Security experts install and implement IAM products into the business to allow them total access control and protect Confidentiality, Integrity, and Authentication (CIA). That is to say, the protection of data must be the main concern for any organization. In addition, IAM systems are installed to protect the company’s data security from outside threats.
In this article, we will make sure you understand everything about cloud security and its overall importance for the security of nowadays businesses. On the other hand, we will ensure you understand how IAM works and how you can integrate it into your business. In conclusion, you learn the role of IAM in remote jobs. Let’s observe:
- What is IAM?
- How IAM works?
- IAM involvement in compliance matters
- Open standards of IAM
- What is the role of IAM in remote jobs?
- What are the benefits of IAM?
- Integration of IAM with data centers
- How can ConnecTech provide you with the best IAM system for your business?
1. What is IAM?
Identity and access management (IAM) mainly is about managing and defining access privileges of individual network entities (devices and users) to several on-premises and cloud applications. In the same vein, users include:
- Employees.
- Partners.
- Customers.
Whereas customers include:
- Computers.
- Routers.
- Servers.
- Controllers.
- And sensors.
Similarly, the main objective of IAM is one identity for each item or individual. After the digital identity is established, the data security suppliers must maintain it, modify it, and monitor it throughout each device’s access lifecycle.
On the other hand, another goal of identity management is to provide access to assets that devices and users have rights to in a specific context. In the same vein, it includes onboarding systems and users, authorizations, and the offboarding of devices and users timely.
However, a challenge of data security within companies is that users do not have a proper password culture. In addition, all users have too many passwords, and they tend to share them across logins, resulting in security threats.
A recent survey from August 2020 found that 52% of workers tend to store their passwords insecurely. Another survey from March 2021, found that more than half of users stopped using a website because their login process was complicated.
That is to say, IAM allows data security administrators to grant the technologies and tools to change users’ roles, track their activities, and create reports. Similarly, this system allows the security team to administer access across the company and ensure compliance with government regulations and corporate data security policies.
Identity has become really important due to COVID; since it made physical boundaries unnecessary. In addition, businesses are moving towards remote working and have given users outside the company access to their inner systems. However, with the technological revolution, identity has become an important part of management, acquisition, and retention.
2. How IAM works?
In the past years, the identity management system comprised 4 elements:
- An identity repository of the personal data that the system uses to define each user.
- Different tools for deleting, adding, and modifying the date (related to access management).
- The system that enforces and regulates users’ access.
- A reporting and auditing system.
However, regulating this access has always involved authentication ways to verify a device or user’s identity such as passwords, hardware and smartphone software tokens, and digital certificates. In the same vein, these tokens emerged in 2005 and are found nowadays on both Android and iOS smartphones from Microsoft, Google, Duo/Cisco, and others.
In today’s complicated digital environments as well as improved security threats; a strong password and username is not enough anymore. Similarly, the most notable changes have been the inclusion of multi authentication factors into IAM systems. Today, these systems incorporate elements of artificial intelligence, biometrics, and risk-based authentication.
3. IAM involvement in compliance matters
IAM systems support regulatory compliance; providing data security administrators with tools to implement broad security, access, and audit policies. Similarly, these systems provide features aimed to ensure the organization is staying compliant.
That is to say, most governments require businesses to take care of identity management. For instance, certain regulations hold businesses accountable for handling access to employee and customer information. Moreover, identity management allows organizations to comply with those regulations.
On the other hand, some regulations require strong user and security access controls; mandating that companies protect the privacy and personal data of their users. Likewise, in order to comply with these regulations, you may need to automate many parts of IAM; ensuring that your access rights, workflows, processes, and applications stay compliant.
4. Open standards of IAM
Certainly, there are many open standards to track and leverage when it comes to IAM. Similarly, these open standards are a good starting point; but companies must go beyond implementing certain open standards and be more efficient at managing and identifying access. For instance, the data security team must develop the best practices on how these standards are used and integrated across all users, devices, and applications.
Similarly, authorization massages between all involved partners are sent using Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML). That is to say, this open regulation defines an XML framework when exchanging security statements across data security administrators. Further, SAML allows interworking across different platforms; providing authorization, and authentication systems.
On the other hand, SAML is not the only traditional identity protocol; thus, others include:
- Web Services Trust (WS-Trust).
- WS-Federation (which has corporate backing from IBM and Microsoft).
- Open ID.
- And OAuth (which allows a user’s account to be used by third-party services such as Facebook without revealing the password).
However, one of the biggest shifts in identity standards since the past decade is the adoption of FIDO specifications among several IAM vendors, operating systems, and device makers. Thus, it provides features for using several hardware securities keys, eliminating passwords entirely, biometric methods, and smartphone profiles.
