Identity Access Management

Benefits of Identity-based Access Control

Instasafe

Aug 3, 2021 • 7 min read

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Identity and access management, or IAM, is a way to provide digital identities to employees. Businesses can manage these identities using the IAM and keep the business process moving in synergy.

An Identity-based Access Control model allows for deploying access policies, tracking business activities, and policing systems. It ensures that each employee has the right access authority to the right technology and resources.

But before we start discussing the benefits of IAM or identity-based access control, let us know more about it.

What is Identity-based Access Control?

Identity-based Access Control, also known as IAM (Identity and Access Management), is an important framework that manages digital identities’ security discipline. The primary objective of such a framework is to authenticate identities and authorise (or de-authorise) access to any important resource or action.

There are some fundamental components that an IAM system works on. These are the security policies that organisations define and impose to extend or restrict access to personnel within or outside the group. These IAM components are defined as:

Protection of sensitive information and other areas within an organisation
Identifications of users and roles they are assigned
Management of the level of access and controls that individual users get over the data, information and the overall system
Management of database of users, adding or removing them from the system
Allowing or revoking the right to access or roles allocated to users

Top Benefits of Identity-based Access Control (IAM)

Saving time on administration:

Administration costs in a business can easily accumulate, but having an effective and easy solution in place that allows easy access to users into their workspace and databases can save time.

Now, one of the benefits of IAM is that it allows for a seamless and easy-to-manage flexible administration. A company can edit access settings, create privileged groups, and ease user registration processes using this environment.

In addition, a business can begin establishing access customization according to the needs of its employees and other stakeholders. Fully implementing these processes can enhance efficiency in the workplace.

2. Better security:

Identity access management enhances security by carefully controlling user accounts and application access rights. Monitoring authentication systems and updating user rights are also integral parts of IAM.

The flexibility of access tied to a user's digital identity enables administrators to monitor processes and trace security flaws. Implementing an identity-based access control model protects personal and corporate data and contributes to strategic customer benefits, promoting exceptional daily productivity in businesses.

3. Reduces service costs:

Investing in identity and access management (IAM) is like purchasing insurance for your company. It offers cost savings by centralizing control, avoiding outdated systems, and outsourcing expenses. Moreover, identity-based security prevents damaging pitfalls such as fraud, non-compliance, or information breaches that could result in substantial financial losses and damage to your company's reputation and customer base.

4. Good company security:

One of the top benefits of IAM is that it simplifies authentication, enables Multi-factor Authentication (MFA), and provides complete management of identities and access, reducing service costs.

With strong password policies, enforced security strategies, and session expiration options, organizations can achieve heightened security and peace of mind, mitigating cyber threats and data vulnerability.

5. Simplicity across all areas:

Identity-based security stems from streamlined user provisioning and account configuration, resulting in a direct workflow with fewer errors and abuses.

Automation of processes adds an extra layer of security, while simplified access control guidelines empower administrators with more control over user access.

6. Possibility to monitor access:

One of the benefits of identity and access management is that it maintains digital identity controls and access while automating processes to enable quick decisions by administrators.

By associating roles with positions, hierarchies, business units, and regions, access to information can be efficiently managed without compromising monitoring capabilities.

7. Great information sharing:

Streamlined Information Sharing is one of the benefits of identity and access management.

IAM simplifies information sharing among large groups, providing a common shared platform for easy file access and secure collaboration.

Trust and efficiency are enhanced, making the switch to IAM a vital step for any business, adding value and instilling confidence among colleagues and customers.

Common Systems Used for Identity-based Access Controls

Single Sign-on

SSO is a basic form of Identity and Access Management and enforces authentication just once. After accepting the credentials of the users, the system grants access to all software, data, and information at once.

Multi-factor Authentication

This type of authentication is a lot more advance and safer alternative to SSO. It has multiple layers of security and access is granted after successful authentication of all of them. The layers include:

Password
Security token
Biometric (Fingerprint)

What this does is protects organisations from brute force attacks by securing data and assets in multi-dimensional layers. To provide a context about such significance, there were reports of 3.3 billion brute force attacks within a span of 10 months between March 2020 and December 2020.

Privileged Access Management

This form of IAM performs role-based security and authentication. It provides limited access or control to software and data, as pre-defined based on the job role.

Why Business Organisations Should Use Identity-based Access Controls

By now, you might already be aware of what IAM is. However, the entire concept of why IT businesses need the framework will be clearer once you take a look at the benefits of such identity-based access controls.

