Non-human identities (NHIs) such as service accounts, bots, and API keys operate autonomously across IT environments but often lack proper provisioning, lifecycle management, and oversight, making them a critical security risk. Effective NHI management requires inventory and ownership clarity, strict access controls based on least privilege, automated lifecycle management, continuous monitoring, and executive alignment to reduce breach risks and ensure compliance.

NomadID by MajorKey Technologies is an Identity, Credentialing, and Access Management (ICAM) solution designed for Department of Defense (DOD) and federal agencies operating in Disconnected, Denied, Intermittent, Low-Bandwidth (DDIL) environments. It ensures uninterrupted authentication and single sign-on (SSO) capabilities even during network outages or hostile conditions, combining identity management, security monitoring, and governance locally at the edge to uphold security standards and maintain seamless access in challenging or disconnected scenarios.

Identity and Access Management (IAM) can be sold to business leaders effectively by focusing on business outcomes rather than technical jargon. Emphasizing benefits such as increased employee productivity through streamlined access, faster onboarding with automated provisioning, enhanced audit compliance with automated role management, improved customer loyalty via seamless and secure login experiences, and uninterrupted business operations by ensuring timely access to tools helps connect IAM to revenue growth, customer satisfaction, and operational efficiency.

A critical zero-day vulnerability in Microsoft SharePoint Server on-premises, tracked as CVE-2025-53770 and nicknamed "ToolShell," is actively exploited, allowing unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary code remotely, potentially compromising entire servers and networks. Microsoft has released emergency patches and mitigation guidance, urging all users to apply updates immediately, enable advanced detection tools like Microsoft Defender, rotate ASP.NET machine keys, and strengthen access governance with Privileged Access Management (PAM) to protect against this severe threat.

Identity and Access Management (IAM) projects fail due to poor planning and stakeholder misalignment. Flip the script with proven success strategies.

Harbor Pilot is SailPoint’s AI-driven Identity and Access Management (IAM) assistant. Discover how it streamlines identity decisions with automation.

Identiverse 2025 highlighted critical trends in identity and access management, including the urgent need for convergence between identity and network access, and the rise of AI agents and non-human identities (NHIs) as major security priorities. The conference emphasized that identity is now a central pillar of organizational strategy, requiring robust governance frameworks to manage AI agents and NHIs, which outnumber human identities by at least 20:1, and underscored the importance of identity resilience, continuous verification, and advanced technologies like behavioral biometrics and decentralized identity to restore trust in digital interactions.

Identity and Access Management (IAM) has evolved from a security tool to a strategic business enabler. Learn how modern IAM supports digital transformation.

Common access review pitfalls include overwhelming reviewers with too many simultaneous reviews, lack of context about why access is granted, manual processes causing inefficiencies, failure to enforce review outcomes, and involving the wrong stakeholders in the decision-making. Addressing these issues with prioritized, risk-based reviews, actionable insights, automation, enforced remediation, and involving knowledgeable business owners can greatly improve security, compliance, and audit readiness.

Lifecycle workflows boost IAM efficiency and reduce manual errors. Discover how automation drives ROI in identity governance.

Microsoft Entra ID Governance is an enterprise-grade identity governance solution integrated within the Microsoft Entra platform, designed to automate and streamline identity and access lifecycle management across cloud, on-premises, and hybrid environments. Recent updates include group Source of Authority conversion for cloud-based governance of legacy Active Directory groups, request and lifecycle governance with approval workflows, time-bound access controls, and integration with Microsoft Entra Verified ID for real-time identity verification, enhancing security, compliance, and operational efficiency.

Identity is now the perimeter in cloud-first security models. Learn how Identity and Access Management (IAM) defends against modern threats.

CyberArk Impact 2022 revealed trends in privileged access and zero trust. Get expert insights from the IAM frontlines.

Skydock offers a unified Identity and Access Management (IAM) solution for hybrid environments. Explore its features for secure access and governance.

Privileged Access Management (PAM) solutions protect sensitive systems and data by managing privileged accounts through features like credential vaulting, automated password management, and session monitoring. PAM enforces strict access controls with multi-factor authentication, just-in-time access, real-time auditing, and role-based policies to minimize risks of unauthorized access and credential misuse, while supporting integration with existing IT infrastructure and enhancing compliance.

Privileged Access Management (PAM) protects critical systems from insider threats. Understand key components and best practices.

