Identity and Access Management

TL; DR

IAM platforms like Microsoft Entra ID provide comprehensive solutions that integrate with Authentication Methods, Zero Trust Architecture, and Conditional Access policies

Principles

IAM is the foundational discipline for managing digital identities and controlling access to resources.

Core Components

Identity Management

• User Identity Lifecycle - Creation, modification, deletion
• Identity Repositories - Active Directory, LDAP, cloud directories
• Identity Federation - Connecting multiple identity systems
• Identity Governance - Policies, compliance, audit trails

Access Management

• Authentication - Verifying user identity
• Authorization - Granting appropriate permissions
• Session Management - Controlling user sessions
• Single Sign-On (SSO) - Unified access experience

Modern IAM Challenges

• Hybrid Environments - On-premises + cloud resources
• Mobile and Remote Access - BYOD and remote workforce
• API Economy - Service-to-service authentication
• Regulatory Compliance - GDPR, HIPAA, SOX requirements

Cloud IAM Evolution

Traditional IAM focused on perimeter security, but modern cloud IAM emphasises:

• Identity as the New Perimeter - User and device identity matters more than network location
• Contextual Access - Dynamic decisions based on risk factors
• Least Privilege - Minimal access rights for required functionality
• Continuous Monitoring - Real-time threat detection and response

Best Practices

• Regular access reviews and certifications
• Automated provisioning and deprovisioning
• Strong password policies and MFA enforcement
• Privileged access management (PAM)
• Comprehensive audit logging and monitoring