What's role of IAM in Zero Trust?

Identity is a key component of a zero trust security model. In a zero trust model, all network traffic is treated as untrusted, regardless of whether it originates from inside or outside of the network. This means that every user and device must be properly authenticated and authorized before they are allowed to access network resources. This is where identity comes into play.

By verifying the identity of users and devices, a zero trust system can ensure that only authorized individuals and devices are allowed to access network resources. This helps to prevent unauthorized access and protect against security threats such as malware and hacking attempts.

In a zero trust model, identity is typically verified using strong authentication methods such as multi-factor authentication (MFA), which combines multiple factors such as a password, a security token, and biometric information (such as a fingerprint or facial recognition) to verify the user's identity. This makes it much more difficult for attackers to gain access to the network, even if they are able to obtain a valid username and password.

In summary, the role of identity in a zero trust model is to verify the identity of users and devices, and to ensure that only authorized individuals and devices are allowed to access network resources. This helps to protect against security threats and maintain the integrity and confidentiality of the network.