Overview
What is IAM?
Identity and Access Management (IAM) is a system that controls who can access company data, applications, and resources. It handles user authorization across all systems. IAM ensures only verified users get access to the right resources, based on their role and permissions. It supports least privilege access, reducing the risk of unauthorized activity or data exposure.
When paired with zero trust policies, IAM continuously checks user and device trust before granting access. This adds an extra layer of control and keeps identities, data, and systems secure at all times.
Significance
Why is IAM important?
Enterprises look to create strong policies to eliminate compromised user credentials and unauthorized access issues through Identity and access management solutions. To translate this on a broader level, CISOs want to maximize protecting hardware and software services on one platform. They can achieve this by implementing strong security measures against evolving threats while ensuring user access management. They also need to balance different technologies and comply with regulations.
Instead of relying on multiple IAM tools for decentralized needs, Scalefusion provides a unified platform solution for decentralized frameworks. With OneIdP, the IAM tool powered by Scalefusion backed with UEM, organizations can safeguard endpoints and provide conditional access to services for authenticated users, minimizing security breaches.
What’s the Difference Between Identity Management and Access Management?
Identity and access management is a combination of identity management (IdM) and access management (AM), and yes, there’s a big difference between the two.
Identity Management
Access Management
Identity Management = Authentication = Who Gets a Digital Identity
Access Management = Authorization = What That Identity Can Do
Establish and maintain user identities across systems.
Control and enforce what authenticated users can do.
Who are you? What role do you have? Should you exist?
How do you log in? What can you access? When and where?
Defining and verifying user identity.
Managing permissions and access conditions.
Foundation for all security processes.
Enforces rules on access after identity is confirmed.
User profiles, roles, credentials.
Passwords, biometrics, MFA, access to apps/files.
IAM tools and technologies
Components of IAM
Single sign on
Improve productivity and user experience by allowing your users to log in once and access all necessary resources seamlessly. Optimize IT administration by centralizing user management and access controls.
Federated identity
By enabling seamless access across multiple domains, identity & access management solutions let enterprises streamline authentication processes while maintaining sophisticated security parameters.
Privilege access
By controlling and monitoring privileged accounts, you protect valuable assets and maintain compliance with security regulations, allowing you to focus on safeguarding your enterprise.
Multi-factor authentication
With an IAM solution, significantly reduce the risk of credential theft and unauthorized access, ensuring that only legitimate users can access sensitive information while maintaining a seamless user experience.
98%
Of cyberattacks use social engineering tactics
16%
Of stolen identities are the most common initial attack vectors
IAM functionalities
How does IAM work?
Decentralized compliance
With built-in directory management, you can focus on business growth and customer satisfaction. Alternatively, use a software-integrated directory to enhance security and compliance, supporting seamless integration with third-party directory services for maximum efficiency.
Manage all your users' identities efficiently
Integration with third-party directory services
Auto-sync with third-party directories
Built-in directory service to provide identities for your users
SSO configurations
Facilitate effortless identity management with a one-click login experience for your users. This approach not only strengthens your security posture but also streamlines IT administration and boosts user productivity.
Centralize security compliance using identity & access management
Allow access to users based on their device management status
Eliminate the need for complex passwords for every application
Minimize password reset requests and login troubleshooting issues
Conditional access
Eliminate concerns about user access management. Keep your employees happy and satisfied by reducing process friction, lengthy SOPs, or complex documentation while you define access conditions for authorized users at the zeroth step itself. Enable authorized users to log into their devices, corporate data, and work applications by setting rules and parameters based on your standards. Establish specific guidelines to ensure secure access to your corporate resources.
Pre-define login conditions for users and drive security with MFA
Grant access based on location, IP address, Wi-Fi, date & time
Provide login privileges to local administrators, specific users, or both
Use geofences to specify authorized locations for device access
Just-in-time admin
Achieve full visibility into all applications and data in use across your organization. Stay informed about unauthorized tools and access in real time. Mitigate the risks of shadow IT by implementing automated controls that streamline compliance and enhance security.
Eliminate the need to share device admin credentials with end-users
Enable your end-users to perform device-level tasks
Request admin-level privileges and perform quick actions
Monitor actions via detailed logs and pending requests
IAM and Compliance
How IAM and compliance strengthen the security posture?
