{"id":3941,"date":"2023-10-18T10:30:37","date_gmt":"2023-10-18T14:30:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.indigoconsulting.ca\/?p=3941"},"modified":"2023-10-18T14:48:41","modified_gmt":"2023-10-18T18:48:41","slug":"what-is-identity-and-access-management-iam","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.indigoconsulting.ca\/fr\/blog\/what-is-identity-and-access-management-iam\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Identity and Access Management (IAM)?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"3941\" class=\"elementor elementor-3941\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-7e09750b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7e09750b\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-71a723fa\" data-id=\"71a723fa\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-62aad444 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"62aad444\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 style=\"font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; color: #414141;\"><span style=\"color: #003b59;\"><strong><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-3964\" src=\"https:\/\/www.indigoconsulting.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/young-programmer-working-at-his-workplace-2023-05-04-22-43-13-utc-1-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Indigo Consulting working on IAM software at computer\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.indigoconsulting.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/young-programmer-working-at-his-workplace-2023-05-04-22-43-13-utc-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.indigoconsulting.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/young-programmer-working-at-his-workplace-2023-05-04-22-43-13-utc-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.indigoconsulting.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/young-programmer-working-at-his-workplace-2023-05-04-22-43-13-utc-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.indigoconsulting.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/young-programmer-working-at-his-workplace-2023-05-04-22-43-13-utc-1-370x247.jpg 370w, https:\/\/www.indigoconsulting.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/young-programmer-working-at-his-workplace-2023-05-04-22-43-13-utc-1-690x460.jpg 690w, https:\/\/www.indigoconsulting.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/young-programmer-working-at-his-workplace-2023-05-04-22-43-13-utc-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.indigoconsulting.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/young-programmer-working-at-his-workplace-2023-05-04-22-43-13-utc-1-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/>Defining Identity and Access Management (IAM)<\/strong><\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Identity and Access Management (IAM) is a comprehensive framework of technologies and processes focusing on enhancing security and efficiency. IAM aims to enable the right employees, hardware, and software to access only the tools required to carry out their specific duties.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Implementing and benefiting from a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.indigoconsulting.ca\/fr\/maximizing-business-value-with-iam-maturity-assessment\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">fully matured IAM program is<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> long-term and relies on the right tools, processes, technologies, and people. So, let\u2019s drill deeper into the two aspects of this framework before diving into the wealth of terminology you need to know.<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h4><span style=\"color: #003b59;\"><strong>Identity Management vs. Access Management<\/strong><\/span><\/h4><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">IAM is a combination of two time-honored IT practices: identity management and access management. Each of these practices involves technologies and processes focusing on specific goals.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now, IAM has merged these two practices under one overarching umbrella. However, these terms are still not interchangeable and describe separate things. Let\u2019s take a look at them separately to better understand IAM:<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><strong>Identity Management<\/strong><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An identity is any type of user, machine, or even customer and contains information about the specific user to support authentication. An identity often contains information such as:<\/span><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Name and other basic information<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Department<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Job title<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Supervisor<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Direct report<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><strong>Access Management\u00a0<\/strong><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What applications, systems, and data should an identity be allowed to access? Answering this question is the focus of access management. Access management is also concerned with what a specific user can do within each application. For example, a user might be able to file an IT procurement request, but they won\u2019t be able to approve it.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now, identities can be created at an overall level and applied to individual users. From there, access management systems already know what IT assets the given identity can access and what they\u2019re allowed to do.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For example, instead of creating a new empty user account when a new employee is hired and configuring specific access levels, IT can assign the new employee to a specific identity. This refinement both minimizes human error and increases the efficiency of provisioning new users.<\/span><\/p><h4>\u00a0<\/h4><h4><span style=\"color: #003b59;\"><strong><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-3966\" src=\"https:\/\/www.indigoconsulting.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/it-specialist-developing-software-at-office-2022-07-20-07-58-08-utc-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Indigo Consulting IAM specialist working on computer with team\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.indigoconsulting.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/it-specialist-developing-software-at-office-2022-07-20-07-58-08-utc-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.indigoconsulting.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/it-specialist-developing-software-at-office-2022-07-20-07-58-08-utc-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.indigoconsulting.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/it-specialist-developing-software-at-office-2022-07-20-07-58-08-utc-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.indigoconsulting.