What Is Identity and Access Management In Cyber Security?

Businesses use access management solutions to verify and validate access to applications and IT systems. They aim to improve security by strictly managing access to IT infrastructure, applications, and services that are cloud-based and on business premises. 

Access management solutions are generally delivered as a part of an IAM (identity and access management) solution. This cyber security practice deals with the way people access digital resources and what they can do with them. Hackers often try to access business networks by obtaining user credentials, then entering business networks through ransomware, phishing, and malware attacks. 

With over 2,200 cyberattacks occurring each day, businesses need to take steps to protect their valuable data. Many organisations use Identity and Access Management systems to safeguard employees and resources. 

IAM systems prevent hackers and ensure each user has specific permissions to carry out their jobs, instead of giving them more access than necessary. Clearly, this improves security, but it also enhances user experience, business performance, and the practicality of cloud services and remote working. 

How Does Identity and Access Management Improve Security?

IAM services give each device or individual a single digital identity. This solution then monitors, changes, and preserves access privileges with every user access life cycle. 

Identity and Access Management in cyber security systems have the following primary roles:

• Validate individuals depending on their roles and background information, like trusted networks, geographical location, or time of day. 
• Create a record of user login events
• Control and award visibility of an organisation’s user identity archive. 
• Oversee assigning and removing user access privileges. 
• Allow system administrators to monitor user privileges, then oversee and restrict user access when necessary. 

Examples of Identity and Access Management Solutions

Identity and Access Management solutions can be made up of different systems. Here are some of the most common IAM features:

1. Zero Trust Approach

Zero Trust security moves organisations away from previous approaches that trusted everything behind firewalls or linked to networks. With mobile devices and cloud software allowing people to work from different locations, this approach isn’t acceptable any more due to the security risks. 

IAM systems are important in a Zero Trust approach, as they enable organisations to continuously evaluate individuals accessing their data. You can find out more from our post on a zero-trust approach to security. 

2. Two-Factor Authentication

Also known as multi-factor authentication, two-factor authentication verifies an individual’s identity by providing several credentials. This may be a password the individual knows, a code sent through SMS/email, or biometric authentication specific to the individual. 

3. Single Sign On

Also known as SSO, single sign-on is a type of access control that allows users to authenticate with several systems, or software applications with a single set of credentials. 

The individual can only access the website or application after a trusted third party confirms the user is who they are said to be. This improves user experience, improves identity protection, and streamlines password management.  

4. Risk-Based Authentication

If an individual tries to log into an application, risk-based authentication methods may assess background information to evaluate their risk level. These features include IP address, network, location, or present device. 

Depending on these factors, the risk-based authentication method will choose whether to give the user access, prompt them with another authentication method, or deny access completely. This method can help organisations discover potential security risks, improve security with extra authentication features, and obtain more awareness about user context. 

5. Privileged Access Management

Privileged access management systems defend organisations from insider threats and cyber attacks. They do this by giving accounts with access to administrative controls and important corporate information greater permission levels. Cybercriminals generally target these valuable accounts, so they’re a greater risk for businesses. 

At Net Consulting, we can help you implement the best Identity and Access Management solutions for your business. Our Ransomware Resilience Assessment examines important security aspects within your business and then provides a security improvement plan in response..

The assessment supports identity and access management planning and gives you specific corrective measures to improve your business security. To find out more about our Ransomware Resilience Assessment, view our brochure, or visit our website to learn more about our range of cyber security services. 

Benefits of an IAM System

Identity and Access Management systems can help businesses keep their network secure and defend their digital resources against cyber attacks. 

The benefits of an IAM system include:

1. Improving Security

Identity and Access Management systems can help recognise and reduce security risks. Opening an organisation’s network to new clients, partners, and employees may be efficient, but increases security risks. An IAM system allows companies to widen on-premise system, applications, cloud and network access without jeopardising security. 

They can also help erase inappropriate access privileges and identify policy violations, without looking through several distributed systems. This ensures that only entitled people have access to sensitive systems and information, lowering the risk of cyber-attacks and unauthorized access as a result. 

2. Easy To Use

It can be hard to remember different passwords and usernames for various applications. An IAM system can streamline signing up, signing in, and user management processes for system administrators and application owners. Examples like Single Sign On let partners and clients access various external and internal applications with a single access approach, optimising the overall user experience. 

3. Sharing Information

It’s easy to lose information between bigger groups of people. It can be harder to access specific data and it may be hard to share files. 

Identity and Access Management in cyber security involves solutions that simplify sharing through a common framework. It’s easier to locate and share files with your clients or colleagues, with the knowledge you’re doing so in a secure manner. 

4. Reduced Service Expenses

Organisations that invest in IAM systems invest in themselves. These systems are managed through a primary platform, which saves money on outsourcing to other systems that need additional maintenance. 

An IAM system’s security can help organisations avoid damage if employees are non-compliant, flaunt regulations, or carry out fraud. Security breaches may cost an organisation high damages, but the initial expenses of IAM systems can act as insurance in the future. By prohibiting unauthorised access and identifying, validating, and authorising trustworthy individuals, IAM systems can make access management more efficient within an organisation. 

We hope this post helped answer what is Identity and Access Management in cyber security.

At Net Consulting, we offer tailored cybersecurity consultancy services centred around the NIST’s Cyber Security Framework. Supported by our team of skilled professional consultants, our services help businesses prevent cyber threats and respond to them if they occur.  

To find out more about our services, give us a call at +442920972020, or send us an email at info@netconsulting.co.uk. You can find out more about our DEM, Secure Network, and IT Management services elsewhere on our website.