The Impacts of Identity and Access Management
Identity and access management (IAM) is an IT framework that helps you securely manage digital identities. This includes employees, contractors, business partners, and remote users. IAM systems also help secure applications, IoT devices, and APIs.
IAM policies determine what software suites, platforms, or other corporate assets individual roles can access. This can simplify compliance and help you support a zero-trust policy.
Authentication
In a time when employees are working remotely and accessing company data across different platforms, identity, and access management are more critical than ever. The systems and processes that manage this security ensure that only those who should have access to information do so while blocking unauthorized users.
When someone attempts to log in, IAM checks their credentials against a database that contains records for everyone who should have access. This information can include job titles, managers and direct reports, home addresses, phone numbers, personal email accounts, and more. Matching the login information provided (username and password) with the data in the identity management system is called authentication.
Modern IAM solutions also incorporate multifactor authentication (MFA), which requires something the user knows (username and password), something they own (a mobile device), and something they are (biometric information). Authentication is just one aspect of IAM, but it’s essential. IAM can also provide features like single sign-on (SSO) and self-service password reset, which reduces the burden on IT staff while cutting support calls. It can also provide privileged account management, which manages and audits people with administrative privileges within the organization.
Access Control
As with authentication, access control identifies the permission level granted to users to utilize specific systems and data. It helps strengthen cybersecurity by ensuring that only approved personnel can use sensitive information.
An IAM solution often provides centralized technology that replaces or deeply integrates with an organization’s existing access and login systems. It may use a combination of something you know (such as passwords or PINs), something you have (like an access card or token), and something you are (such as a fingerprint or voice print) to verify identity and provide authorized users with a single sign-on to a wide range of software, systems, and applications.
The type of access control an organization applies will vary by security needs and policies. Some will use stringent methods like MAC or RBAC, while others will employ a more flexible approach to user authorization and security called attribute-based access control (ABAC). ABAC includes coarse and fine authorization to help enforce principles such as least privilege, need-to-know, and separation of duties. The process also helps identify the most risky actions and reports on them to reduce risk.
Compliance
Identity and Access Management (IAM) is a broad umbrella term for a set of technologies and processes that ensure the right people have access to the right technology resources. It also helps businesses meet compliance needs, improve security posture, employee productivity, and mobility, and enable new business capabilities.
IAM solutions provide centralized control of user access privileges across different applications and systems, which can help prevent data breaches by limiting the exposure of corporate information. IAM systems can also help ensure that users are only granted access to what is required for their role by implementing role-based access control.
Customer identity and access management (CIAM) is a subset of IAM that manages external (customer) parties’ access to business applications and digital services. This enables companies to deliver a more personalized experience, increasing engagement and customer loyalty. CIAM platforms offer purpose-based controls for managing customer identities and accessing different application suites, such as content management and CRM systems. Some even include implementing multifactor authentication and using a zero-trust strategy.
Security
Identity and access management is a core security component, protecting information and controlling how users access systems. IAM is also a vital part of the migration to the cloud, providing consistent data access controls extended across on-premises and public cloud systems.
IAM solutions can provide granular permissions for users on each application, including what they can do, which applications they can use, and even whether they can use the system. They can do this through role-based access control (RBAC) that allows administrators to assign specific privileges to specific roles, such as the ability to view only specific parts of a database or system.
IAM can also prevent security risks when employees leave the company by automatically de-provisioning their access to all the apps and services they use. This can be more effective than relying on manual processes that could fail to remove access entirely or open it for hackers to exploit. Some IAM solutions support single sign-on, reducing the number of usernames and passwords that need to be remembered or stolen.
Integration
Whether employees work remotely or in the office, they must have access to the software suites and data needed to complete their job. This access must be limited to verified entities and unauthorized ones, such as hackers, denied entry.
Identity and access management (IAM) tools and best practices allow businesses to securely extend their internal systems to employees, contractors, partners, and customers without compromising security or productivity. These systems also help businesses meet compliance needs and reduce risk from data breaches.
IAM solutions automate verifying identities and assigning access permissions to save time for IT personnel. This allows them to focus on projects that add value to the organization and decreases human error.
When fully integrated with privileged access management, an IAM solution can create an even more streamlined identity and access management experience for everyone involved. This integration allows the business to follow a zero-trust policy to ensure that its users are always being assessed and that their access to sensitive information is only ever granted when required for the task at hand.