IAM is a framework of policies and technologies for ensuring that the right individuals and non-human entities have appropriate access to resources within an organization.
Description
Identity and access management (IAM) is crucial for managing both human and non-human identities (NHIs) within an organization. NHIs refer to automated processes, applications, or devices that require identity verification and access control to operate effectively. IAM systems facilitate the creation, management, and deletion of these identities, ensuring that NHIs can perform their functions securely while minimizing the risk of unauthorized access. In the context of NHIs, IAM encompasses the use of APIs, service accounts, bots, and other automated services that need to authenticate and authorize access to organizational resources. Effective IAM solutions for NHIs include features such as role-based access control (RBAC), policy enforcement, and continuous monitoring of identity activities. By implementing robust IAM practices, organizations can protect sensitive resources, maintain compliance with regulatory requirements, and enhance their overall security posture against various threats.
Examples
- Service accounts for cloud applications that require restricted access to certain services.
- Automated bots that interact with databases and need specific permissions to retrieve or modify data.
Additional Information
- IAM solutions help reduce the attack surface by limiting access based on least privilege principles.
- Effective IAM for NHIs includes auditing and monitoring capabilities to track identity usage and access patterns.
References
- Non-human Account Management (v4)
- Human vs. Non-Human Identity in SaaS
- Shining the Spotlight on the Rising Risks of Non-Human Identities
- Organizations still don't know how to handle non-human identities - Help Net Security
- Aembit Unveils 2024 Survey Report Highlighting Major Gaps in Securing Non-Human Identities
- Non Human Identity Management | OASIS Security
- The proliferation of non-human identities - Help Net Security
- Securing non-human identities: Why fragmented strategies fail - Help Net Security
- Managing Non-Human Identities for Vendor Access and Least Privilege Application Management Managing Non-Human Identities for Vendor Access and Least Privilege Application Management
- Articles