Identity management and access control is the discipline of managing access to enterprise resources to keep systems and data secure. As a key component of your security architecture, it can help verify your users’ identities before granting them the right level of access to workplace systems and information. While people might use the terms identity management, authentication, and access control interchangeably, each of these individually serve as distinct layers for enterprise security processes.

Identity Management, Authentication, and Access Control

Identity management—also referred to as identity and access management (IAM)—is the overarching discipline for verifying a user’s identity and their level of access to a particular system. Within that scope, both authentication and access control—which regulates each user’s level of access to a given system—play vital roles in securing user data.

We interact with authentication mechanisms every day. When you enter a username and password, use a PIN, scan your fingerprint, or tap your bank card, your identity is being verified for authentication purposes. Once your identity is verified, access control is implemented to determine your level of access. This is important for applications and services that have different levels of authorisation for different users. Access control, for instance, will allow software administrators to add users or edit profiles while also barring lower-tier users from accessing certain features and information. 

How to Mitigate Risk with Modern Identity Management and Access Control

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