5. What is the role of IAM in remote jobs?
Due to the COVID outbreak, most companies move to a remote activity type of work; due to which digital identification becomes an important problem. Likewise, cybersecurity cases have increased worldwide during the pandemic; and hackers broke into systems due to deficient identification processes.
The physical and digital economy is depending upon IAM infrastructure and its demand has increased worldwide. On the other hand, according to a recent survey, most global executives are confident in the IAM framework and consider it essential to maintain remote activities and jobs. And when you compare it to other systems, IAM is more secure since they are based on Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA).
Similarly, as we mentioned earlier, the authentication process involves Machine Learning, biometrics, and AI risk-based models.
5.1. IAM’s role in an organization security
Normally IAM was restricted only to network data security solutions and constructing and establishing rules and policies for access and user identification. However, as time passed, the domain of IAM increased and most of the attacks on systems were caused by weak authentication and identification processes.
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However, the role of IAM expanded to other compliance areas. And due to its adaptive MFA tools and authentication, the organizations are now protected from external threats.
6. What are the benefits of IAM?
These identity and management systems are supportive for companies in many ways; it grants regulatory compliance, allows cost savings methods, and simplify the lives of your clients by improving their overall experience.
However, here are the main benefits of implementing IAM with data center security:
6.1. Easily accessible anywhere
Nowadays, all users need their identities ready all the time to use resources and services. In the same vein, they require access to the required platforms without limits only by using their IDs; thus, eliminating possible issues for customers entering the platform anywhere, anytime.
In addition, it encourages connection between the involved parties. Similarly, the technological revolution is taking place among more and more businesses implementing the use of devices and applications to stay connected to each other. However, all of these processes provide them with security threats.
We provide you with the best IAM system with the right administration from the best identity provider. On the other hand, security and authentication are two main parts of access management and identity, as well as being ready and extendable for future features.
6.2. Identity Management enhances productivity
This practice automates the new entry of personnel; facilitating access to all types of components of the system where the company operates. Further, allowing to reduce times in the proper delivery of access so they can start working immediately.
Therefore, business flexibility is increased when you take advantage of the technology available to meet the demands of today’s business world. And its application use translates into further business success.
6.3. It optimizes user experience
Certainly, remembering several passwords and usernames to access banks, social networks, and other internet services becomes a challenge for most people. Due to IAM, all individuals can obtain an identity that allows them to access the different systems.
On the other hand, single sign-on (SSO) allows all partners and customers to access different external and internal applications with the same access way. By doing this, the user experience is never affected.
6.4. Secures your brand at all levels
When you implement IAM systems there is no risk of security breaches; it does not matter if the connection is made from multiple identity providers. Similarly, access and identity management provides strong authentication methods to keep your company brand-safe and secure.
Detailed verification of identities trying to enter the system is carried out; as well as granting access to the different licenses to limit access levels. In the same vein, it monitors through analysis, alert functions, and fraud detection; thus, indicating if there is a possible real risk.
In conclusion, IAM is a reliable and strong system that takes advantage of technology in order to support digital transformation. And it is software that provides security, satisfaction, and agility to the business’ customers.
7. Integration of IAM with data centers
As we established earlier, SAML is the best way to simplify authorization processes and federated authentication for users; service providers, and identity providers. Similarly, it is the best way to integrate IAM with data security. On the other hand, it provides the right solution for service providers and identity providers to exist separately from each other.
Thus, this centralizes user management and provides easy access to SaaS solutions.
Similarly, this method enforces a secure method of providing authorizations and authentications between the service and identity provider. That is to say, when the user logs into a SAML application, the provider requests authorization from the identity provider. After that, the provider authenticates the user’s credentials.
Consequently, it returns the application from the user to the service provider; and then, the user is able to use the application.
Similarly, SAML authentication is the process of properly verifying all users’ credentials and identity (two-factor authorization, password, among others). And it also tells the service provider what type of access will grant the authenticated user.
8. How can ConnecTech provide you with the best IAM system for your business?
In ConnecTech, we understand that your business needs the best services fully focused on providing support to your business; thus, ensuring efficiency and productivity. In the same vein, our comprehensive solutions and our team of experts will provide your business with the best services in:
- Security and Software Development.
- Marketing.
- Infrastructure.
- And security.
Likewise, we are committed to assisting you and your organization, so you can successfully expand and grow. In ConnecTech, we have the best and latest resources that will ensure the most innovative approach to your organization’s problems.
Would you like to contact ConnecTech to obtain more information about how can you integrate IAM with data centers security?
You can call us on +971 433 16 688, and you will talk to one of our representatives who will answer all your questions.