Improves Company-wide Security

The IAM system enables admins and relevant officers to enforce security policies across the various database and assets the company may have. These include applications, devices, and platforms. This enforced authentication and access control make it easier for admins and IT teams to identify any violations in security and monitor access privileges closely.

Apart from just this, modern-day IAM frameworks are built on intelligent technologies to tone down human interference and errors as much as possible. This is done with the incorporation of artificial intelligence that uses its identity analytics to identify and blocks any anomalous activities.

2. Maintain Regulatory Compliance

There are many regulatory commissions that mandate data security and privacy protection, like the HIPAA, Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and the GDPR. An IAM framework helps businesses to comply with such mandates and verify their data protection endeavours.

Apart from this, an IAM framework is also handy during compliance audits, where it helps the IT teams prove that the corporate information and data are protected with ample controls.

3. Improves Efficiency of IT Security Teams

An identity-based access control framework makes the job of IT teams easy. The framework is built in a way to help make the security system more effective and efficient. The access can be granted to various users based on pre-defined roles.

This increases the efficiency of the process by bringing down the risks of granting access to the wrong people and also cuts down the number of times the onboarding and offboarding processes are executed.

4. Solves Password Problems

Passwords have become a development of yesterdays. An IAM system can ease the security process and ensuring that productivity is not compromised. One of the many reasons behind data breaches is using simple passwords or sticking them on the desktop or Notepad.

However, an IAM framework incorporates the best practices, like frequency reminders to update the password, minimum character requirements, and other authentication methods, like biometrics, etc.

5. Eases Hassle for End Users

An IAM system allows organisations to manage log-ins and accounts automatically. So, in the case of contractors, employees, vendors, and customers, the system allows logging into a pre-defined degree of access from any part of the world as long as credentials match.

Also, rather than managing tens and hundreds of user accounts manually, the IAM system automates everything, be it allowing access to monitoring for any anomalies.

6. Reduces Cost of Running the Management and IT

A major chunk of calls made to the help desk of any organisation is for password resets. According to the financial records of any organisation, there is a considerable amount of funds allocated for this. However, since an IAM can simplify the management of security and access controls, it brings down the manual cost involved. All password resets, detection of anomalies, and other access based tasks are automated.

What the Future of IAM Looks Like

Since the Identity and Access Management framework has the attention of industry leaders and cybersecurity professionals across the globe, the market estimation and projections are scaled up high. In fact, according to a report made by the Identity Management Institute, the Asia-Pacific region is and will experience the steepest upward curve.

What the IAM excels in is not only preventing data breaches but bringing the security cost for organisations down by consolidating user accounts under single identities. This sustained growth includes both on-premise as well as cloud solutions.

Talk to an Expert Today!

Keeping in mind the dire need for advanced digital security, InstaSafe provides multiple solutions to keep your organisational data secure without compromise.

InstaSafe’s Zero Trust Application Access and Zero Trust Network Access combine the benefits of IAM to bring you the utmost security of digital assets, communications and data. So don’t wait up, implement organisation security with InstaSafe’s network and cloud solutions at the earliest.

Frequently Asked Questions About Identity-Based Access Control (IAM)

What are the benefits of IAM in the cloud?

Here are the top benefits of IAM in the cloud:

Enhanced security with granular access control and multi-factor authentication (MFA).
Centralized management of user identities and permissions.
Improves Company-wide Security.
Compliance and governance support with auditing capabilities.
Improved productivity with self-service access management.
Scalability to accommodate growing organizations.
Identity federation for seamless access to multiple services.
Quick user onboarding and offboarding.
Reduces the Cost of Running the Management and IT.
Risk mitigation against insider threats and unauthorized access.

2. What is identity and access management in cyber security?

Identity-based Access Control, or IAM (Identity and Access Management), is an important framework that manages digital identities security discipline. The primary aim of such a framework is to authenticate identities and authorise (or de-authorise) access to any important resource or action.

3. Is IAM part of cyber security?

Yes, IAM is an important part of cybersecurity, and it plays a crucial role in ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data and resources. IAM helps prevent unauthorized access, reduce insider threats, and enforce security policies, making it a fundamental component in safeguarding digital assets and protecting against cyberattacks.

4. How does IAM security work?

IAM (Identity and Access Management) security works by managing user identities and controlling their access to an organization's resources.

It ensures that only authorised users can access specific data and applications while maintaining information confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

An identity-based access control model employs various processes and technologies, including authentication, authorisation, user provisioning, and de-provisioning. It also supports features like Single Sign-On (SSO), Multi-factor Authentication (MFA), and Role-Based Access Control (RBAC).