Compliance checks aren’t exciting, but they matter. Identity and Access Management (IAM) pulls its weight to help you with this stringent part. It controls who can access systems, data, and apps. IAM enforces least privilege and logs every access event. This supports standards like GDPR, HIPAA, SOX, and ISO 27001. It automates user onboarding and offboarding. It also adds MFA and runs access reviews. These actions reduce errors and prevent unauthorized access. IAM gives clear answers to who accessed what, when, and why. That makes audits faster and more accurate. Without IAM, proving compliance is harder and riskier. IAM turns policy into action. It keeps your organization audit-ready and secure every day.
Best Practices
How to Implement IAM Security Tools?
Strengthen device trust and security with tailored, targeted rules
Enhance device trust and security with tailored rules for unified identity management. Customize access controls and monitoring based on factors like location, time, and trusted SSIDs. Ensure only compliant devices connect to your network, reducing risks and safeguarding sensitive data. Empower your security strategy for maximum effectiveness and clarity.
Seamlessly unify your decentralized directories
Unify your decentralized directories to create a single source of truth for user identities with IAM software. Integrate your existing directories for clear simplified access management, or build your own directory with Scalefusion’s own Directory services that enhance data accuracy, and improve user experience. Leverage Identity and access management solutions to reduce administrative overhead and strengthen security by eliminating silos and potential vulnerabilities.
Take charge and control the perilous shadow IT
IAM solutions proactively address the challenges of shadow IT by implementing robust governance and visibility measures. IAM tools take charge by identifying unauthorized applications and ensuring compliance with security policies. You can protect sensitive data and empower employees to use approved tools, fostering a secure and productive work environment.
Maximize compliance and mitigate security risks
Enhance your organization’s security posture by maximizing compliance with regulatory standards and industry best practices using IAM software. Effectively mitigate security risks, by implementing comprehensive access controls and monitoring mechanisms. Build trust with stakeholders through advanced identity and access management platforms demonstrating a commitment to data security and regulatory adherence.
Craft a scalable identity and access management ecosystem
Develop a scalable identity and access management ecosystem that grows with your organization. Enhance user experience and adapt to evolving technologies by integrating flexible solutions. Enterprises can securely build user access management while optimizing user experience, simplifying managing identities or user permissions across a diverse and expanding digital landscape.
Get to know more about our powerful UEM and IAM solution
Context-aware access management for everyone
With Scalefusion IAM
Without Scalefusion IAM
Conditional access based on location, IP address, day/time
Multiple vendor integrations to enforce
User & devices trust-based SSO for corp-owned devices
Questionable security access to advanced 3rd party platforms
Advanced platform security
Decentralized user directory for business
Independent domain & built-in user directory
Non-standard user account provisioning and password management
OS-specific automatic user account provisioning, domain
Rudimentary security gaps
Veelgestelde vragen
IAM in cybersecurity refers to Identity and Access Management, a framework that defines and manages the roles and access privileges of users and devices within an organization. It ensures that the right individuals access the right resources at the right time for the right reasons. When someone asks, what is identity and access management, they’re referring to the system that authenticates identities and enforces access policies across cloud and on-prem systems.
IAM plays a central role in compliance by providing auditable controls over user identities, access rights, and usage logs. Most compliance standards like HIPAA, GDPR, SOX, and ISO 27001, require tight control over who can access sensitive data. So, when you ask what is identity and access management, it's also the answer to how organizations prove they’re enforcing least privilege, conducting regular access reviews, and tracking user activity.
Zero Trust in IAM means never trusting, always verifying—even after authentication. Instead of assuming internal users are trustworthy, IAM enforces continuous verification of users, devices, and contexts. If you're wondering what is identity and access management in a Zero Trust model, think of it as the gatekeeper that checks credentials every single time someone tries to access data or apps, regardless of their location or previous access.
IAM improves security by reducing unauthorized access, enforcing least privilege, and enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA). It helps IT teams monitor access patterns and quickly revoke rights when needed. In short, what is identity and access management? It’s a security guard, detective, and audit trail rolled into one, protecting systems from insider threats, credential misuse, and brute-force attacks.
IAM (Identity and Access Management) is about all users—managing identities, roles, and access across the board. PAM (Privileged Access Management), on the other hand, zeroes in on high-risk users like admins, giving them time-bound, monitored access to sensitive systems. If you're comparing the two while asking what is identity and access management, remember: IAM is the security baseline for everyone, PAM is the extra layer for the power users.
Explore identity and access management with zero trust security today!
Explore more glossary entries
IAM
Empower your organization's security at every endpoint — manage digital identities and control user access to critica...
Lees meerAccess Management
Access Management streamlines operations by unifying authentication, authorization, and auditing in a single solution...
Lees meerSingle Sign On
Single Sign-on (SSO) is an authentication method allowing enterprise users to access multiple applications and websit...
Lees meer