For modern organizations, identity and access management (IAM) solutions serve as the frontline defense for data security. They enable accurate and efficient management of identities and their access rights to content, applications and other IT resources. Activity auditing and analytics help IT teams promptly spot threats and respond effectively to preserve security and business continuity. Moreover, adopting IAM is a key step in embracing a Zero Trust security model.
Below, we reveal what features to look for in IAM tools, review some of the most useful identity and access management solutions on the market, and explore how enterprises can achieve even better data protection by pairing IAM with privileged access management (PAM).
Definition and Importance of IAM
IAM is a framework that helps ensure that the right individuals have access to the appropriate resources at the right times for the right reasons. It involves policies, processes and technologies for managing and securing digital identities. By controlling user access, identity and access management software helps organizations mitigate security risks, improve operational efficiency and enhance the user experience.
Key Concepts in IAM
Several key concepts form the foundation of IAM:
- Authentication — Verifying user identities or systems
- Authorization — Granting or denying access to resources based on user roles and permissions
- User management — Handling user accounts, including creation, maintenance, and deactivation
- Access control — Implementing policies to ensure users have the right level of access to resources
- Audit and compliance — Monitoring and reporting on access activities to ensure compliance with policies and regulations
IAM Components and Features
When evaluating identity and access management solutions, be sure to look for the following features:
- Centralized user management — Being able to manage identities, roles and access privileges from a central console simplifies management and helps ensure accuracy. Check that the tool supports all of the identity platforms you use, such as Active Directory (AD) and Microsoft Entra ID (formerly known as Microsoft Azure AD), LDAP and Google Workspace.
- Authentication and single sign-on (SSO) — Look for an IAM solution that offers authentication methods beyond passwords, such as tokens and biometrics, as well as adaptive multi-factor authentication (MFA) for enhanced security. It should also enable users to access multiple applications with one set of credentials (single sign-on).
- Flexible access controls — Be sure the tool provides granular control over user access to resources, making it easy to ensure that each user has access to only the data and systems necessary for their roles. Ideally, it should offer adaptive access policies that enable dynamic access decisions based on contextual factors such as user location, device and behavior.
- User provisioning and identity lifecycle management — The solution should automate account provisioning, reprovisioning and deprovisioning. Automating these processes helps prevent serious security risks like permissions creep and orphaned accounts. Complete lifecycle management also includes changes that occur over the life of staff and should keep identities up to date reflecting information that comes from HR, managers, and projects for which they are working on.
- Auditing, alerting and reporting — Solid IAM solutions provide continuous monitoring of user activity, alerts on suspicious behavior, detailed audit logs, and easy-to-read reports for both troubleshooting and compliance purposes.
- Security features — Check for encryption of sensitive data, secure protocols for authentication and communication, and protection against common security threats like phishing and insider threats.
- User self-service — Empowering users to manage certain aspects of their identities and access permissions, such as password resets and profile updates, can reduce user frustration and IT team overhead. In addition, managers should have the ability to review their direct reports and project participants.
- Integration capabilities — To streamline even more workflows, look for an IAM solution that will easily integrate with your other systems and applications.
- Scalability and performance — Be sure the solution can accommodate business growth by handling a large number of users and transactions without compromising performance or security.
Identity as a Service (IDaaS) Solutions
Overview of IDaaS
Identity as a service (IDaaS) is a cloud-based IAM solution that provides identity management and access control as a subscription service. IDaaS solutions offer a range of IAM functionalities, including SSO, MFA and user provisioning, delivered via the cloud. This approach enables organizations to leverage IAM capabilities without the need for extensive on-premises infrastructure.
Advantages of IDaaS
IDaaS offers several advantages:
- Scalability — Easily scale IAM capabilities as the organization grows.
- Cost-effectiveness — Reduce the need for on-premises hardware and maintenance.
- Accessibility — Access IAM features from anywhere with an internet connection.
- Security — Benefit from advanced security features and regular updates provided by the IDaaS vendor.
- Compliance — Achieve and maintain compliance with industry standards and regulations more efficiently.
