What is Identity and Access Management (IAM)?

Learn what identity and access management is and how it helps secure identities, and data, and critical corporate resources. IAM solution guarantees secure access through authentication, authorization, and effective user management. Supported by Zero Trust Application Access, it continuously verifies users and devices through authentication, enforcing least privilege access.

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.

Importance Illustration

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

Build an ironclad security posture for your enterprise with a synergistic IAM platform and battle-tested UEM expertise.

By reducing password fatigue for your users and minimizing the risk of credential theft, Scalefusion’s SSO configurations can help you streamline user access across multiple applications. 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, making it easier to enforce security policies and comply with regulatory requirements.

Federated identity

Enable Federated identity to allow users to access multiple services and applications across different domains with a single set of credentials. Enhance your organization’s security and user experience with our federated identity solutions. By enabling seamless access across multiple domains, identity & access management solutions let enterprises streamline authentication processes while maintaining sophisticated security parameters. Optimize user management and reduce the risk of credential theft, allowing your admins to focus on what matters most.

Privilege access management

Enrich your enterprise’s security with Privileged Access Management (PAM) solutions. PAM ensures that only authorized users have access to critical systems and sensitive data, effectively minimizing the risk of unauthorized 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

Empower your security posture with our Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) solutions. Add a strong extra layer of protection by requiring users to verify their identity through multiple methods, such time-based one-time codes (T-OTP). 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

Preguntas frecuentes

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.

Explore identity and access management with zero trust security today!

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