Identity and Access Management

Identity and Access Management (IAM) is a framework of policies, processes, and technologies that enable organizations to manage digital identities and control user access to critical corporate information. By assigning users with specific roles and ensuring they have the right level of access to corporate resources and networks, IAM improves security and user experience, enables better business outcomes, and increases the viability of mobile and remote working and cloud adoption.

Compromised user credentials are among the most common targets for hackers to gain entry into organizations’ networks through malware, phishing, and ransomware attacks. It is therefore vital for enterprises to safeguard their most valuable resources. Many are increasingly turning to Identity and Access Management (IAM) technology to protect their data and people.

Why is IAM important?

Businesses leaders and IT departments are under increased regulatory and organizational pressure to protect access to corporate resources. As a result, they can no longer rely on manual and error-prone processes to assign and track user privileges. IAM automates these tasks and enables granular access control and auditing of all corporate assets on premises and in the cloud.

While IT professionals might think IAM is for larger organizations with bigger budgets, in reality, the technology is accessible for companies of all sizes.

Benefits of Identity and Access Management

There are various cybersecurity benefits associated with IAM that include:

Information sharing

By providing a common platform for access and identity management, IAM allows you to apply the same security principles across all systems, applications, data, and content used in an organization. IAM frameworks enable organizations to implement and enforce user authentication, privileges, and validation policies.

Enhanced security

IAM systems help identify and mitigate security risks by identifying violations to set rules. IAM systems also facilitate the resolution of unauthorized access privileges without necessarily having to search through multiple systems.

Simplified access

IAM simplifies sign-in, sign-up, and user management processes for all users and user groups in a system. It makes it easy to set and manage system access privileges to users to enhance user satisfaction.

Increased productivity

Since IAM automates and centralizes the identity and access management processes, it helps create automated workflows that enable personnel to increase their productivity by reducing manual tasks like onboarding new personnel or when personnel change roles. It also helps to reduce errors that may occur during the manual processes.

Compliance with regulations

Virtually all compliance regulations require authorization or access controls for enforcing policies, as well as an audit trail and reporting for proving compliance in audits.

How Identity and Access Management (IAM) Boosts Security

The core objective of an IAM platform is to assign one digital identity to each individual or a device. From there, the solution maintains, modifies, and monitors access levels and privileges through each user’s access life cycle.

The core responsibilities of an IAM system are to:

1. Verify and authenticate individuals based on their roles and contextual information such as geography, time of day, or (trusted) networks
2. Capture and record user login events
3. Manage and grant visibility of the business’s user identity database
4. Manage the assignment and removal of users’ access privileges
5. Enable system administrators to manage and restrict user access while monitoring changes in user privileges

Role-Based Access Control

IAM frameworks are not only crucial to controlling user access to critical information but also implementing role-based access control. This enables system administrators to regulate access to corporate networks or systems based on individual users’ roles, which are defined by their job title, level of authority, and responsibility within the business.

Automatic De-Provisioning

An Identity and Access Management solution is also crucial to preventing security risks when employees depart a business. Manually de-provisioning access privileges to the apps and services the former employee used can often take time or even be forgotten entirely, leaving a security gap for hackers.

Human and Device Identification

Digital identities do not just exist for humans, as IAM also manages the identity of devices and applications. This establishes further trust and provides deeper context around whether a user is who they say they are and the applications that users are entitled to access.

Types of IAM

Identity and Access Management is not a unified concept. There are many types of IAM because business needs differ. Some companies are client-facing and need to manage third-party identities. Some deal with large remote workforces. Others need IAM for APIs and systems that reach across different cloud platforms.

Privilege access management

Privilege access management assigns permissions to each individual or role within a workforce.

In a robust PAM setup, privileges match the needs and seniority of each user. Users who deal with clients will have access to CRM applications, but not DevOps tools. Developers may have access to code bases and libraries, but not sensitive data about individuals. The aim is to make resources available without exposing data to excessive risks.

Customer identity and access management

Customer identity and access management is an IAM type. It is designed to meet the needs of customer-facing digital organizations. CIAM allows security teams to manage customer identities. This ensures customers have access to services but limits their freedom to access back-end resources.

API access management

Cloud applications communicate via application programming interfaces (APIs). Companies must manage access to APIs to allow authorized connections. They must deny access for users without necessary privileges.

API IAM is generally associated with development, security and operations . Developers need access to application back-ends and the privileges needed to make application changes. These privileges are dangerous when provisioned widely.

Web access management

Web access management (WAM) governs access to web applications. Most WAM implementations are not cloud-based. WAM is usually based around single sign on (SSO) and managed via on-premises hardware.

WAM identity management systems assign privileges to web app users. They include password self-service functions and require multiple authentication factors before they grant access.

What is Identity and Access Management Composed Of?