Identity and Access Management (IAM) in the cloud provides critical security by managing and controlling user access to cloud resources, ensuring only authorized users can access sensitive data and applications. Cloud IAM offers benefits such as centralized access control across multiple cloud environments, granular privilege assignment, enhanced protection against breaches through strong authentication, improved regulatory compliance with auditing and reporting, and support for Zero Trust architectures, enabling organizations to balance security with operational flexibility and scalability

Identity and Access Management (IAM) in education secures access for students, parents, staff, and faculty by managing identities, authentication, and authorization while supporting compliance with data privacy regulations. IAM enhances digital learning by enabling seamless access to resources, streamlining administrative tasks, and protecting sensitive student and institutional data.

Identity and Access Management (IAM) in government secures sensitive data and infrastructure by enforcing strong user authentication, role-based access control, and continuous identity lifecycle management. Key IAM features like multi-factor authentication (MFA), privileged access management (PAM), and regulatory compliance reporting are vital to protecting national security, public health, and critical systems while enabling seamless government operations.

Identity and Access Management (IAM), including Customer Identity and Access Management (CIAM), is vital for retail and e-commerce businesses to balance robust security with seamless user experiences. IAM protects sensitive customer and employee data, ensures compliance with regulations like GDPR and PCI DSS, and enhances personalization through secure, unified access across multiple channels, enabling retailers to manage identities efficiently while reducing fraud and improving customer trust.

Identity and Access Management (IAM) in financial services is critical for protecting sensitive data, securing transactions, and complying with strict regulations such as SOX, GLBA, GDPR, and PCI DSS. Key IAM features for finance include multi-factor authentication (MFA), role-based access control (RBAC), segregation of duties, user lifecycle management, behavioral monitoring, and comprehensive audit trails, all designed to prevent fraud, manage complex access policies, and support regulatory reporting while enabling seamless operational efficiency.

Identity and Access Management (IAM) in healthcare protects sensitive patient data by enforcing role-based access control, multi-factor authentication, and continuous user activity monitoring. It supports regulatory compliance with HIPAA through detailed audit trails, automated user access reviews, and streamlined workflows, enhancing both security and operational efficiency in healthcare organizations.

User provisioning and deprovisioning are vital for secure access control. Learn how Identity and Access Management (IAM) automates lifecycle management.

Implement Identity and Access Management (IAM) successfully with this step-by-step guide. Avoid common pitfalls and streamline deployment.

Cloud Infrastructure Entitlement Management (CIEM) is essential for managing and controlling access rights in dynamic, multi-cloud environments. It enhances security by enforcing least privilege, providing continuous visibility into permissions, aiding compliance with regulations, and automating detection and remediation of excessive or risky access.

Single Sign-On (SSO) enhances user experience and reduces password fatigue. Discover its role in secure Identity and Access Management (IAM) architecture.

Role-based access control (RBAC) strengthens security and simplifies compliance. Learn how RBAC fits into CIEM frameworks.

Leading Identity and Access Management (IAM) solutions for 2024 include SailPoint, Saviynt, Okta, Ping Identity combined with ForgeRock, CyberArk, Microsoft Entra ID, and IBM Security Verify. These platforms excel in areas such as identity governance, cloud security integration, user-friendly access management, customer identity management, privileged access management, and compliance, providing scalable, flexible, and secure solutions tailored to diverse organizational needs and complexities.

Identity and Access Management (IAM) systems are essential for meeting regulatory requirements like GDPR, HIPAA, SOX, and PCI DSS by enforcing strict control over user identities and access privileges. They support compliance through features such as multi-factor authentication, role-based access control, access reviews, audit logging, and automated provisioning to protect data integrity and enable efficient regulatory reporting.

Identity and Access Management (IAM) enhances cybersecurity by ensuring only authorized users access critical systems, helping prevent data breaches, ransomware spread, and insider threats. IAM also supports compliance with regulations, reduces human error through automation, and provides centralized control for managing user privileges, improving both security posture and operational efficiency.

Identity and Access Management (IAM) systems consist of four key components: authentication, authorization, administration, and auditing/reporting. Authentication verifies user identities, authorization controls access levels, administration manages user accounts and permissions throughout their lifecycle, and auditing/reporting tracks user activity to ensure compliance and security.

Identity and Access Management (IAM) is the foundation of enterprise cybersecurity. Discover why identity is central to protecting digital assets.

Identity and Access Management (IAM) is a cybersecurity framework that ensures the right individuals have appropriate access to organizational resources by managing digital identities and access permissions. It enhances security, streamlines operations through automation, and supports compliance by verifying identities, enforcing access controls, and monitoring user activities.

