Identity & Access Management
Enterprise identity governance and access control systems
Identity and Access Management (IAM) is the framework of policies, processes, and technologies that enables organizations to manage digital identities and control user access to critical information.
Core Components
- Identity Governance - Lifecycle management and access certification
- Access Management - Authentication and authorization services
- Privileged Access Management (PAM) - Securing privileged accounts
- Directory Services - Centralized identity stores
- Federation - Cross-domain identity sharing
Key Capabilities
- Single Sign-On (SSO) - One credential for multiple applications
- Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) - Layered authentication
- Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) - Access based on job function
- Just-In-Time Access - Temporary elevated permissions
- Access Certification - Periodic access reviews
Technologies & Protocols
- SAML 2.0, OAuth 2.0, OpenID Connect
- LDAP and Active Directory
- SCIM for provisioning
- FIDO2/WebAuthn for passwordless
- Conditional access policies
Enterprise Considerations
- Identity lifecycle automation
- Orphaned account detection
- Separation of duties enforcement
- Regulatory compliance (SOX, HIPAA, GDPR)
- Cloud identity integration
- Zero Trust architecture alignment