An IAM solution consists of various components and systems. The most commonly deployed include:

1. Single Sign-On

Single sign-on (SSO) is a form of access control that enables users to authenticate with multiple software applications or systems using just one login and one set of credentials. The application or site that the user attempts to access relies on a trusted third party to verify that the user is who they say they are, resulting in:

1. Enhanced user experience 
2. Reduced password fatigue 
3. Simplified password management
4. Minimized security risks for customers, partners, and vendors 
5. Limited credential usage
6. Improved identity protection

2. Multi-Factor Authentication

Multi-factor authentication verifies a user’s identity with requirements to enter multiple credentials and provide various factors:

1. Something the user knows: a password
2. Something the user has: a token or code sent to the user via email or SMS, to a hardware token generator, or to an authenticator application installed on the user’s smartphone 
3. Something specific to the user, such as biometric information

3. Privileged Access Management

Privileged access management protects businesses from both cyber and insider attacks by assigning higher permission levels to accounts with access to critical corporate resources and administrator-level controls. These accounts are typically high-value targets for cybercriminals and, as such, high risk for organizations.

4. Risk-Based Authentication

When a user attempts to log in to an application, a risk-based authentication solution looks at contextual features such as their current device, IP address, location, or network to assess the risk level. 

Based on this, it will decide whether to allow the user access to the application, prompt them to submit an additional authentication factor, or deny them access. This helps businesses immediately identify potential security risks, gain deeper insight into user context, and increase security with additional authentication factors.

5. Data Governance

Data governance is the process that enables businesses to manage the availability, integrity, security, and usability of their data. This includes the use of data policies and standards around data usage to ensure that data is consistent, trustworthy, and does not get misused.

6. Federated Identity Management

Federated identity management is an authentication-sharing process whereby businesses share digital identities with trusted partners. This enables users to use the services of multiple partners using the same account or credentials. Single sign-on is an example of this process in practice.

7. Zero-Trust

A Zero-Trust approach moves businesses away from the traditional idea of trusting everyone or everything that is connected to a network or behind a firewall. This view is no longer acceptable, given the adoption of the cloud and mobile devices extending the workplace beyond the four walls of the office and enabling people to work from anywhere.  IAM is crucial in this approach, as it allows businesses to constantly assess and verify the people accessing their resources.

IAM and compliance

It is easy to think that improved security is simply the act of piling on more security processes, but as staff writer Sharon Shea and expert Randall Gamby wrote, security “is about demonstrating that these processes and technologies are indeed providing a more secure environment.”

IAM meets this standard by adhering to the principle of least privilege, where a user is granted only the access rights necessary to fulfill his work duties, and separation of duties, where one person is never responsible for every task. With a combination of pre-determined and real-time access control, IAM enables organizations to meet their regulatory, risk management and compliance mandates.

Modern IAM technologies have the ability to confirm an organization’s compliance with critical requirements, including HIPAA, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, and NIST guidelines, among others.

IAM challenges

1. Setting up user profiles

Before IAM is operational, security teams must onboard existing users with the right role description, user credentials, and access privileges. This can be a daunting task in large companies, across multiple departments, locations, and even continents.

Role-based access control tools can help here. The right tools guide security admins as they set up profiles. But, constant testing and vigilance are needed to ensure privileges work correctly.

2. Interoperability and app sprawl

IAM services also have to work with many different network assets. They may need to manage access to on-premises legacy applications, SaaS tools, PaaS suites, and third-party resources. Device identities range from mobile and work-from-home devices to IoT sensors. Getting everything to work together is challenging.

3. Continuity – maintaining focus

IAM is not a one-time purchase or technical fix. It is a constantly evolving process that adapts to changing business needs. Security teams need to plan for audits and revisions as events unfold. They cannot rely on automated profile management and SSO to run without regular checks.

4. Role creep and permission glut

In the world of IAM, role creep is akin to the clutter that accumulates in a drawer over time. As employees transition through different roles within an organization, their access permissions can pile up, leading to a condition known as a permission glut.

5. Scaling hurdles and performance drag

Scaling issues, one of the IAM challenges, often resemble a traffic bottleneck on a growing highway. As an organization expands, the IAM system must accommodate an ever-increasing number of users and applications.

6. Insider risks and ethical dilemmas

While external threats often make headlines, risks from within the organization can be just as significant. Employees with elevated access permissions may misuse their powers, either intentionally or inadvertently, posing a complex challenge to manage.

IAM Implementation Guide

Consider Business Size and Type

Identity management systems are vital for businesses to automatically manage the identities and access privileges of users in various locations, computing environments, and on multiple devices, and IAM is equally effective for large enterprises as medium and small businesses. Solutions are available for large organizations and SMEs to pick and choose tools that simplify user access, remove reliance on passwords, and authenticate users wherever they are and on any device.

Create an IAM Integration Strategy

Common risks associated with implementing IAM are integrating the solution with existing solutions, making the move to the cloud, and employees using products and tools not approved by the organization, also known as Shadow IT. These can be avoided by fully embracing the move to IAM, putting the time and effort into establishing a cohesive identity management strategy, and encouraging collaboration across the business.

