Identity & Access Management (IAM), Tools, Methods and More…

IAM stands for Identity and Access Management (IAM), and it refers to the policies, procedures, and tools used to manage and control access to digital resources within an organization, and is an essential aspect of any organization's security strategy. IAM is a complex and multifaceted topic, but understanding the basics is crucial for anyone responsible for managing digital resources. In this blog post, I break down the key concepts and components of IAM.

IAM tools help organizations control access to sensitive information and resources by managing user identities, roles, and permissions. There are different types of IAM tools that cater to the needs of different organizations based on their size, complexity, and security requirements. In this blog, we will discuss 34 of the most common IAM tools used by organizations.

Understanding Key Identity and Access Management Components

Identity and Access Management (IAM) is the ability to provision, manage, audit, and secure digital identities while facilitating authentic connections to view company assets. IAM applies these provisions whether employees are located on-premises, the cloud, or based on the roles assigned to each digital identity.?

IAM addresses the mission-critical need to ensure appropriate access to resources across increasingly heterogeneous technology environments?and compliance requirements.?IAM?is increasingly business-aligned?and?requires business skills, not just technical expertise.?Enterprises that develop mature IAM capabilities can reduce their identity management costs and, more importantly, become significantly more agile in supporting new business initiatives.

Defines IAM as “the discipline that enables the right individuals to access the right resources at the right times for the right reasons.” They highlight top priorities for IAM, including:

1)???Clear vision and strategy for developing or building an IAM program.

2)???Use of Multifactor Authentication (MFA).

3)???Identity Governance and Administration (IGA).

4)???Privileged Access Management (PAM).

5)???Cloud IAM.

We identify the essential Identity and Access Management Components as:

1)???Customer Identity and Access Management (CIAM).

2)???Multifactor Authentication (MFA).

3)???Privileged Access Management (PAM).

4)???Identity as a Service (IDaaS).

5)???Single Sign-on (SSO).

6)???Passwordless Authentication.

Why Implement IAM?

Identity and Access Management reduces the likelihood of an attack?by verifying users are legitimate and only accessing information?they?are authorized to. It protects areas?including data, software, development platforms, organization devices, data centers, and integrations.

Single Sign-On (SSO):

• SSO tools allow users to authenticate once and access multiple applications and services without having to enter their login credentials each time. SSO tools use various authentication protocols, such as SAML, OpenID Connect, and OAuth, to securely authenticate users. Some popular SSO tools include Okta, OneLogin, and Microsoft Azure Active Directory.?

Privileged Access Management (PAM):

• PAM tools help organizations manage privileged accounts that have access to sensitive data and critical systems. These tools enforce policies for privileged access and provide auditing and monitoring capabilities to detect and prevent unauthorized access. Some popular PAM tools include CyberArk, BeyondTrust, and Thycotic.?

Identity Governance and Administration (IGA):

• IGA tools provide a centralised platform to manage user identities, access privileges, and compliance requirements. These tools automate user provisioning and de-provisioning, access requests, and access certifications. Some popular IGA tools include SailPoint, Oracle Identity Governance, and RSA Identity Governance and Lifecycle.?

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA):

• MFA tools provide an additional layer of security by requiring users to provide multiple factors of authentication, such as something they know (password), something they have (security token), or something they are (biometric authentication). MFA tools can be used to secure both on-premise and cloud-based applications and services. Some popular MFA tools include Duo Security?

What is CIAM?

While?IAM traditionally focuses?on securing?what your company’s workforce has access to,?it is?also used to?manage?your customer digital experience. This is also called?Customer Identity and Access Management (CIAM).

CIAM?manages the authentication of customer identities; therefore,?it is?necessary for public-facing applications that require account registrations.

Key CIAM features include…

• Self-service for registration.
• Password and consent management.
• Profile generation and management.
• Authentication and authorization into applications.
• Identity repositories, reporting, and analytics.
• APIs and SDKs for mobile applications.
• Social identity registration and login.

What is MFA?

• Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) is an authentication method that requires?users?to?provide?two or more verification factors to gain access to a?desired?resource.?MFA can be used for?applications, online?accounts, or a?VPN. MFA is also often linked to a?Zero Trust?implementation.
• MFA is a core component of a strong IAM policy. Rather than just asking for a username and password, MFA requires one or more additional verification factors, which decreases the likelihood of a successful attack. Each piece of evidence must come from a different category: something they know, something they have or something they are.

What is PAM?

• Privileged Access Management (PAM)?protects identities with?exclusive access?or capabilities beyond a normal user, such as an administrator. Privileged accounts?must be protected?due to accounts having?additional?capabilities?and/or confidential information.
• The first step in?implementing PAM is to determine which accounts have privileged access. Then, you can set up your policies?based on that?hierarchy.
• As a component of IAM, PAM?protects access?privileged?identities; however, IAM offers its?other components (MFA,?IDaaS, SSO,?Passwordless?Authentication) for all accounts, not just?ones with?privileged?access.