Implementation and Use Cases for IDaaS
Implementing IDaaS involves selecting a suitable provider, configuring the solution to meet organizational needs and integrating it with existing systems. Use cases for IDaaS include:
- Remote workforce management — Providing secure access to resources for remote and mobile employees
- Mergers and acquisitions — Quickly integrating IAM systems during organizational changes
- Regulatory compliance — Ensuring that access controls and reporting meet regulatory requirements
- Customer identity management — Managing and securing customer identities for online services
The Top 11 Identity and Access Management Tools
Below are the top identity and access management products on the market, their key features, and the pros and cons of each option.
Auth0
Auth0 by Okta offers a flexible and scalable IAM solution delivered as a SaaS platform. Its cloud-based architecture simplifies integration with applications and supports a wide range of identity providers, including social logins and enterprise connections. Auth0 is known for its comprehensive documentation and robust security features, making it a popular choice for developers. One significant advantage of Auth0 is its extensive customization capabilities, which can accommodate diverse authentication requirements. With this said, some of the more advanced features of Auth0 can be complex to configure, potentially requiring dedicated expertise.
Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure Active Directory)
Entra ID (formerly known as Azure AD) is a cloud-based IAM service from Microsoft that integrates into the Microsoft ecosystem and beyond. It offers features like single sign-on, multi-factor authentication and conditional access, making it a robust solution for securing user access to both cloud and on-premises applications. Entra ID is particularly beneficial for organizations heavily invested in Microsoft products. However, it can be more complex to manage than other solutions, and its extensive feature set might be overwhelming for smaller IT teams.
BeyondTrust Endpoint Privilege Management
One of the key strengths of BeyondTrust Endpoint Privilege Management is its detailed auditing and reporting capabilities. Comprehensive visibility into privileged activity helps organizations maintain compliance with regulatory requirements and internal security policies.
However, it may need to be paired with other IAM solutions for comprehensive identity management across the organization. Fortunately, the solution can be integrated easily with other security tools, which enhances its effectiveness in a multi-layered security strategy.
CyberArk Idaptive
CyberArk Idaptive provides a comprehensive and adaptive approach to identity management. Combining identity management, enterprise mobility management and user behavior analytics, Idaptive offers robust features like SSO, MFA and identity lifecycle management. Its advanced machine learning capabilities enhance security by detecting and responding to suspicious activity in real time, making it particularly effective in environments where adaptive authentication is critical.
Some of the advanced features and machine learning capabilities of this solution can introduce some complexity, requiring careful tuning and management to avoid false positives. Despite this, CyberArk Idaptive remains a leading choice for businesses that need a robust, adaptive and user-friendly IAM solution.
ForgeRock Identity Platform
ForgeRock Identity Platform is renowned for its comprehensive and versatile IAM capabilities. Advanced capabilities like SSO, adaptive authentication and fine-grained authorization help ensure secure and convenient access to applications and resources, enhancing both security and the user experience. The platform leverages machine learning and artificial intelligence to analyze user behavior and detect anomalies, providing an additional layer of security through proactive threat detection.
The solution’s open-source nature may require significant in-house expertise to implement and maintain effectively. However, for organizations with the resources to manage it, ForgeRock offers unparalleled flexibility, scalability and security, making it a top choice for enterprises seeking a comprehensive IAM solution.
GroupID
GroupID is a platform that extends existing directory services, filling in the capability gaps with the key tenants necessary for successful IAM without the need for new directory infrastructure.
With GroupID, organizations can streamline identity and group management while enhancing security by providing a unified view of all Active Directory domains, Entra ID (Azure AD) tenants, LDAP, and Google Workspace directories. Dynamic membership ensures precise privileged access, automating manual processes to expedite group management and boost efficiency. GroupID links identities and groups across all directories and connected applications, simplifying user provisioning, deprovisioning, and management. It handles frequent changes in employee roles, departments, and personal information, ensuring smooth transitions and consistent security.
JumpCloud
JumpCloud is a directory-as-a-service solution that enables organizations to use a single platform to manage user identities and access across various systems, including operating systems such as Windows, macOS and Linux, as well as cloud services like AWS, Google Workspace and Microsoft 365. This centralized approach simplifies administration and enhances security by ensuring consistent identity policies across the organization. JumpCloud offers centralized user management, single sign-on (SSO), and multi-factor authentication (MFA).
