Identity and access management (IAM) is a process that helps organizations control who has access to their resources and how those individuals are authenticated. IAM can help to manage IAM operations, protect data, safeguard user accounts, and enforce compliance with enterprise policies.
There are several types of IAM: identity management, authentication, authorization, and accounting. Each type of IAM has its own set of benefits and drawbacks.
Identity management helps organizations create and manage user accounts. Users can access resources if they have been authenticated and have the appropriate permissions. If a user’s identity changes, you can update your records with the new information.
Authentication helps identify users when they try to access resources. Authentication methods include passwords, tokens, biometric data (such as fingerprints or facial scans), and certificates.
Authorization allows administrators to determine which users have access to which resources. Authorization methods include roles and privileges, group memberships, and levels of access.
Accounting tracks the usage of resources by individual users. Accounts can be created automatically or manually. Users can be assigned accounts automatically when they join an organization, or they can be assigned accounts after they are approved for membership in a group or role.
By managing user identities and access permissions, organizations can safeguard their information assets and protect their users from unauthorized use.