What is IDaaS?

Identity as a Service (IDaaS) can help you reduce risk and avoid unneeded IT infrastructure costs?by?providing?cloud-based authentication built by a third-party provider.?IDaaS providers supply cloud-based authentication or identity management for their customers.

The core aspects of IDaaS are:

• IGA: Provisioning users to cloud applications and password reset functionality.
• Access: User authentication, SSO, and authorization supporting federation standards such as Security Access Markup Language (SAML).
• Intelligence: Identity access log monitoring and reporting.

What is Passwordless Authentication?

• Passwordless Authentication?verifies users without a password. Using password?verification has been around for decades and is a?common?security?standard; however, passwords can also be very unreliable because they can be easily guessed, lost/forgotten, or stolen. Passwords are the top?target of hackers.
• Passwordless authentication?replaces passwords with other authentication factors that are safer, such as face or fingerprint ID.?One-time codes or OTP (One Time Passcode)?–?sent via SMS or email?–?is another way of replacing traditional passwords. Many times, these methods are often a part of MFA as?verification?in addition to the user’s password.

The Tools

1)???Microsoft Active Directory:

• Microsoft Active Directory (AD) is a popular IAM tool that is widely used in Windows environments. It provides a centralised platform for managing user authentication and authorization, as well as access to network resources.?

2)???Okta:

• Okta is a cloud-based IAM tool that provides secure identity management and single sign-on (SSO) for cloud applications and services. It enables IT administrators to manage user access across multiple applications and platforms from a single dashboard.?

3)???Okta Identity Cloud:

• Okta Identity Cloud is a cloud-based IAM tool that provides secure identity management and access control for web and cloud applications. It offers features such as SSO, MFA, and API access management.?

4)???Auth0:

• Auth0 is a cloud-based IAM tool that provides secure authentication and authorization for web and mobile applications. It offers features such as user authentication, social login, and MFA. Auth0 is purchased by okta

5)???Ping Identity:

§?Ping Identity is an enterprise-level IAM tool that provides a comprehensive platform for managing user identities, access privileges, and security policies across multiple applications and systems. It offers features such as multi-factor authentication (MFA) and single sign-on (SSO) to help organizations improve their security posture.?

6)???OneLogin:

• OneLogin is another cloud-based IAM tool that provides secure identity management and SSO for cloud applications and services. It offers features such as adaptive authentication and user provisioning to help organizations improve their security and productivity.?

7)???ForgeRock:

§?ForgeRock is an open-source IAM tool that provides a flexible and scalable platform for managing user identities, access privileges, and security policies. It offers features such as identity federation and risk-based authentication to help organizations improve their security posture.?

8)???IBM Security Identity and Access Manager:

• IBM Security Identity and Access Manager is an enterprise-level IAM-tool that provides a comprehensive platform for managing user identities, access privileges, and security policies across multiple applications and systems. It offers features such as identity governance and administration, user lifecycle management, and adaptive access control.?
• IBM Security Verify Access is an IAM tool that provides secure access management and SSO capabilities for enterprise applications and services. It offers features such as identity federation, access policies, and API security.?

9)???SailPoint IdentityIQ:

• SailPoint IdentityIQ is an IAM tool that provides identity governance and administration capabilities for enterprises. It offers features such as user provisioning, access request and approval, password management, and role management.?

10) CyberArk Identity:

• CyberArk Identity is an IAM tool that provides secure identity management, access control, and privileged access management (PAM) capabilities for enterprises. It offers features such as user authentication, access control policies, and session management.?

11) RSA SecurID Access:

• RSA SecurID Access is an IAM tool that provides multi-factor authentication (MFA) and single sign-on (SSO) capabilities for enterprises. It offers features such as adaptive authentication, risk-based authentication, and mobile authentication.?

12) Google Cloud Identity:

• Google Cloud Identity is a cloud-based IAM tool that provides identity and access management capabilities for Google Cloud Platform (GCP) and other cloud applications. It offers features such as user and group management, SSO, and device management.?

13) Centrify Identity Services:

• Centrify Identity Services is an IAM tool that provides identity and access management capabilities for hybrid IT environments. It offers features such as MFA, SSO, identity federation, and privileged access management.?

14) Oracle Identity Governance:

• Oracle Identity Governance is an IAM tool that provides identity and access management capabilities for enterprises. It offers features such as user lifecycle management, access certification, and compliance reporting.?
• Oracle Identity Cloud Service is a cloud-based IAM tool that provides identity and access management capabilities for enterprise applications and services. It offers features such as SSO, MFA, and user provisioning.?