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/it-specialist-developing-software-at-office-2022-07-20-07-58-08-utc-370x247.jpg 370w, https:\/\/www.indigoconsulting.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/it-specialist-developing-software-at-office-2022-07-20-07-58-08-utc-690x460.jpg 690w, https:\/\/www.indigoconsulting.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/it-specialist-developing-software-at-office-2022-07-20-07-58-08-utc-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.indigoconsulting.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/it-specialist-developing-software-at-office-2022-07-20-07-58-08-utc-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/>Infrastructure: Cloud IAM vs. On-Premises IAM<\/strong><\/span><\/h4><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">IAM can be handled in a few ways: on-premises, cloud, or hybrid. Traditionally, IAM has been handled with on-premises systems, which means a specific internal system for handling the necessary processes and technologies.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, several secure cloud alternatives have emerged in recent years that allow enterprises to reduce costs and enhance usability. Benefits from on-premises systems include higher uptime, redundant backups, and strict service level agreements (SLAs).<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Additionally, you might find hybrid systems that use some cloud services and handle other services in-house. The exact ecosystem can vary dramatically, but more and more enterprises are migrating entirely to cloud services.<\/span><\/p><h4>\u00a0<\/h4><h2><span style=\"color: #003b59;\"><strong>High-Level Overview of IAM Concepts<\/strong><\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let\u2019s zoom out before getting more granular \u2014 what is the overall topography of IAM? There are a few key concepts that form the basis of IAM, which are:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Digital resources or IT assets: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Any web application, platform, device, API, third-party software, and computer falls into this category. These resources are what every identity in an organization will need to access.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Identities: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An identity is any entity that wants to access your digital resources. We typically think of these as employees, but this definition extends to non-human identities such as automated tools or third-party platforms. An identity can also be a customer or client identity. Identities are often created categorically and then assigned to specific users as necessary. For example, everyone on the same team likely needs access to the same systems to have the same templated identity.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Authentication:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> We\u2019ve used passwords for decades \u2014 it\u2019s the process of verifying an identity. New authentication methods have emerged in recent years that strive to bolster security for all identities.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Authorization: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The final mountain in the IAM range is authorization, which determines what a specific identity can access within digital resources.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Authentication and authorization are often confused, so let\u2019s break away from the digital world to demonstrate an example of how they differ.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let\u2019s imagine an HVAC contractor is called to fix an AC unit in a secure building. They arrive and show their work credentials to security and gain access to the building \u2014 authentication.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now, they\u2019re given a visitor\u2019s RFID badge that lets them access the area with the problem. Authorization is the badge\u2019s ability to allow them into specific areas of the building; they can\u2019t wander into highly restricted areas.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This example is, more precisely, CIAM \u2014 Customer Identity and Access Management, a similar framework to IAM.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even though we\u2019ll focus on employee and non-human identities, it\u2019s worth taking the opportunity to touch on CIAM as it still illustrates the difference between authentication and authorization.<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h2><span style=\"color: #003b59;\"><strong>IAM Terminology to Understand<\/strong><\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now that we\u2019ve explored some of the overall concepts let\u2019s drill down into the different terms involved in IAM.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Be aware that even though the following list is extensive, it\u2019s not all-inclusive. Additionally, we\u2019ve broken terms into categories, but some of these terms may straddle the line between two or more categories.<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h4><span style=\"color: #003b59;\"><strong>Identity<\/strong><\/span><\/h4><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Identities are at the heart of IAM, and there are several related terms to understand, such as:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Digital identity: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A digital identity is used throughout IAM and refers to the attributes we discussed above (such as name, employee ID, etc.) and also often extends to historical activity and behavior patterns. A digital identity can also be a customer, client, or third-party platform that accesses your IT assets.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Identity-as-a-Service (IDaaS):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Similar to other as-a-Service platforms, IDaaS is a delivery method that offloads identity management to a cloud service. This doesn\u2019t necessarily mean a third party handles everything for you but instead provides you with a ready-made service.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Identity governance: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Governance in the context of identities is the process of using software, processes, and systems to manage identity access, often with a focus on compliance. Creating audit trails is a crucial component of identity governance.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Identity provisioning and deprovisioning: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">New employees require identity provisioning \u2014 the process of assigning identities and ensuring they provide the correct access levels. Deprovisioning is the opposite process, making sure employees who leave the company or move to a new department do not retain access.