Difference Between Identity Management and Access Management
Have you ever thought that identity management and access management…
… both these terms have a significant difference and functionality?
Many people synonymously use both identity management and access management.
Now, let’s try to understand how these two terminologies are different from each other.
What is Identity?
Identity, specifically digital identities, is a collection of data about a particular user who wants to authenticate or communicate over a network.
These are unique attributes and credentials about an individual that helps in authenticating a user or uniquely represent the person from a large group of individuals.
What is Access?
Access, in the context of computer security, is the permission or privilege given to individuals for gaining entry & using specific resources of the system.
The concept of “access” helps maintain security in a computer or network system.
What is Identity Management?
Identity management (IdM) is the process that an organization leverages to ensure whether all legitimate individuals have proper access to the organization’s resources.
It includes identification, authorization, digital identity, security & user privacy, etc.
Identity management helps prevent the system from unauthorized individuals.
It helps prevent the exfiltration of the organization’s resources, by protecting data with encryption and other security measures.
Also, it is responsible for raising alerts & notifications in case someone’s identity does not match with the details already present in the database.
What is Access Management?
Access management (AM) is an organizational process associated with the system’s security.
It is responsible for managing, controlling, and setting access privileges, rights and policies within a system.
It leverages user identity to set specific privileges and permission to individuals and groups for accessing the organization’s resources & networks.
Identity Management vs Access Management:
These days, both identity management and access management works in close tandem to provide robust organization security through IAM solutions.
Here are the major differences between these terms –
Identity Management:
- It deals with managing all the users’ digital identities
- Without proper digital identity management, access and authentication will not be possible
- Identity management does not cater to any decisions
- Identity management is directly responsible for data privacy
- Encryption and data masking plays a significant role in protecting digital identities and the organization’s resources
Access Management:
- This deals with managing all the users’ access rights and privileges
- Without proper access management techniques, preserving digital identity is of no use
- Access management caters to decisions (either yes or no)
- Access management is responsible for data privacy only when unauthorized access takes place
- Access policies and permissions play a significant role in protecting the organization’s data from unauthorized users
Conclusion:
Both Identity Management and Access Management have their own pros and cons.
But it is always beneficial to have both, as they can work much better when implemented together.
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