When it comes to cybersecurity, overseeing who can access information is crucial. This task is mainly managed through two concepts: Identity and Access Management (IAM) and Identity Governance and Administration (IGA). While both IAM and IGA focus on regulating access to resources and safeguarding data, they play distinct roles that are essential in their own ways. In this article, we will delve into the disparities between IAM and IGA, their characteristics, and how they work together to establish a strong security framework.
What Does Identity and Access Management (IAM) Entail?
Identity and Access Management (IAM) refers to a set of policies and technologies designed to ensure that authorized individuals have access to specific resources at designated times for valid reasons. IAM systems oversee user identities and govern access privileges throughout an organization’s IT ecosystem.
Key elements of IAM include;
- Authentication: Confirming the identity of a user using methods such as usernames, passwords, multi-factor authentication (MFA), or biometric checks.
- Authorization: Authorization is the process of defining the actions permitted for a user. This includes establishing and enforcing access rules based on roles, permissions, and user characteristics.
- Single Sign On (SSO:; Allowing users to log in to applications using one set of credentials making it easier for users and enhancing security.
- Access Management: Regulating and overseeing user access to different systems and data, often in real-time.
- IAM focuses on efficiency in operations and security by ensuring that system and data access is appropriately controlled and monitored. It plays a role in preventing unauthorized entry and safeguarding sensitive information from cyber threats.
What is Identity Governance and Administration (IGA)?
Identity Governance and Administration (IGA) is a part of IAM that concentrates on identity management’s governance and administrative aspects. IGA covers the policies, procedures and tools used for managing the life cycle of user identities and access rights.
Key elements of IGA include;
- Identity Life Cycle Management: Oversees the life cycle of user identities, from creation and joining to adjustments and deactivation.
- Automating processes to set up. Removing user access as they join, move, or leave a company is essential. Here are some key aspects;
- Access Requests: Users can ask for access to resources through a system that reviews and either approves or denies based on set policies.
- Access Certification: Regularly checking and confirming that user access rights meet security policies and rules is crucial.
- Policy and Role Management: Defining and overseeing policies and roles that determine how access is granted ensures consistency across the organization.
- Auditing and Reporting: Tracking user access and activities helps with compliance audits and spotting potential security issues.
Identity Governance and Administration (IGA) focuses on governance, risk management and compliance (GRC) to ensure that controls are not, in place but also regularly checked to meet regulations.
The Difference Between IAM and IGA
- Scope: IAM mainly deals with managing real-time resource access. It pertains to the aspects of managing identities, making sure that appropriate users can access necessary resources when required. On the other hand, IGA deals with the oversight and administrative elements of identity management. It emphasizes adherence to rules, risk mitigation, and the continual evaluation and validation of access privileges.
- Core Functions: IAM encompasses tasks like verifying identities, granting permissions, enabling sign-on (SSO), and managing access. Its central functions aim to facilitate effective entry to systems and information. IGA involves managing identity lifecycles, handling access requests, validating access rights, overseeing policies and roles, conducting audits, and generating reports. Its key functions are crafted to ensure that access controls are regulated, scrutinized, and in line with policies and standards.
- Operational vs. Governance: IAM is operationally focused on day-to-day user access management while ensuring that security measures are well executed. IGA adopts a governance approach by establishing, enforcing, and monitoring policies and procedures for overseeing user identities and access privileges over time.
- Time vs. Periodic Assessment; Identity and Access Management (IAM) typically operates in real time deciding whether to allow or deny access based on predefined rules and policies when a user tries to access a resource. Identity Governance and Administration (IGA) involves periodic evaluation and certification of access privileges to ensure that users access rights remain suitable and comply with security protocols.
The Synergy Between IAM and IGA
Although IAM and IGA focus on aspects they work together harmoniously to offer a holistic approach to managing identities and enhancing security. IAM handles day to day access management efficiently and securely whereas IGA focuses on governing, reviewing and ensuring compliance with security policies.
By combining IAM with IGA, organizations can achieve the following benefits;
- Heightened Security: IAM immediately secures access by managing it in time while IGA continuously reviews these controls to align them with security policies.
- Enhanced Compliance; With its emphasis on governance and auditing IGA assists in meeting regulatory requirements while IAM ensures effective implementation of access controls.
- Streamlined Operations: IAM streamlines access management processes through automation, easing the administrative workload on IT teams. IGA boosts productivity by automating the management of user identities and access reviews, which in turn helps reduce the risk of access and security breaches.
In Conclusion
It’s important to understand the distinctions between IAM and IGA in order to create a security plan. While IAM deals with managing and controlling access to resources on a day-to-day basis, IGA focuses on governance, compliance, and continuous assessment of access rights. When combined, they create a system that enhances security measures, ensures compliance with regulations, and streamlines operational processes. By integrating IAM and IGA, organizations can adopt an identity management approach that addresses immediate access control needs and long-term governance requirements.