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p>\u00a0<\/p><h4><span style=\"color: #003b59;\"><strong>Access<\/strong><\/span><\/h4><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Access covers a range of technologies and processes that aim to authenticate and authorize identities. Key terms in this category include:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Active Directory (AD): <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">AD is a widely utilized Microsoft user-identity service. It remains widely used and can be put to work in IAM; however, other alternatives may be worth exploring, too.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Access management: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We\u2019ve explored access in the above sections; it\u2019s a set of processes and technologies working together to manage access to company resources. Authentication and authorization fall under access management. <\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Privileged access management (PAM): <\/b>\u00a0Privileged identities are those with a higher level of access than typical identities and are often C-suite executives or IT managers. PAM is a combination of technologies and processes that aim to protect these identities while also separating them from other identities to minimize the impact of a breach.<\/li><\/ul><p>\u00a0<\/p><h4><span style=\"color: #003b59;\"><strong>Authentification<\/strong><\/span><\/h4><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While we know authentication falls under the access umbrella, it\u2019s worth splitting off into its own category to discuss the different terms involved, such as:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Multi-factor authentication (MFA):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Several possible factors can be used to authenticate a user. MFA calls for using two or more factors to authenticate a user. Factors may include passwords\/pins, codes sent to devices in possession of the user, and even biometrics. MFA aims to prevent access to user accounts if one factor is compromised.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Single Sign-On (SSO):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Without SSO, users might need to continually authenticate themselves throughout the workday as they access different systems. SSO allows users to authenticate once, and then the system will authenticate with other IT assets in the background when necessary.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Biometric authentication: <\/b>Biometric authentication is the latest category of authentication factors and often takes the form of fingerprint scans but can also include facial and voice recognition.<\/li><\/ul><p>\u00a0<\/p><h2><span style=\"color: #003b59;\"><strong>How Exactly Does IAM Work?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now we have a strong foundation to build upon, how does all of this work together? All of the terms and definitions we\u2019ve explored in the above sections are specific components of a holistic view of managing identities and access.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">IAM&#8217;s primary focus is ensuring every user or non-human identity is who they claim to be by validating credentials, login factors, and context against existing identities.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From there, IAM continually authenticates and authorizes users as they move through different IT assets. A valid user account still won\u2019t have access to every system, and the systems they can access will likely have limited capabilities.<\/span><\/p><h4>\u00a0<\/h4><h4><span style=\"color: #003b59;\"><strong>Functions of Effective IAM<\/strong><\/span><\/h4><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">IAM is a complex and long-term approach to managing identity and access throughout the organization. As such, it isn\u2019t always implemented effectively, so<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.indigoconsulting.ca\/fr\/picking-the-right-partner-iam-partner-what-you-need-to-know\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> choosing the right IAM partner<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is crucial to design and implementation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Effectively implemented IAM has the following functions:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Provisioning and deprovisioning identities: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A core function of IAM is increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of provisioning and deprovisioning identities. Human error in both processes will be dramatically reduced, which in turn strengthens security and company-wide operational excellence. Once implemented, these processes can even be automated for additional benefits.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Manage machine identities:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Older methods struggle with machine identities \u2014 they weren\u2019t designed with a focus on the sprawling landscape of IoT devices, APIs, third-party platforms, and cloud infrastructure. Effective IAM increases managing and securing these types of identities.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Better authentication of identities: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Identities should be authenticated with several factors and throughout the user\u2019s workdown to enhance security.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Enable SSO: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SSO is a cornerstone of IAM as it improves usability and security. Without SSO, a single user would need to authenticate several times daily, affecting productivity and the user experience.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Simplify auditing and reporting: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Effective IAM implementation creates a more straightforward way to generate reports for compliance and conduct internal or external audits. Choosing the right tools and processes is crucial for this step.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The above functions aren\u2019t an all-inclusive list, but they give you an idea of what IAM should be capable of post-implementation.<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h4><span style=\"color: #003b59;\"><strong>IAM Industry Standards<\/strong><\/span><\/h4><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Any IAM solution needs to be able to integrate and communicate with other solutions. As a result, several industry standards have emerged to provide secure visibility into an enterprise\u2019s users, systems, and roles.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let\u2019s run through some of the top standards you\u2019ll need to know as you implement IAM:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>OAuth 2.0:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> OAuth is an open-standards protocol for identity management that allows for secure access to a wide range of devices and IT assets. Tokens are securely generated and transmitted, so credentials don\u2019t need to be continually passed to different systems. OAuth 2.0 is the latest advancement of the previous OAuth framework and is used by major enterprises and platforms.