Identity Management solutions

Identity and Access Management (IAM) is an umbrella term for processes within an organization devoted to the administration and management of users and resources in the network, including user access control for applications and systems.

Identity and Access Management encompasses the functionality to manage the identity of a user in the network. Its main concern is authentication of the user in the network and the access rights this user has in the network, commonly referred to as authorizations.

IAM Authentication

In terms of Identity, the end-user must be able to demonstrate that he is indeed who he claims to be. The most usual mechanism is by remembering a username and password combination. Another mechanism (types of authentication) is the combination of ‘remembering something’ with having something physical, for example a keycard, mobile phone, token, fingerprint etc. These latter forms are often called strong authentication types.

IAM Authorisation

Alongside authentication, authorization plays a strong role in Identity and Access Management. Authorization determines the components (resources) to which a user has access in the network. These resources might be: systems, applications, printers, shares etc. Where authentication is reasonably straightforward, authorization is often a complex set of rules. Access rights within the network vary depending on the position an individual holds in the organization. Complicating factors are: multiple employment situations, an inexact picture of exactly what an employee may do in his position (job, role, location etc.), checks on what the access rights actually are for an employee and whether they are in fact, in agreement with what was originally set up.

Identity and Access Management Software

The authentication and authorization of a user in the network is the actualcore of Identity & Access Management. Identity & Access Management Software encompasses the functionality to streamline the entire process surrounding the management of the authentication and authorization. This management functionality includes:

• Auto Provisioning
• Workflow Management
• Password Management
• Single Sign-On (SSO)
• Self Service
• Role-Based Acces Control