IAM – Identity and Access Management
An acronym for Identity and Access Management, IAM refers to a framework of policies and technologies for ensuring that the proper people in an enterprise have the appropriate access to technology resources.
Also called identity management (IdM), IAM systems fall under the overarching umbrella of IT security. Identity and access management systems not only identify, authenticate and authorize individuals who will be utilizing IT resources, but also the hardware and applications employees need to access.
Identity and Access Management solutions have become more prevalent and critical in recent years as regulatory compliance requirements have become increasingly more rigorous and complex.
From Traditional IAM to Hybrid IAM and IDaaS
Enterprises have traditionally utilized on-premises IAM software for their identity and access management policies, but in recent years native cloud-based Identity-as-a-Service (IDaaS) solutions from vendors like Okta and Centrify have gained traction, as have hybrid identity and access management solutions from vendors like Microsoft and Amazon that provide cloud-based directories that link with on-premises IAM systems.
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