accessed from home offices, IAM has become even more critical.

What's the secret behind this success?

Identity & Access Management has become a perennial priority for many companies. Shrinking IT administrative staff combined with growing compliance requirements demand perfectly functioning, fully traceable IAM systems. This strategic focus on IAM has proven key to success, explains Peter Dauner, Managing Director for Sales and Marketing:

"To maximize their IAM project benefits, clients now want specialized IAM experts again. Failed projects with generalist consulting firms offering 'one-stop-shops' without real specialization have driven this shift in thinking."

While Ruhloff & Dauner maintains no specific industry focus (IAM matters to all sectors), financial services show particular traction. This stems from both the company's consultants with insurance industry backgrounds and the unavoidable need for IAM solutions in regulated financial institutions. Regulatory pressures from legislators, auditors, BaFIN, GDPR, and ISO certifications create urgent demand for strong IAM partners. References like Provinzial Insurance, Deutsche Rentenversicherung Baden-Württemberg, and Pax Insurance confirm Ruhloff & Dauner as the preferred choice.

Ingo Ruhloff and Peter Dauner have also excelled at team building. Despite industry-wide IT security talent shortages, they've assembled an elite team averaging 10+ years IAM experience. Ingo Ruhloff, Managing Director for Consulting and HR, praises his team's expertise and explains their recruitment success:

"We're incredibly proud of every team member we've attracted. An IT consultancy's greatest asset is its employees' competence and experience. Our team now attracts consultants seeking new challenges. Top consultants want exciting projects and growth opportunities - which requires equally experienced colleagues for professional exchange. That's exactly what we offer."

Another 5-year milestone was acquiring a role management software including its creator, a veteran role modeling expert. Now marketed as R&D RoleManager, this solution addresses a major IAM project challenge: While leading IAM systems from Micro Focus, SailPoint or One Identity technically support role-based permissions, they lack built-in tools for efficient role modeling and maintenance.

Ruhloff & Dauner has ambitious plans ahead. After successfully launching R&D RoleManager in the DACH region, international expansion is next. Numerous Micro Focus IAM projects are already in the pipeline, and team growth continues. October will welcome a consultant with twenty years (!) of IAM experience who will serve as both architect and trainer - enabling expanded customized Micro Focus NetIQ IAM training offerings. If plans succeed, Ingo Ruhloff and Peter Dauner aim to establish the firm as the leading Micro Focus IAM specialist within five years.