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IAM

Identity and Access Management

Description

In the context of Non-Human Identities (NHIs), IAM refers to the processes and technologies that manage digital identities and control access to resources for entities that are not human, such as applications, devices, and services. IAM frameworks enable organizations to establish, manage, and enforce user identities and their access rights across various systems and applications. This is particularly important for NHIs, as they often require distinct management strategies compared to human identities, due to their unique operational characteristics and security requirements. NHIs may include IoT devices, cloud services, microservices, and APIs, each requiring authentication and authorization mechanisms that are robust and scalable. Effective IAM solutions help in mitigating security risks, ensuring compliance with regulations, and improving operational efficiency by automating identity management processes, thus enabling organizations to manage both human and non-human identities seamlessly.

Examples

  • API keys that authenticate and authorize requests made by software applications.
  • Service accounts used by automated processes to interact with cloud services.

Additional Information

  • IAM solutions often incorporate principles such as least privilege access and role-based access control.
  • The rise of NHIs has led to growth in specialized IAM tools that accommodate the unique needs of these identities.

References