Cloud Infrastructure Entitlement Management (CIEM) is a cybersecurity framework focused on managing and monitoring access permissions, or entitlements, within cloud environments. Key elements of CIEM include visibility into cloud entitlements, enforcing the principle of least privilege, using automated rightsizing of permissions, continuous monitoring with advanced analytics, centralized governance across multi-cloud environments, and compliance management to reduce security risks posed by excessive or misconfigured permissions.

Cloud Infrastructure Entitlement Management (CIEM) is a security solution focused on managing and controlling identities, entitlements, and permissions within cloud and multi-cloud environments. CIEM helps organizations gain visibility into who has access to what, enforces the principle of least privilege, detects and corrects excessive or risky permissions, and supports compliance by continuously auditing entitlements to reduce the risk of data breaches and cloud misconfigurations.

Technology automates Segregation of Duties (SoD) for better compliance. See how analytics and Identity and Access Management (IAM) tools enforce policy.

Segregation of Duties (SoD), also known as Separation of Duties, is a fundamental internal control principle that divides critical business tasks among multiple individuals to prevent fraud, errors, and conflicts of interest by ensuring no single person has full control over a process. It enhances organizational security and accountability by creating checks and balances across key functions such as authorization, custody, recordkeeping, and reconciliation, and is a critical requirement in regulations like SOX, GDPR, and HIPAA.

CIAM tools collect customer data through account registration, user authentication (including device and location), user activity tracking, self-service updates, and integration with other systems like CRM and marketing platforms. This data supports personalized experiences, enhances security via fraud detection, ensures regulatory compliance with consent management, improves business offerings, and enables efficient customer lifecycle management through onboarding, profile management, engagement, and offboarding.

Consumer Identity and Access Management (CIAM) solutions help organizations strike a crucial balance between delivering seamless, personalized customer experiences and maintaining robust data security and privacy. By adopting passwordless authentication, multi-factor authentication, and effective consent management, CIAM reduces friction, enhances trust, and ensures compliance with evolving privacy regulations like GDPR and CCPA while securing customer data across digital interactions.

CIAM (Customer Identity and Access Management) and IAM (Identity and Access Management) both manage digital identities but serve different user bases and purposes. IAM focuses on controlling access for internal users like employees and contractors to protect organizational resources, emphasizing strict access controls and compliance. CIAM, on the other hand, manages external customer identities, prioritizing scalability, seamless user experiences, privacy compliance, and supporting diverse authentication methods such as social logins and consent management to cater to millions of users.

Customer Identity and Access Management (CIAM) solutions are vital for modern businesses focused on secure, seamless, and personalized customer experiences across digital channels. CIAM offers key benefits such as scalability to support millions of users, secure storage and tokenization of customer data, strong adaptive authentication including multi-factor and biometric methods, streamlined login and password reset processes, and comprehensive integration capabilities that enable consistent, compliant, and trustworthy digital customer interactions.

Customer Identity and Access Management (CIAM) significantly elevates the customer experience by streamlining registration, enabling flexible authentication, and reducing friction throughout the user journey. By enhancing security with features like adaptive authentication and multi-factor authentication, CIAM builds customer trust, improves acquisition and retention, drives revenue through personalized marketing, reduces support costs, and mitigates security and fraud risks—all contributing to sustained business growth.

Customer Identity and Access Management (CIAM) is a specialized subset of Identity and Access Management focused on securely managing customer identities and access to digital services. Key components of CIAM include authentication methods like multi-factor and social login, authorization controls to enforce access rights, user profile management, single sign-on (SSO), consent management for privacy compliance, and threat detection to safeguard customer data while delivering seamless and personalized user experiences.

Authentication and authorization are distinct but complementary processes in identity and access management. Authentication verifies the identity of a user or system, typically through credentials like passwords, biometrics, or tokens, answering the question "Who are you?" Authorization determines what resources or actions the authenticated user is permitted to access, enforcing permissions based on roles, attributes, or policies. Authentication always precedes authorization, ensuring that only verified users receive appropriate access levels to protect sensitive data and systems.

Modern Identity and Access Management (IAM) programs fundamentally consist of authentication, authorization, user lifecycle management, and identity governance. These components ensure secure verification of user identities, enforce appropriate access rights, manage users throughout their lifecycle, and provide oversight and compliance through auditing and reporting.