JumpCloud excels in simplicity and ease of use, but it may not offer as many advanced features as some of the larger, more complex IAM solutions. However, its focus on providing a robust, all-in-one solution for identity and device management makes it a top choice for businesses looking to streamline their IAM processes and enhance security in a cost-effective manner.
SecureAuth
SecureAuth specializes in adaptive authentication system that includes risk-based authentication, MFA and SSO. Its strength lies in its ability to dynamically adjust security measures based on the context of the access attempt, providing both security and user convenience.
SecureAuth’s advanced features can be complex to configure and manage. Organizations may require dedicated resources and expertise to fully leverage its capabilities, which could be a challenge for smaller teams or those with limited IT resources.
Okta Identity Cloud
Okta Identity Cloud is a robust identity management solution. One of its significant pros is its cloud-based architecture, which makes it easy to scale as an organization grows, without the need for additional hardware. It is particularly beneficial in environments that utilize diverse cloud applications and require efficient user onboarding and offboarding processes.
Okta offers an extensive library of over 7,000 pre-built integrations with applications and other infrastructure components. These integrations facilitate quick deployment; however, they may not be as deep as those offered by vendors like Microsoft. In addition, Okta Identity Cloud is pricier than other IAM solutions, which could be a drawback for small businesses and other organizations with constrained IT budgets.
OneLogin
OneLogin is another comprehensive, cloud-based IAM product that works well with both Active Directory and Entra ID. It offers SSO, MFA, third-party integrations, a password manager, support for biometrics and FIDO 2.0, and authenticator apps. OneLogin provides detailed reports on applications, events, logins and other user activity. It also analyzes suspicious user behaviors and flags weak passwords.
OneLogin offers several subscription tiers and an assortment of a la carte services for greater flexibility, so the pricing can be complex. It also requires minimum licensing blocks to purchase, which may not work for small businesses.
Ping Identity
Ping Identity offers a broad array of IAM services, including SSO, MFA, access controls and data governance, across both on-premises data centers and cloud environments. The platform is built on open standards, such as SAML, OAuth and OpenID Connect, making it highly interoperable with existing IT infrastructures. It is also highly scalable.
Ping Identity includes robust policy management that enables organizations to establish and enforce detailed access control policies to align each user’s access rights with their roles and responsibilities. It utilizes analytics to detect anomalous user behavior, enhancing threat detection and response. A downside is that customization can be required to tailor it to your organization’s specific needs.
Enhancing IAM with PAM
For more robust and effective management, IAM solutions can be paired with PAM tools. While IAM solutions focus on access management, PAM solutions address the unique security needs associated with privileged accounts like those assigned to IT staff, which are often targeted by threat actors due to their elevated access levels. To mitigate the risk of misuse or compromise of these accounts, PAM solutions offer enhanced security measures like session monitoring, credential vaulting and just-in-time access.
Netwrix PAM software integrates seamlessly with IAM tools and other solutions to deliver a comprehensive security framework that protects all levels of access in the IT environment. It enables organizations to eliminate risky standing privileged accounts. And it delivers comprehensive visibility into privileged account activity through detailed audit logs and real-time monitoring so organizations can promptly detect and respond to threats.
FAQs
What is an IAM solution?
An identity and access management (IAM) solution is a system of policies, processes, and technologies designed to ensure that each workforce identity has only the appropriate access to IT resources as well as to monitor user activity to enable effective threat detection and response. IAM systems enhance security, user productivity, and compliance with corporate policies and regulations.
Which IAM solution is best?
The best IAM tool depends on your organization’s specific needs. To determine the top IAM solution to implement, look for features such as centralized user management, multifactor authentication, single sign-on, user self-service, comprehensive auditing, and flexible alerting and reporting. At a higher level, consider the tool’s integration capabilities, scalability and performance.
What is IAM used for?
IAM helps organizations mitigate risk by ensuring that only authorized individuals can access critical systems and data, and monitoring user activity for signs of active threats. Capabilities like identity verification, automated provisioning and granular access control help streamline account management, improve regulatory compliance and enhance data security.
What problems does IAM solve?
IAM software is designed to provide secure access to systems and applications while ensuring that each user has only the permissions they need. Limiting unauthorized access helps organizations avoid costly data breaches, financial losses and reputational damage.
