Identify and access management_

Reduce the risk of insider threats and data breaches by granting data and system access to only those who should have it. 

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What is identity and access management? 

Identity and access management (often referred to as IAM) is a framework for securing access to business systems, applications and data. It allows you to maintain control over your IT infrastructure and prevent non-authorised users from getting in. 

It involves managing user identities, authenticating their credentials and authorising their access privileges based on predefined roles and policies. IAM systems typically use a combination of authentication methods, such as passwords, biometrics or tokens, to verify user identities. 

Only by passing your IAM controls can people get access to specific applications and data, keeping everything locked down. 

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Why use identity and access management? 

IAM is crucial for businesses to protect their sensitive data. With the appropriate controls, you can minimise unauthorised people (such as hackers) getting access to your systems, as well as preventing insider risk. 

By controlling access, you can meet specific compliance regulations within your industry, reducing the danger of data breaches which put your partners, staff and customers at risk. 

IAM also streamlines user provisioning, deprovisioning and access management processes, saving time and resources and ensuring everyone has what they need to do their jobs. 

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What are the benefits of identify and access management? 

Enhance security: Prevent unauthorised access to systems and data by verifying user identities and restricting access based on roles and permissions 

Enable compliance: Ensure compliance with various regulations and industry standards that require organisations to maintain strong security practices 

Eliminate data breaches: Mitigate the risk of data breaches and the associated financial and reputational damage  

Increase operational efficiency: Streamline user provisioning, deprovisioning and access management processes, saving your IT team time 

Improve user experiences: Provide a seamless user experience by automating access management tasks and reducing the need for manual intervention 

Boost auditability: IAM systems can generate detailed logs and reports that can be used to track user activity and identify potential security threats 

Be more agile: Quickly adapt to changes in the business environment by providing flexible access management capabilities 

Save money: Reduce costs by automating processes and minimising the risk of security incident 

How do Infinity Group support with identity and access management? 

Our team of cyber security experts are well-versed in identity and access management, allowing them to make practical recommendations to lock down your data and systems. We start by assessing the risks facing your business currently, including potential entry points for unauthorised access. This includes conducting vulnerability scans and penetration tests to identify weaknesses in the infrastructure.  

From here, we can advise measures that need to be enforced to minimise the risk and keep your resources protected. This may include recommending technology solutions that simply IAM and authenticate your users. 

Beyond this, we can provide ongoing monitoring and management of your security infrastructure to identify and address emerging threats. This enables you to maintain consistent IAM to eliminate risk without draining your internal resources. 

IAM key features_ 

Authentication: IAM systems verify the identity of users through various methods, such as passwords, biometrics, or tokens, to ensure they’re authorised 

Authorisation: IAM determines what users can access based on their assigned roles and permissions, so sensitive information is given on a need-to-know basis 

Provisioning: IAM automates the process of adding and removing user accounts and assigning appropriate access privileges, including as people join and leave the business

Access governance: IAM provides tools for managing access policies, roles and permissions to maintain control 

IAM FAQs_

What is the difference between authentication and authorisation? 

Authentication verifies the identity of a user. It ensures that the person claiming to be a particular user is indeed who they say they are. 

Authorisation, on the other hands, determines what actions a user is permitted to perform once their identity has been verified. It grants or denies access to specific resources or functions based on the user’s roles and permissions. 

What are the different types of authentication factors?

There are three types of authentication factors: 

  • Something you know: This includes passwords, PINs, or security questions. 
  • Something you have: This includes physical tokens, smart cards, or mobile devices. 
  • Something you are: This includes biometric factors such as fingerprints, facial recognition, or voice recognition. 

You should use a combination of these to authenticate any users before they log into your systems. 

What is single sign-on (SSO)?

SSO allows users to log in to multiple applications with a single set of credentials. This simplifies the login process for users and reduces the risk of password breaches.    

Many technologies now include SSO as standard, which can allow you to benefit from IAM without users facing complex log-in processes. 

What is multi-factor authentication (MFA)?

MFA requires users to provide multiple forms of authentication to verify their identity. This adds an extra layer of security and helps prevent unauthorised access. 

An example of MFA is if, to access their account, a user needs to enter a password (something they know) and then scan their fingerprint (something they are). 

MFA adds a significant layer of security by making it much harder for unauthorised individuals to gain access to accounts, even if they have obtained a password. 

How can IAM help with compliance?

IAM can help organisations comply with various regulations and industry standards, such as GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS, by providing tools for managing access controls, auditing user activity and demonstrating compliance with security requirements. 

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