When evaluating Privileged Access Management (PAM) vendors, organizations should consider key features including continuous scanning of privileged accounts for compliance, cross-cloud discovery for visibility across diverse environments, and just-in-time (JIT) or zero standing privilege access to minimize risk associated with persistent credentials. Additional important features are the ability to detect and prevent lateral movement, integration with ITSM and IGA platforms for streamlined access requests and auditability, and support for cloud and DevOps enablement to secure a broad range of privileged activities.

Five signs that indicate an organization may benefit from implementing Zero Trust security include lacking an existing Identity Access Management (IAM) system, having an IAM solution without a security perimeter, managing external users like contractors and vendors, enabling remote work on personal devices, and using SaaS or PaaS applications that require secure access controls. Zero Trust maximizes security by continuously verifying every user and device, enforcing least privilege access, and containing potential breaches through strict access controls and real-time monitoring.

Implementing zero trust security provides enterprises with enhanced protection by continuously verifying users and devices, enforcing least-privilege access, and preventing lateral movement within networks. It also improves user experience through streamlined access, reduces IT operational burdens, supports digital transformation, offers greater visibility and monitoring, lowers security and compliance costs, and enables smarter, dynamic policy management for ongoing regulatory compliance.

Zero Trust works beyond the cloud—on-premises too. See how this model strengthens hybrid infrastructure security.

A Zero Trust access model assumes no implicit trust for any user, device, or network and requires continuous verification of identity and context before granting access. Its benefits include reducing the attack surface by enforcing least-privileged access, preventing lateral movement through network segmentation, improving detection and response with continuous monitoring, enhancing cloud and remote work security, and supporting regulatory compliance, all while improving user experience by reducing reliance on VPNs and enabling passwordless access options.

Zero Trust eliminates implicit trust and secures every access point. Learn the principles behind this modern security model.

Traditional, on-premises Privileged Access Management (PAM) solutions are installed and managed within an organization's own infrastructure, offering greater control, customization, and compliance assurance but requiring significant maintenance, longer deployment times, and higher upfront costs. In contrast, modern cloud-based PAM solutions are delivered as a service (SaaS), providing faster deployment, scalability, reduced maintenance burden, and easier integration with cloud and hybrid environments, though they may introduce considerations like vendor lock-in and require adapting to cloud-native security models.

Zero Trust explained: a security model built on verification and least privilege. Understand its benefits for Identity and Access Management (IAM).

A well-chosen CIAM solution secures customer identities while delivering seamless, personalized user experiences with features like multi-factor authentication, social login, and single sign-on. This webinar helps businesses evaluate key criteria such as scalability, security, integration, and compliance to select the best CIAM platform for their unique needs and growth goals.

Leading CIEM solutions for cloud security include Authomize, CyberArk, Ermetic, Palo Alto Prisma Cloud, SailPoint, and Wiz, each offering strengths like real-time visibility, risk assessment, policy enforcement, and workload protection across multi-cloud environments. When choosing a CIEM platform, organizations should evaluate their specific needs, regulatory compliance requirements, cloud compatibility, core features such as AI-driven anomaly detection, scalability, user-friendliness, integration capabilities, vendor support, pricing, and conduct proof of concept testing to ensure the best fit for their cloud security posture.

Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) is a security framework that assigns system access based on a user’s role within an organization, ensuring users receive only the minimum permissions necessary to perform their job functions. RBAC simplifies access management by grouping users into roles linked to specific permissions, supports compliance through clear audit trails, and enhances security by reducing unauthorized access risks.

When selecting an Identity and Access Management (IAM) platform, organizations should consider how each solution aligns with their specific security requirements, infrastructure, and business needs. Leading IAM platforms like SailPoint, Saviynt, Okta, Ping Identity (with ForgeRock), CyberArk, Microsoft Entra ID, and IBM Security Verify vary in strengths such as governance, cloud integration, user experience, privileged access management, and scalability, making it essential to choose one that balances usability, compliance, and security for the organization’s unique environment.

Segregation of Duties (SoD) in Finance and Accounting is a risk management principle that divides key financial tasks among different individuals to reduce the risk of error, fraud, and collusion. Examples include separating responsibilities such as approving vendor payments from reconciling bank statements, dividing the preparation and approval of financial reports, and ensuring those who handle cash receipts are not responsible for depositing or reconciling, thus creating a system of checks and balances that enhances financial integrity and accuracy.

Successful Customer Identity and Access Management (CIAM) implementation involves selecting scalable solutions that balance security and user experience through flexible authentication methods and robust privacy controls. Integration into existing systems should be seamless, with ongoing monitoring and optimization to ensure compliance, security, and a smooth, personalized customer journey.