Implementing IAM in the enterprise

Before any IAM system is rolled out into the enterprise, businesses need to identify who within the organization will play a lead role in developing, enacting and enforcing identity and access policies. IAM impacts every department and every type of user (employee, contractor, partner, supplier, customer, etc.), so it’s essential the IAM team comprises a mix of corporate functions.

1. Make a list of usage, including applications, services, components and other elements users will interact with. This list will help validate that usage assumptions are correct and will be instrumental in selecting the features needed from an IAM product or service.
2. Understand how the organization’s environments, such as cloud-based applications and on-premises applications, link together. These systems might need a specific type of federation (Security Assertion Markup Language OpenID Connect, for instance).

Implementations should be carried out with IAM best practices in mind, including documenting expectations and responsibilities for IAM success. Businesses also should make sure to centralize security and critical systems around identity. Perhaps most important, organizations should create a process they can use to evaluate the efficacy of current IAM controls.

What to consider before implementing the IAM strategy

Much of the hard work when creating an identity and access management strategy takes place before implementation begins. Planning is crucial if you want to balance ease of use and secure user access. Here are some things to consider at the initial project stage:

1. Map your network architecture

The first step in implementing IAM is understanding the layout of existing network resources. Map on-premises router and server architecture and critical apps used locally. Create a map of remote work connections and any cloud-based services users access.

2. Understand the user community and privileges situation

Planners must also know who uses the resources protected by identity and access management tools. Build a directory of all active users and link individuals to their access levels and business needs. It’s good practice for IAM projects to list privileged users separately. These are users with wide-ranging network access. They are a primary target for external attackers.

3. Assess risks of data and applications

Carry out a full risk assessment of each application. Understand where confidential information resides in the network environment and who has access to this data. Apply sensible risk management to focus your IAM strategy on these high-value assets. 

4. Clean up your data governance practices

Before implementing an access management strategy, it helps to clean up existing data storage practices. Standardize data formats to suit IAM technologies and organize data to make it visible to security managers.

5. Choose the right IAM tools

Investigate IAM solutions and consider different technologies. Most modern companies benefit from cloud-based IAM solutions, but legacy-focused IAM is also available. Look for products that deliver core IAM functions, including:

• Authentication
• Authorization
• Single sign-on
• Auditing systems
• Identity federation

IAM vendors and products

IAM vendors range from large companies — such as IBM, Microsoft, Oracle and RSA — to pure-play providers — such as Okta, Ping and SailPoint. Selecting the best IAM product or service for your organization requires legwork to determine the features that address your needs, such as centralized management, single sign-on, governance, compliance and risk analytics. Check out our 2020 IAM vendor, product and feature listing.

Also read how Okta is going up against giants Microsoft and Google with its passwordless IAM offerings. Okta’s strategy is to implement non-password factors in conjunction with contextual access, with the goal of an improved user experience.

What mistakes to avoid

The IAM aspects discussed above can be combined in multiple ways. However, implementation teams can face problems when translating identity and access management plans into functional reality. Here are some mistakes that commonly make applying IAM more complex than it needs to be:

• Not understanding business goals. IAM must match the needs of each business. But it can add needless complexity and make employees’ lives much harder. Access management should support workers in their daily routines. Otherwise, employees may backslide to unsafe practices, and the project will fail.
• Poor training. Identity and access management requires participation from every user. Project teams must build training into their roadmap. Ensure everyone is aware of access policies and how to use IAM technology. And plan to upskill security teams to reflect the needs of modernized IAM architecture.
• Low stakeholder buy-in. Implementing IAM is disruptive. Executives and departmental managers may not understand the benefits while perceiving disruption as a problem. It’s crucial to build strong working relationships with all relevant stakeholders. This helps to ensure buy-in at all stages of the project.

Implementing IAM is complex but manageable. Integrating IAM best practices into this process is crucial. A well-produced, relevant strategy helps you plan the stages of an IAM deployment. Invest time in planning; your Identity and Access Management system will balance security and convenience while ensuring regulatory compliance.

conclusion

IAM is a cornerstone of cloud security. It provides granular control over who can access what resources within your cloud environment. By effectively implementing IAM, organizations can significantly enhance their security posture, reduce the risk of unauthorized access, and ensure compliance with industry regulations.

Key Benefits of IAM:

• Enhanced Security: Protects sensitive data and systems from unauthorized access.
• Improved Compliance: Helps organizations meet regulatory requirements.
• Increased Efficiency: Streamlines user management and access provisioning.
• Cost Reduction: Optimizes resource utilization by granting appropriate permissions.

Best Practices for IAM:

• Least Privilege Principle: Grant users only the necessary permissions to perform their job functions.
• Regular Reviews: Conduct periodic audits of IAM policies and user access.
• Strong Password Policies: Enforce complex and unique passwords.
• Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Implement MFA for added security.
• Role-Based Access Control (RBAC): Assign permissions based on roles and responsibilities.

Conclusion

By implementing robust IAM practices, organizations can build a strong foundation for their cloud security strategy. It is essential to continuously evaluate and refine IAM policies to adapt to evolving threats and business needs.

FAQs