What Is Identity and Access Management (IAM)?

Identity and access management (IAM) is a mouthful. Still, it is simple: IAM is used in businesses and organizations to grant or deny employees and others authorization to secure systems. It's more than security, though—IAM involves integrating workflow systems with organizational think tanks that analyze and make security systems work efficiently. It is connected to policy, procedure, protocol, and procedure. Identity and security applications are also essential considerations. Many think of IAM as the guy standing before the door and ensuring you have a ticket before letting you through. It's more like a bouncer who handles all your different needs throughout your night out. IAM is there when you need to change your password and can't remember what it was (but insist on trying "password" first). It keeps track of all the applications you've used over the years, so you don't have to keep your list. And it's also there if someone else tries to use one of your credentials—like when one friend borrows another friend's ID and gets into trouble because they look nothing alike. IAM is a practice that has been used in business for decades. It's also a practice that has become increasingly important as organizations adopt interoperability in confidential records systems. IAM helps companies to comply with best practice standards in healthcare, finance or other sectors. To meet these best practices, companies need to know who's accessing which records and what those users' roles are within the organization. IAM provides this visibility. In addition to delivering this visibility, IAM ensures that employees have access to the information they need to do their jobs efficiently and effectively. This can be especially valuable for remote workers or employees who frequently travel for work—it allows them to stay connected with colleagues even when they're not physically present at the office!