What is Identity & Access Management Software?

Introduction

Identity and access management (IAM) software enables you to define and manage the roles and access rights of individual network users, and control the circumstances in which users are given or denied those rights. These users may be staff members (employee identity management) or consumers (customer identity management). The main aim of IAM solutions is to establish a single digital identity for each individual and to maintain, modify, and monitor this identity across every user’s access lifecycle.

In short, IAM software gives access to company IT assets to relevant users in the proper context, from user onboarding to a system to permission sanctions and finally user offboarding as required in a timely manner. With an IAM platform, admins can alter a user’s role, monitor their activities, generate reports on the activities, and implement ongoing policies. The system enables admins to manage user access across the whole organization and to ensure compliance with government regulations and corporate policies.

IAM software solutions include identity repositories, reporting and monitoring applications, security-policy enforcement apps, provisioning tools, and password-management programs. These platforms are offered for on-premises solutions like Microsoft SharePoint and for cloud-based tools like Microsoft Office 365.

Features of Identity & Access Management Software

Access Management

Access management means the technologies and processes utilized to monitor and control network access. Its key features include authentication, trust and security auditing, and authorization. They are included in IAM software for both cloud-based and on-premises platforms.

Biometric Authentication

This security process authenticates users by using their unique physical characteristics. It includes technologies like facial recognition, retina and iris scanning, and fingerprint sensors.

Multi-factor Authentication (MFA)

MFA involves the use of an added step for authentication to a system or network. It may be a SMS code sent to a mobile phone, insertion of a USB stick or smart card, or a fingerprint scan.

Password Reset

Users can change their own passwords which lessens supports calls and admin workload. Further, users can access the reset feature via a browser. The system asks them a set of questions or a secret word to verify their identity.

Privileged Account Management (PAM)

PAM refers to the management and auditing of data access and accounts based on a user’s privileges. A privileged user typically has administrative access to applications, and they can create and delete roles and user accounts.

User Behavior Analytics (UBA)

UBA tools analyze user behavior patterns and automatically apply assessment and algorithms to identify vital anomalies that can create security threats. Further, UBA differs from security technologies that concentrate on tracking security events or devices. UBA can be combined with entity behavior analytics to create a technology named UEBA.

Benefits of Identity & Access Management Software

You can use IAM software to initiate, record, capture, and handle user identities and their pertinent access rights in an automated fashion. This solution offers the following advantages to your company:

You can grant access privileges as per a single policy interpretation, and you can properly authenticate, authorize, and audit all services and individuals.

Further, you can get greater control over user access and minimize the risk of external and internal data leaks.

You can automate your IAM processes to function more efficiently and reduce the money, time, and effort that is needed for manual management of network access.

Another benefit is IAM software makes it simpler to implement policies on user validation, privileges, and authentication, and address concerns like privilege creep.

IAM software enables your firm to comply with government policies and regulations, and confirm that your business data is safe from misuse. Your organization can also show that it makes available on-demand any data required for auditing.

In addition, your enterprise can get a competitive advantage by using IAM software. You can give external users like customers, suppliers, contractors, and partners access to your network across software-as-a-service, on-premises, and mobile applications without impacting security. This facilitates better collaboration, decreased operating costs, enhanced efficiency, and improved productivity.