What Is IAM Security?

Identity and Access Management (IAM) security is an essential part of overall IT security that manages digital identities and user access to data, systems, and resources within an organization. IAM security includes the policies, programs, and technologies that reduce identity-related access risks within a business. IAM programs enable organizations to mitigate risks, improve compliance, and increase efficiencies across the enterprise.

What Are the Benefits of IAM Security?

IAM is a cybersecurity best practice and ensures greater control of user access. By identifying, authenticating, and authorizing users, while prohibiting unauthorized ones, IAM security improves the efficiency and effectiveness of access management throughout the business.

Enhance Security and Mitigate Risks

A recent study found that 50 percent of organizations indicate identity and access management programs are the most effective security tool to protect against insider threats, while 75 percent of organizations that use identity and access management solutions saw a reduction of unauthorized access incidents. Overseeing appropriate access through the right IAM security framework goes a long way towards bolstering an organization’s risk management and security posture.

When managing access within the organization, IAM security also ensures that users have the right access privileges required for their job. Without it, bulk approvals for access requests, frequent changes in roles and departments, and the lack of suitable processes for access reviews contributes to excessive access privileges—opening up the organization to insider threats and magnifying risk throughout the business.

Increase Operational Efficiencies

IAM security empowers organizations to do more with less. Many security teams today are understaffed and overextended, but are expected to manage and protect increasing numbers of devices, data, users, and systems. By leveraging IAM programs to automate and streamline access management, organizations can boost operational efficiencies. One study found that 49 percent of organizations view operational efficiency as an IAM program driver.

Improve Compliance

As regulatory compliance and industry mandates like SOX, HIPAA, and GDPR have become increasingly stringent and more complex in recent years, organizations face more auditing, compliance reviews, and mandatory reporting. IAM security solutions that automate data collection, reporting, and access reviews enable companies to limit access to only those individuals who need it and stay more compliant to industry standards. By leveraging strategic IAM security policies, organizations can ensure data is strictly controlled and prove they are taking proactive steps to meet ongoing compliance requirements.

What Are Effective IAM Security Tools?

Organizations today typically use leading IAM security tools through best of breed solution partners—from identity governance solutions to privileged access management to access intelligence tools offered either on premise, on cloud or through hybrid model. These tools make up the technology solutions that support the overall IAM security framework and are essential in establishing a solid foundation for identity and access management.