Meaning
Systems for identity management govern the digital authentication of individuals and the specific permissions granted to their accounts within a technical environment. A process of this nature defines the lifecycle of a user from the initial creation of their credentials to the final revocation of their access rights. It measures the degree of control an organization has over who can modify its sensitive data.
The scope of the system ends at the public interface where users are no longer recognized as authorized participants.
Access Control
Security policies dictate exactly which resources a specific role can reach and what actions that role can perform. Within the frame of identity management, these rules are translated into technical configurations that allow or deny entry in real time. The record of these permissions is the primary evidence used during a security audit to prove that a company is protecting its intellectual property.
Failure to maintain this record results in unauthorized access to proprietary source code or the theft of confidential information that could damage the long term competitive position of the business.
Credential Verification
Authentication requires a reliable way to prove that a person is who they claim to be through passwords or biometric data. Modern identity management often utilizes multi factor methods to increase the certainty of this proof before a session begins. Each attempt to log in creates a dated entry that can be used to track the source of a breach or to monitor the activity of employees.
These logs are the first place an investigator looks when a system is compromised.
Lifecycle Management
Roles within a company change frequently as people are hired or leave the organization. Effective identity management ensures that access rights are updated as soon as a person moves to a new position or departs the firm. A rigorous process prevents the accumulation of excessive permissions that often leads to internal security vulnerabilities.
The process ensures that no dormant accounts remain active after their owners have gone.