Zero Trust and Identity and Access Management (IAM) redefine access control for modern enterprises. Explore how they work together to secure data.

Federated identity is a system that links a single user identity across multiple separate identity management platforms, allowing seamless and secure access to various services with one login. It improves security, reduces IT overhead, enhances user experience by minimizing password fatigue, and supports compliance by providing a centralized view of access and activity across diverse systems.

IAM auditing and monitoring ensure security by tracking privileged access, detecting anomalies, and enforcing least privilege policies through regular reviews and session monitoring. Advanced solutions use real-time analytics and AI to understand user behavior, proactively preventing threats and ensuring compliance with evolving regulations.

The NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) 2.0 provides a structured, phased approach to managing cybersecurity risk, featuring six core functions: Govern, Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, and Recover. Implementation involves prioritizing assets and risks, creating current and target profiles, performing risk assessments, identifying and addressing gaps, and continuously monitoring and improving cybersecurity posture, supported by guidance and tools for practical application across organizations of all sizes.

Identity Governance and Administration (IGA) tools face common challenges including lack of internal expertise, difficulty justifying ROI, onboarding applications at scale, automating manual processes, and managing third-party identities securely. Managed service providers help address these by providing skilled resources on demand, accelerating application integration, implementing automation to reduce manual effort, and ensuring scalable, secure third-party identity management to improve compliance and operational efficiency.

Segregation of Duties (SoD) is a critical internal control mechanism that reduces the risk of fraud and errors by ensuring no single individual has control over all aspects of a critical process. Key challenges in implementing SoD include lack of awareness, technological complexity, resource limitations, and resistance to change, which can be mitigated through clear role definitions, continuous monitoring, automation, stakeholder involvement, and strategic use of identity governance tools to maintain effective and compliant SoD controls.

Customer Identity and Access Management (CIAM) is used across industries to enhance customer experiences and secure digital interactions. Common use cases include personalized experiences and fraud prevention in retail and e-commerce, streamlined KYC and compliance in financial services, secure patient identity management in healthcare, frictionless onboarding in travel and hospitality, and unified customer profiles in telecommunications.

A successful Customer Identity and Access Management (CIAM) program includes key features such as self-service registration and account management, single sign-on (SSO), multi-factor authentication (MFA), a centralized customer directory, and developer tools like APIs and SDKs for seamless integration. Essential components also involve advanced frictionless security, strong privacy management, API integration, data access control, compliance adherence, customer analytics, scalability, and an enhanced overall customer experience to ensure secure, seamless, and personalized interactions.

Customer Identity and Access Management (CIAM) is a specialized solution designed to securely manage and authenticate external customer identities, providing seamless and personalized digital experiences while ensuring compliance with privacy regulations. Key components of CIAM include authentication methods (passwords, biometrics, MFA), authorization controls like Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), user profile and consent management, Single Sign-On (SSO), data privacy enforcement, and integration with emerging technologies such as AI and blockchain to enhance security, fraud detection, and identity verification.

Cloud Infrastructure Entitlement Management (CIEM) helps organizations manage and control cloud access by providing continuous visibility into entitlements, automating least-privilege enforcement, and detecting risks across multi-cloud environments. This centralized approach improves security, ensures compliance, reduces excessive permissions, and streamlines audit readiness within dynamic cloud infrastructures.

The New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) amended its 23 NYCRR Part 500 cybersecurity regulation to require financial institutions to conduct annual User Access Reviews (UARs) focusing on access privileges and management. These regulations, effective May 1, 2025, mandate limiting and reviewing user access, promptly disabling unnecessary accounts, securing remote access protocols, and implementing strong password policies to mitigate risk and enhance compliance.

Biometric authentication in Identity and Access Management (IAM) enhances security by using unique biological traits such as fingerprints or facial recognition to verify user identities, offering a more secure and user-friendly alternative to traditional passwords. It supports various methods like fingerprint scanning, iris recognition, and voice identification, and is increasingly adopted across industries despite challenges related to privacy, regulatory compliance, and potential biases, requiring organizations to implement strong data protection and ethical guidelines.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are revolutionizing Identity and Access Management (IAM) strategies. Explore predictive access and intelligent threat detection.

Choosing the right Identity and Access Management (IAM) solution involves a thorough, multi-step process that begins with assessing an organization’s specific requirements, including user authentication, compliance, and privileged access management needs. Evaluating the IT environment for integration compatibility and scalability, considering security features aligned with regulatory standards, and prioritizing user experience and accessibility are essential.