15) CA Identity Suite:

• CA Identity Suite is an IAM tool that provides identity and access management capabilities for enterprises. It offers features such as identity governance and administration, access management, and single sign-on.?

16) AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM):

• AWS IAM is a cloud-based IAM tool that provides identity and access management capabilities for AWS services and applications. It offers features such as user and group management, access policies, and MFA.?

17) Duo Security:

• Duo Security is an IAM tool that provides secure authentication and access control for web and cloud applications. It offers features such as MFA, SSO, and device management.?

18) RSA Identity Governance and Lifecycle:

• RSA Identity Governance and Lifecycle is an IAM tool that provides identity governance and administration capabilities for enterprises. It offers features such as user lifecycle management, access certification, and compliance reporting.?

19) BeyondTrust Privileged Access Management:

• BeyondTrust Privileged Access Management is an IAM tool that provides privileged access management (PAM) capabilities for enterprises. It offers features such as session monitoring, password management, and role-based access control.?

20) ForgeRock Identity Platform:

• ForgeRock Identity Platform is an open-source IAM tool that provides identity and access management capabilities for enterprises. It offers features such as identity federation, access management, and directory services.?

21) Akamai Identity Cloud:

• Akamai Identity Cloud is a cloud-based IAM tool that provides secure authentication and access control for web and mobile applications. It offers features such as social login, MFA, and user management.?

22) Symantec Identity Protection:

• Symantec Identity Protection is an IAM tool that provides secure identity management and access control for cloud and mobile applications. It offers features such as MFA, risk-based authentication, and access management.?

23) Zoho Vault:

• Zoho Vault is an IAM tool that provides secure password management and access control for enterprises. It offers features such as password sharing, user management, and access tracking.?

24) Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE):

• Cisco ISE is an IAM tool that provides network access control and policy enforcement for enterprises. It offers features such as identity-based access control, device profiling, and guest access management.?

25) Microsoft Azure Active Directory:

• Microsoft Azure Active Directory is a cloud-based IAM tool that provides identity and access management capabilities for Microsoft services and applications. It offers features such as user and group management, access policies, and MFA.?

26) F5 Access Policy Manager:

• F5 Access Policy Manager is an IAM tool that provides secure access management and policy enforcement for enterprise applications and services. It offers features such as identity-based access control, SSO, and API security.?

27) Idaptive Identity Services:

• Idaptive Identity Services is an IAM tool that provides identity and access management capabilities for hybrid IT environments. It offers features such as MFA, SSO, and privileged access management.?

28) CyberArk Privileged Access Security:

• CyberArk Privileged Access Security is an IAM tool that provides privileged access management (PAM) capabilities for enterprises. It offers features such as password management, session monitoring, and access control.?

29) Centrify Privileged Access Management:

• Centrify Privileged Access Management is an IAM tool that provides privileged access management (PAM) capabilities for enterprises. It offers features such as password management, session monitoring, and access control.?

30) Thycotic Secret Server:

• Thycotic Secret Server is an IAM tool that provides privileged access management (PAM) capabilities for enterprises. It offers features such as password management, session monitoring, and access control.?

31) NetIQ Identity Manager:

• NetIQ Identity Manager is an IAM tool that provides identity and access management capabilities for enterprises. It offers features such as user and group management, access control, and identity synchronization.?

32) Symantec VIP:

• Symantec VIP is an IAM tool that provides strong authentication and access control for enterprise applications and services. It offers features such as MFA, risk-based authentication, and access management.?

33) RSA Access Manager:

• RSA Access Manager is an IAM tool that provides secure access management and SSO capabilities for enterprise applications and services. It offers features such as identity federation, access policies, and risk-based authentication.?

34) PingFederate:

• PingFederate is an IAM tool that provides secure access management and SSO capabilities for enterprise applications and services. It offers features such as identity federation, access policies, and MFA.?

Conclusion

IAM is a critical component of any organisation's cybersecurity strategy. By understanding the basics of IAM and following best practices for implementing an effective IAM strategy, organizations can better protect their digital resources from unauthorised access and minimize the risk of data breaches and other security incidents.

Here are some best practices to keep in mind:

Regularly review and update access permissions: This helps to prevent unauthorised access and ensure that users only have access to the resources they need to do their jobs.?

Use automation to simplify IAM processes: This can help to reduce the risk of errors and ensure that IAM policies are consistently applied across all systems and resources.?

Train users on IAM best practices: This is critical to ensure that users understand the importance of IAM and are equipped to follow the organisation's policies and procedures and create user security awareness.?

IAM Best Practices

Implementing an effective IAM strategy requires careful planning and attention to detail.

Develop a clear and comprehensive IAM policy:

This should outline the organisation's goals, objectives, and procedures related to identity and access management.?

Use multi-factor authentication: This helps to ensure that only authorised users are able to access resources, even if their passwords are compromised.