Identity and Access Management:

Identity and Access Manage

The IAAA Model: The room introduces the core principles of IAM through the IAAA model:

• Identification: Verifying the user's claimed identity (e.g., username, email address).
• Authentication: Confirming that the user is who they claim to be (e.g., password, multi-factor authentication).
• Authorization: Determining what actions and resources the authenticated user is permitted to access based on their privileges.
• Accountability: Tracking user activities to ensure responsibility and enable auditing.

IAM vs. IdM: The topic clarifies the relationship between Identity Management (IdM) and IAM, noting that while some sources use them interchangeably, IAM is often considered a broader concept encompassing all processes and technologies for managing and securing digital identities and access rights. IdM is often seen as more focused on the security aspects of user identity, such as authentication and permissions.

Key Aspects of IAM:

• User Provisioning and Deprovisioning: Managing the lifecycle of user accounts, from creation to termination, including assigning and revoking access.
• Access Control Models: Implementing methods to control access, often through Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), where permissions are assigned to roles, and users are assigned to those roles.
• Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Enhancing security by requiring users to provide multiple verification factors.
• Single Sign-On (SSO): Allowing users to authenticate once and access multiple applications and services.
• Identity Governance and Administration (IGA): Implementing policies and processes for managing user identities and access rights, including access reviews and self-service capabilities.
• Compliance: Helping organizations meet regulatory requirements by providing tools for managing and auditing access.

Benefits of IAM:

• Improved Security Posture: Protecting sensitive data and resources from unauthorized access.
• Increased Productivity: Streamlining access for authorized users.
• Reduced Administrative Overhead: Automating user management and access control processes.
• Enhanced Compliance: Facilitating adherence to relevant laws and regulations.
• Mitigation of Insider Threats: Controlling and monitoring employee access to prevent data theft.