Identity and Access Management

Identity and Access Management: Manages digital identities, roles, permissions, and access lifecycles. This concept is central to identity and access controls. In practice, clear policies, loggingLoggingThe recording of security-relevant events so activity can be monitored, investigated, and audited., regular reviews, and the strongest possible authentication are crucial.

How it works and where it fits

Identity and Access Management separates the subject, digital identity, authentication factor, and authorization decision. Authentication establishes who or what is presenting an identity; authorization then determines which action is permitted in the current context. Session state, device trust, request origin, and risk signals can further influence that decision.

Practical security relevance

Effective implementation requires a controlled identity lifecycle from creation through role and entitlement changes to suspension and removal. Strong authentication, least privilege, periodic recertification, and traceable logs are central. Controls must also identify abuse of legitimate accounts, because valid credentials alone do not prove that an action is legitimate.

Related concepts

• AuthenticationAuthenticationVerification of the claimed identity of a user or system.: Verification of the claimed identity of a user or system.
• AuthorizationAuthorizationDecision regarding which actions an authenticated identity is permitted to perform.: Decision regarding which actions an authenticated identity is permitted to perform.
• Least PrivilegeLeast PrivilegeGrants only the minimum permissions necessary for a specific task and timeframe.: Grants only the minimum permissions necessary for a specific task and timeframe.
• Identity ProviderIdentity ProviderA service that authenticates identities and transmits identity information to applications.: A service that authenticates identities and transmits identity information to applications.