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP): <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0LDAP is a protocol for storing and sorting data so it\u2019s easy to search. LDAP has existed for a while and requires additional security in modern environments. However, it\u2019s still a widely used method of transmitting data between clients and servers that prevents credentials from being intercepted.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML): <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This markup language is a standardized method for exchanging authentication and authorization data between IAM solutions and other IT resources. Data is typically transmitted in the background and ensures users are authenticated when accessing new systems without affecting the user experience. <\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>System for Cross-Domain Identity Management (SCIM): <\/b>Managing users&#8217; identities can be done in a few ways, so SCIM creates a standardized and simplified method for adding, removing, or changing identities with an emphasis on modern IT ecosystems \u2014 namely, it\u2019s built to facilitate cloud-based platforms.<\/li><\/ul><p>\u00a0<\/p><h2><span style=\"color: #003b59;\"><strong>Do Enterprises Actually Need IAM?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Enterprises have many employees, are often targeted by malicious actors, and typically face one or more regulatory requirements. The result \u2014 even a slight improvement in any of these categories significantly impacts the enterprise scale.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And IAM is not a slight improvement. When enacted effectively, IAM secures human and increasingly common non-human identities while guarding against misuse and creating an audit trail.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">IAM increases operational efficiency, security, and compliance. Let\u2019s dive deeper into these three topics to see how IAM makes it possible.<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h4><span style=\"color: #003b59;\"><strong><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-3967\" src=\"https:\/\/www.indigoconsulting.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/teamwork-2022-10-11-20-02-48-utc-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Indigo Consulting IAM specialists team meeting\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.indigoconsulting.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/teamwork-2022-10-11-20-02-48-utc-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.indigoconsulting.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/teamwork-2022-10-11-20-02-48-utc-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.indigoconsulting.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/teamwork-2022-10-11-20-02-48-utc-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.indigoconsulting.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/teamwork-2022-10-11-20-02-48-utc-370x247.jpg 370w, https:\/\/www.indigoconsulting.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/teamwork-2022-10-11-20-02-48-utc-690x460.jpg 690w, https:\/\/www.indigoconsulting.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/teamwork-2022-10-11-20-02-48-utc-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.indigoconsulting.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/teamwork-2022-10-11-20-02-48-utc-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/strong><\/span><\/h4><h4><span style=\"color: #003b59;\"><strong>IAM and Security<\/strong><\/span><\/h4><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One persistent issue with enterprise security is passwords. IT can enforce strict password policies, but all it takes is a phishing email or other social engineering attack to compromise a password. A compromised password can be all it takes to access many sensitive IT assets with legacy security methods.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">IAM aims to address this common attack vector by introducing additional authentication factors and context awareness and embodies the principle of least access. All identities are only given access to the bare minimum amount of resources necessary to handle their daily responsibilities.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Context awareness also considers past user behavior, creates patterns, and identifies anomalous behavior. Even if someone has the correct password and even compromises MFA \u2014 the system may still prevent access if the login device, timeframe, or location is unusual for the user account.<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h4><span style=\"color: #003b59;\"><strong>IAM and Compliance<\/strong><\/span><\/h4><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Enterprises are no strangers to compliance. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a requirement for almost every business of all sizes, with each industry having its own additional regulatory requirements.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While the specifics certainly vary, most compliance requirements require some form of reporting, auditing trail, and security.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">IAM makes these requirements easier than legacy methods by already including IT asset monitoring, creating audit trails when identities are changed, and having built-in reporting tools.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Implementing IAM effectively while considering your specific needs is crucial to maintaining your compliance standing. But when done well, you\u2019ll likely avoid the possible fines and penalties for non-compliance.<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h4><span style=\"color: #003b59;\"><strong>IAM and Efficiency<\/strong><\/span><\/h4><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How long does IT take to provide a brand new employee identity with legacy methods? The process is typically handled manually, with identity information and access levels added from scratch (or a simplistic template) each time.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What happens when a new tool is introduced to your tech stack? Every user account and non-human identity will need to be manually given access to the new tool.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When an employee leaves the company or moves to a new department, IT then has to deprovision the account or configure it to match the needs of their new role.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Each scenario is common for enterprises, and IAM makes each of them significantly more efficient. For example:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Provisioning and deprovisioning user and non-human accounts is done by assigning them to the appropriate pre-defined identity. For example, everyone on a sales team is given the same baseline identity, as they all have the same access levels.