Identity and Access Management best practices
What is Identity and Access Management?
The cybersecurity field that studies how users access digital resources and what they can do with them is called identity and access management, or IAM. IAM systems prevent hackers while making sure that each user only has the rights necessary to perform their responsibilities.
IAM provides authenticated entities with safe access to company resources, including databases, emails, data, and applications ideally with the least amount of disruption possible. Controlling access is intended to allow the proper individuals to do their duties while preventing unauthorized individuals, such as hackers, from entering.
Employees using company computers are not the only ones who require secure access. Also included are contractors, suppliers, business associates, and personal device users. IAM grants the right access to the right person on the right equipment at the right time. This makes IAM a crucial feature of modern IT and an organization’s cybersecurity.
Every time an access attempt is made, the organization may swiftly and precisely confirm a person’s identity and that they are authorized to use the resource in question thanks to an IAM system.
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The fundamental elements of access and identity management
IAM’s goal is to prevent hackers while enabling authorized users to accomplish all of their tasks with ease and without going beyond what is permitted. To do this, IAM implementations employ a range of instruments and tactics, but they all generally adhere to the same fundamental framework.
A database or user directory is a common feature of an IAM system. Each user’s identity and capabilities within a computer system are detailed in that database. The IAM uses the data in the database to track users’ activity, confirm their identities, and make sure they are only doing what the database permits as they navigate the system.
The four main elements of IAM initiatives identity governance, access control, authentication and authorization, and identity lifecycle management help provide a deeper knowledge of how IAM functions.
Identity lifecycle management
The process of establishing and preserving digital user identities for each human and nonhuman user within a system is known as identity lifecycle management.
Companies must distinguish between various users in order to track user behavior and grant customized permissions. IAM does this by giving every user a unique digital identity. Digital IDs are sets of unique characteristics that identify each user of the system. Characteristics such as a user’s name, ID number, login information, job title, and access privileges are frequently included in identities.
A central database or directory, which serves as a source of truth, is usually where digital IDs are kept. The data in this database is used by the IAM system to verify users and decide what they can and cannot do.
IT or cybersecurity personnel manually manage user onboarding, identity updates over time, and de-provisioning or off boarding users who depart the system in certain IAM initiatives. Self-service is possible with certain IAM products. After users provide their data, the system immediately generates their identification and establishes the proper access levels.
Access control
In addition to facilitating user tracking, distinct digital identities allow businesses to establish and implement more precise access controls. Instead of granting all authorized users the same capabilities, IAM enables businesses to assign distinct system permissions to distinct identities.
Role-based access control (RBAC) is used in many IAM systems nowadays. Each user’s privileges under RBAC are determined by their level of responsibility and job function. RBAC reduces the dangers of granting users more access than they require and facilitates the process of establishing user permissions.
Let’s say a business is configuring a network firewall’s permissions. Since access is not necessary for a sales representative’s job, they probably wouldn’t have any. It’s possible that a junior security analyst can observe firewall configurations but not alter them. Full administrative access would be granted to the chief information security officer (CISO). The firewall’s activity logs may be read by an API that connects the firewall to the business’s SIEM, but it may not be able to view anything else.
IAM systems may additionally apply the least privilege concept to user access rights for extra security. According to the idea of least privilege, which is frequently linked to zero-trust cybersecurity tactics, users should only be granted the minimal amount of access required to finish a task, and their credentials should be immediately withdrawn after the task is finished.
Many IAM systems use different privileged access management (PAM) techniques and technologies by the least privilege concept. The cybersecurity field known as PAM is in charge of managing access control and account security for accounts belonging to highly privileged users, such as system administrators.
Compared to other IAM roles, privileged accounts are handled more carefully since hackers can do anything they want if their credentials are stolen. For added protection, PAM products use just-in-time access protocols and credential vaults to separate privileged identities from others.
As part of each user’s digital identity, information about their access rights is typically kept in the central database of the IAM system. This data is used by the IAM system to enforce the unique privilege levels assigned to each user.
Authorization and authentication
IAM systems implement customized access control policies through authentication and authorization.
Authenticating a user human or nonhuman verifies their identity. Logging in or accessing a resource requires credentials to authenticate identification. A nonhuman user might share a digital certificate, whereas a human user might input a password. These credentials are compared to the central database by the IAM system. They are allowed access if they match.
Login and password authentication is the simplest yet weakest. Because of this, most IAM systems use more advanced authentication methods.
Multi-factor authentication (MFA)
Users who utilize multi-factor authentication (MFA) must submit two or more authentication factors to verify who they are. Biometrics like fingerprint scans, a physical security key, or a security code texted to the user’s phone are examples of common factors.
Single sign-on (SSO)
Single sign-on lets users log into many apps and services with one account. After authentication, the SSO portal generates a token or certificate for further resource security. To enable free key sharing between many service providers, SSO systems make use of open protocols such as Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML).
Adaptive authentication
AI and machine learning are used in adaptive authentication, also known as risk-based authentication, to evaluate user behavior and modify authentication requirements in real-time when the amount of risk varies. Risk-based authentication solutions hinder hackers and insider threats from accessing vital assets by enforcing more stringent authentication for riskier activities.
Because this scenario is so common, a user may just need to input their password when signing in from their typical device and location. The same user may need to provide more details if they are attempting to view particularly sensitive material or are logging in from an untrusted device since they are now acting in a riskier manner.
The IAM system verifies the database’s associated privileges with a user’s digital identity after they have been authenticated. The IAM system only permits the user to access resources and carry out tasks that are permitted by their authorization.
Identity management
The process of monitoring user behavior with regard to access rights is called identity governance. IAM systems keep an eye on users to prevent privilege misuse and to identify potential hackers who may have infiltrated the network.
For regulatory compliance, identity governance is crucial. Access policies are usually implemented to meet with security laws like PCI-DSS or GDPR. Businesses may make sure their policies are functioning as intended by using IAM systems to monitor user activities. When necessary, IAM systems can also generate audit trails to assist businesses in demonstrating compliance or identifying infractions.
