Identity and Access Management (IAM)
Summary Definition: A strategic cybersecurity system governing access to digital resources and data via identity verification and strict authorization protocols.
What is IAM?
Identity and access management (IAM) is a cybersecurity system that controls how individuals and accounts access digital resources. It combines various principles, technologies, and practices to ensure that only authorized users can reach sensitive data, applications, and networks.
IAM security uses tools like single sign-on (SSO), multi-factor authentication (MFA), and privileged access management (PAM) to verify identities and control permissions. By enforcing strict authentication measures, IAM solutions prevent unauthorized access and potential cyber threats.
Why Does Identity and Access Management Matter?
With the rise of remote work, cloud computing, and hybrid IT systems, access and identity management has become essential for granting secure access to employees, contractors, and business partners while minimizing security risks. IAM tools, therefore, ensure that only authorized users can access critical systems while keeping threats out.
Moreover, combining those robust IAM solutions with secure identity management practices, such as the Principle of Least Privilege (POLP), streamlines access control, reducing manual oversight and minimizing human error while improving operational efficiency.
Conversely, organizations without an IAM solution or IAM roles face heightened risks of data breaches, insider threats, and credential-based attacks due to poor access control and a lack of authentication safeguards.
Identity and Access Management Compliance
Adopting an IAM system also helps organizations comply with various domestic and international data security regulations, such as:
- Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) – A federal law requiring organizations to implement strict controls for managing access to sensitive financial data, thus protecting investors from fraudulent accounting practices
- Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) – A federal law that safeguards a person’s protected health information (PHI) by enforcing strict standards for its handling and sharing
- General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) – A European law that gives individuals more control over their personal data by requiring organizations to use strong data protection measures
Unify HR and IT
Managing employee accounts can feel cumbersome and manual, but it's essential to ensure your team has the right access to the software they need to be productive. Without a unified process in place, this accountability is fragmented between HR data and IT systems, leading to inefficiencies and heightened security risks.