Identity and Access Management: Complete Guide
Control who can access what in your systems through robust IAM practices.
Core Concepts
Authentication: Verify identity (who you are) Authorization: Determine permissions (what you can do) Identity Governance: Manage lifecycle, access reviews, compliance
Authentication Methods
Passwords: 12+ chars, complexity, managers, breach monitoring MFA: Something you know + have + are, required for all users, priority for admins Biometrics: Fingerprint, face recognition, risk-based authentication Passwordless: FIDO2, WebAuthn, magic links, push notifications
Authorization Models
RBAC: Role-based—assign permissions to roles, users to roles, easier management ABAC: Attribute-based—context-aware decisions, fine-grained control, complex policies PBAC: Policy-based—centralized rules, dynamic decisions, flexible
Identity Providers
Enterprise: Azure AD, Okta, Ping Identity, Auth0 Open Source: Keycloak, FreeIPA, Gluu Features: SSO, federation, MFA, user provisioning
Access Control
Least Privilege: Minimum necessary permissions, start with nothing, add as needed Just-in-Time: Temporary elevation, approval workflows, time-limited, audit all Separation of Duties: Prevent conflicts of interest, require multiple approvals Access Reviews: Quarterly reviews, auto-removal of unused, manager attestation
Privileged Access
Separate Accounts: Admin accounts distinct from regular PAM Solutions: CyberArk, BeyondTrust, credential vaulting Session Monitoring: Recording, keystroke logging, real-time alerts Break-Glass: Emergency access procedures, heavily audited
Federation & SSO
SAML: Enterprise SSO, assertion-based, XML OIDC: Modern auth, JSON Web Tokens, mobile-friendly Benefits: Centralized auth, reduced password fatigue, better security
Identity Lifecycle
Provisioning: Automated onboarding, role-based templates, approval workflows Modification: Access changes, role updates, temporary access Deprovisioning: Automated offboarding, immediate access removal, reassign ownership
Directory Services
Active Directory: On-prem standard, Group Policy, Kerberos Azure AD: Cloud directory, SaaS integration, conditional access LDAP: Lightweight protocol, cross-platform, legacy support
API & Service Accounts
Service Principals: App identities, certificate-based, rotating credentials API Keys: Short-lived tokens, scope-limited, secret management OAuth 2.0: Delegated access, scopes, refresh tokens
Compliance
Certifications: Regular access certification campaigns Audit Logs: Who accessed what, when, from where Segregation: Financial systems, PCI, HIPAA requirements
Monitoring
Failed Logins: Brute force detection, account lockout Anomalous Access: Impossible travel, unusual time/location Privilege Escalation: Unexpected permission changes Dormant Accounts: Unused accounts, stale credentials
Best Practices
- MFA everywhere
- Least privilege by default
- Regular access reviews
- Automated lifecycle management
- Centralized identity provider
- Federation over passwords
- Monitor privileged access
- Deprovisioning automation
Tools
IDaaS: Okta, Azure AD, Auth0, OneLogin PAM: CyberArk, BeyondTrust, Delinea IGA: SailPoint, Saviynt, One Identity
Bottom Line
Strong IAM is foundational to security. Implement MFA, least privilege, and automation while monitoring continuously for anomalous access.
