Identity and Access Management

Identity and Access Management (IAM) is a critical framework of technologies, policies, and processes that ensures the right individuals or entities have appropriate access to an organisation’s resources. Identity and Access Management involves two core aspects: identity management, which focuses on creating, managing, and verifying digital identities, and access management, which enforces rules determining what resources authenticated users can access. By centralising and automating these processes, IAM helps protect sensitive data and systems from unauthorised access, misuse, or breaches.

At its core, Identity and Access Management enables key functions such as identification, authentication, authorisation, and accountability. Identification ensures that users, devices, or services have unique digital identities. Authentication verifies that these identities are legitimate, often using methods such as passwords, multi-factor authentication (MFA), or biometrics. Once authenticated, authorisation defines the scope of access for each user based on principles like role-based access control (RBAC). Finally, accountability ensures transparency and compliance by tracking and auditing user actions within the system.



Identity and Access Management is essential for maintaining security, operational efficiency, and compliance with regulations such as GDPR, HIPAA, and SOX. It reduces the risk of data breaches by ensuring only authorised individuals have access to critical resources. Identity and Access Management also simplifies user access through features like single sign-on (SSO) and automated provisioning, improving productivity and user experience. Additionally, the ability to audit access and maintain detailed logs supports organisational governance and helps identify potential security anomalies.

Implementing effective Identity and Access Management requires adherence to best practices and leveraging specialised tools. Organisations should use strong authentication methods like MFA, enforce the principle of least privilege, and automate provisioning and deprovisioning of user accounts. Regular audits and reviews of access permissions are necessary to maintain security and prevent privilege creep. Technologies like Microsoft Active Directory, Okta, or CyberArk are commonly used Identity and Access Management tools, offering centralised control and scalability. A well-designed Identity and Access Management framework not only strengthens security but also facilitates seamless, secure access to organisational resources.