Identity and Access Management (IAM) - Control who accesses what

IAM (Identity and Access Management) is the set of processes, policies and tools used to manage digital identities and their access rights to resources. It ensures that only authorized people can access critical applications, databases and systems. Without IAM, companies risk multiplying uncontrolled accounts, granting too many privileges or leaving sensitive accesses open.Today, with the proliferation of SaaS applications, telecommuting and the cloud, IAM has become essential. It ensures uniform security across the entire information system, while simplifying the user experience.

IAM (Identity & Access Management) and PAM (Privileged Access Management) are two complementary pillars of cybersecurity.

• IAM concerns the global management of identities and rights for all "classic" users (employees, subcontractors, partners). It enables accounts to be created, modified and deleted, access to be assigned according to roles, and mechanisms such as SSO (Single Sign-On) and MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication) to be applied. The aim is to ensure that everyone has access only to the resources they need to work, and to limit excessive rights.
• PAM, on the other hand, focuses solely on privileged accounts (system administrators, databases, servers). As these accounts are highly powerful, they represent a major target for cyber-attacks. PAM relies on tools such as the Administration Bastion, just-in-time access, automatic password rotation and logging of sensitive sessions.

IAM protects and organizes all identities, while PAM specifically reinforces the security of critical accounts. The two combined offer comprehensive coverage, and are often required as part of compliance initiatives (ISO 27001, NIS2).

SSO (Single Sign-On) simplifies life for users, enabling them to access all their applications with a single identity. But some wonder whether this centralization creates a point of vulnerability.

Properly configured, SSO is, on the contrary, a major improvement in security. By reducing the number of passwords, it limits the reuse of weak identifiers and the use of insecure post-it notes or personal managers. Combined with standard protocols (SAML, OAuth, OpenID Connect) and a mandatory MFA, it provides robust protection.

What's more, SSO facilitates access management: when an employee leaves the company, simply deactivating their main account cuts off access to all applications. This considerably reduces the risks associated with dormant accounts.

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The RGPD and the NIS2 directive require companies to secure personal data and strictly control access. IAM makes it possible to set up full traceability of connections, limit rights to business needs only, and generate reports to prove compliance.In the event of an audit or data leak, IAM provides the evidence needed to demonstrate that appropriate security measures were in place. This reduces the risk of financial penalties and improves confidence with customers and partners.

Yes, contrary to popular belief, IAM is not just for large companies. Implementing an IAM, even a simple one, increases security and efficiency: centralized account management, simplified access for users, easier compliance. Today, IAM solutions tailored to small and medium-sized businesses are available, providing effective security without excessive complexity.

With the massive adoption of cloud applications (Microsoft 365, Salesforce, Google Workspace...), IAM becomes essential to guarantee consistent access management. It enables uniform policies to be applied between the in-house infrastructure and the cloud.In telecommuting, IAM enables security to be reinforced thanks to MFA and conditional access. An employee attempting to connect from a non-compliant device or an unusual location can be blocked automatically. This considerably reduces the risks of intrusion linked to mobility and BYOD.