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Automation can make the above process entirely hands-off for IT but should only be explored once IAM is effectively implemented.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">New tools or platforms that become part of the tech stack can be easily mapped to existing identities&#8217; roles and access levels. Instead of manually configuring each account, IT can map these attributes, deploy them, and address any issues that may arise.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can see how IAM goes a long way in maximizing efficiency in the context of IT. The user accounts themselves also benefit from faster provisioning, easier access to new tools, and other elements of IAM, like SSO.<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h2><span style=\"color: #003b59;\"><strong>Top Business Benefits of IAM<\/strong><\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We\u2019ve already explored how IAM benefits businesses in a few ways, but let\u2019s quickly touch on a few more perks businesses can expect post-implementation:\u00a0<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Enables advanced anomaly detection: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Anomalous behavior often indicates a cyber attack. Contextual data for each user account creates a baseline pattern, which then allows for detecting any unusual activity to notify IT or block access entirely.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Builds the foundation for zero-trust: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">IAM alone<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">isn\u2019t zero-trust architecture, but it provides all the tools necessary to enact zero-trust later. You\u2019ll have a streamlined way to manage users, additional authentication factors, and contextual awareness to start securing the entire infrastructure.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Enforce strong authentication<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Strong passwords are necessary, but only in the beginning. IAM benefits businesses by enabling stronger, advanced authentication methods to protect user and non-human identities.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Allow for greater automation: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">IAM enables new levels of automation, although it\u2019s wise to start with a base level of implementation and then add automation as the program matures.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><b>Manage and mitigate insider threats: <\/b>Not every data breach or incident is caused by an outside attacker. Insiders may try to gain access to sensitive data or systems for various purposes. IAM allows for easier management and monitoring of every user and strictly enforces authorization levels.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h2><span style=\"color: #003b59;\"><strong>What is the Future of IAM?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What\u2019s on the horizon for this evolving framework? AI and machine learning will undoubtedly affect the future of IAM \u2014 we\u2019re already seeing this <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.indigoconsulting.ca\/fr\/the-state-of-iam-program-management-in-2023\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">happen with the current state of IAM<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And while we like to take an optimistic view of AI advancing productivity and effectiveness, it\u2019s still worth noting that threat actors will also have increasingly advanced tools. IAM may become a necessary guard against a new wave of AI-powered attacks.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Preparing for the future starts with implementing IAM in the present. An effective IAM program provides many benefits now while building a future-ready foundation for whatever may come next.<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h2><span style=\"color: #003b59;\"><strong>Let Indigo Consulting Help You Upgrade to Future-Ready IAM<\/strong><\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Adopting IAM is no small project; it\u2019s not as easy as adding a new cloud vendor and calling it complete. Upgrading from legacy methods to leading-edge technologies and processes that enable IAM is an extended, ongoing campaign.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Above, we\u2019ve detailed how comprehensive and far-reaching IAM is in practice. It\u2019s a fundamental shift in how you manage identities and access. You must have the processes, technologies, and people in place to ensure a successful upgrade and prepare for the future.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Indigo Consulting is an industry leader in guiding businesses through the process of migrating from their current methods to the latest technologies and processing necessary for effective IAM.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Are you ready to enhance how you manage identities and control access to enhance security, efficiency, and future readiness? <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.indigoconsulting.ca\/fr\/contact\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Contact Indigo today<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for a discovery call to learn how we can help.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-898f9dc elementor-align-left elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"898f9dc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;,&quot;_animation_delay&quot;:200}\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/www.indigoconsulting.ca\/fr\/careers\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">WORK AT INDIGO<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Defining Identity and Access Management (IAM) Identity and Access Management (IAM) is a comprehensive framework of technologies and processes focusing on enhancing security and efficiency. IAM aims to enable the right employees, hardware, and software to access only the tools required to carry out their specific duties. Implementing and benefiting from a fully matured IAM [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":3942,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[117],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3941","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v25.8 (Yoast SEO v27.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What is Identity and Access Management (IAM)? | Indigo Insights<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"IAM is a framework of processes and technologies all working together to enhance the security, efficiency, and usability of user accounts.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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