Cyber Security Governance and Risk Management

What is identity access management?

Identity and Access Management (IAM) refers to the framework of policies and technologies that ensure the right individuals have the appropriate access to technology resources within an organisation.

IAM systems provide administrators with the tools and technologies to change a user's role, track user activities, create reports on those activities, and enforce policies on an ongoing basis. This framework is crucial for protecting sensitive data and resources from unauthorised access while facilitating efficient user management.

How identity access management works

IAM operates through a series of processes and technologies that manage user identities and regulate user access across an organisation. The core functions include:

• Identification: Users claim an identity within a system, typically through a username.
• Authentication: The system verifies the user's identity, often using passwords, biometric data, or multi-factor authentication (MFA).
• Authorisation: Once authenticated, the system determines which resources the user can access and what actions they can perform based on predefined policies.
• Audit and Compliance: IAM systems keep detailed logs of user activities and access changes, facilitating compliance with regulatory standards and internal policies.

The importance of identity access management

IAM is critical for several reasons:

• Security: It minimises the risk of unauthorised access to systems and data, thereby protecting against data breaches and cyber threats.
• Efficiency: Automating user access controls and management processes saves time and reduces the potential for error.
• Compliance: Many regulations require strict control over access to sensitive information, making IAM essential for legal compliance.
• User Experience: Proper IAM solutions streamline the user experience by providing users with seamless access to the resources they need for their roles.

Variety of solutions and practices

IAM encompasses a variety of solutions and practices, including:

• Privileged Access Management (PAM): Focuses on monitoring and controlling access rights of privileged users to prevent misuse of elevated permissions.
• Identity Governance and Administration (IGA): Involves defining and managing the roles and access privileges of individual network users and the conditions under which those privileges are granted or revoked.
• Single Sign-On (SSO): Allows users to log in once and gain access to multiple related systems without being prompted to log in again at each of them.
• Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Requires users to provide two or more verification factors to gain access to a resource, enhancing security.

Beneficiaries of identity access management

IAM systems benefit a wide range of stakeholders:

• Organisations: By safeguarding against unauthorised access, IAM protects an organisation's assets from potential security breaches.
• IT Administrators: IAM streamlines the management of user access, making the administration of network resources more efficient.
• Regulatory Compliance Officers: IAM helps ensure that organisations meet strict regulatory requirements regarding data access and privacy.
• End Users: Employees and other users benefit from more straightforward access to the tools and information they need, improving productivity and satisfaction.

In conclusion, Identity and Access Management plays a pivotal role in the security and operational efficiency of modern organisations. By controlling who has access to which resources and ensuring that users are who they claim to be, IAM systems help protect sensitive information from unauthorised access while facilitating compliance with regulatory standards.