Identity Access Management: Why It Matters?

calendar_month March 31, 2020

The days of storing office data on external devices like CDs and hard disks are long gone! Today, many organizations work is performed in a cloud using multiple devices. This makes data accessible for company personnel from any location. This is where the problem starts. What if non-company personnel was accessing this data? What a scammer could do with this information is terrifying. To prevent such mishaps, companies are now utilizing better methods for identity management. Identity Access Management (IAM) is a security measure that ensures that the right person is able to access company data. IAM strikes a balance between productivity and security to help safeguard companies during this period of digital transformation. The main objective of an IAM system is to grant every individual one digital identity.

What Is IAM?

IAM is also referred to as identity management. It provides IT security framework, discipline, and resolutions for managing digital identities. Identity management involves the following:

  • the setting up and removal of identities
  • authenticating and securing identities
  • providing authorized access to resources or performing certain actions

In IAM, an employee is granted a single digital identity that gives them access to different accounts related to them. Each account may have various levels of access control.

There are three typical systems used in identity management. These are:

1) Single Sign-On or SSO- With one login system, a user has to authenticate themselves to gain access to all the data and software they need without logging into different areas.

2) Multi-Factor Authentication- This system relies on a combination of items that a user knows to grant them access. This combination typically entails biometrics like fingerprints, a password, and or a security token.

3) Privileged Access Management- The system assimilates with pre-defined roles and the employee database to provide employees with access to perform their duties.

Identity Access Management technology can be administered via cloud-based model, on-premises, or through a hybrid cloud arrangement.

Why Identity Management Is A Buzz Word On The Internet?

The number of data breaches increases every year. Many large companies like Equifax, Target, Yahoo, and LinkedIn have witnessed some form of a security breach. As a result, companies must be able to protect themselves internally as well as from unknown exposure points on the Internet.

IAM protects sensitive enterprise systems, information, and assets from unauthorized use or access. Implementation of such a system reduces the chances of security and data breaches and ensures authenticated and legitimate user access.

IAM permits authorized access to the following areas:

Data & Information

Sensitive business, customer, supplier data, or data saved on cloud or local servers.

Devices

Desktops, laptops, tablets, smartphones, IoT, etc.

Software & Applications

Systems used by customers, employees, partner businesses, suppliers, etc.

Locations

All business locations such as data centers, private office spaces, secure locations, etc.

Integrations

Data transmitted, stored, received or used as it moves across different locations.

Due to the increasing number of data and security breaches, identity management has become a buzz word on the Internet. A robust IAM setup ensures standard and consistent access policies and rules across an organization.

For more information, reach us on info@trueid.in