Identity Access Management Vs Privileged Access Management
These two concepts are often misinterpreted and viewed to represent the same ideology when it comes to authorization and granting of access to various users. However, these terms are very different from each other, and they refer to different aspects. Identity Access Management, commonly abbreviated as (IAM) systems, are used in the management of accounts and their lifecycles together with their entitlements. IAM systems are therefore explicitly used for purposes of creating privileged accounts only when it is needed. Disabling of the un-needed accounts as well as the periodical reviewing of these accounts and updating information regarding who owns the accounts and what are the access rights that they possess.
On the other hand, Privileged Access Management (PAM) systems are used for purposes of controlling access to the account which are already in existence. In a nutshell, PAM systems are used to act as a gate for one to gain access to a report at runtime. IAM systems generally manage the account’s lifecycles (HITACHI, 2020).
Similarities existent between these two systems.
The similarity arises in the sense that they are evidence of direct correlation in terms of these system functions. This is in the sense that both PAM and IAM are both used to deal with the users needs as well as the evaluation of their access and their roles. Also, these systems are all associated with the safeguarding of data through protecting and assessment of individuals who have access to the policies and what they are permitted to undertake once they gain access to these sensitive systems.
Differences between PAM and IAM
for starters, the role of PAM is associated with the protection of users who have privileged access to sensitive data. In contrast, IAM’s character is concerned much with the taking care of daily users and customers in the business as well as monitoring and controlling of the access as well as experience of the users which have already been granted access to a given application (Nikolova, 2018). additionally, another disparity of these two systems is evident in the sense that IAM is more of a Shop-door system as contrasted to PAM, which is more of a Back-door basis. To expound on this further, IAM contains a low-attack platform and can make available an extensive amount f data relating to individual customers as contrasted to PAM. However, IAM will not in any way avail any forum to encourage the downloading of the entire database. On the other hand, PAM is more back-office based as mentioned and therefore will permit the bulky downloading of databases, takings, log files etc. thus, PAM provides a higher surface to encourage data breaches.
When to use PAM or IAM
When a business is seeking for a system to be sued in the management of general users and controlling of access of the various business systems to multiple users, adopting IAM systems will be the most proactive effective solution. Through the adoption of IAM, the business will be assured that all the general users will be managed as well as their access to a given application. On the other hand, if the company is in pursuit of a program which will cater to the needs of the privileged users, adopting the PAM system will be the best course of action to undertake. This system will be handy in the efficient delivery of administrative and privileged users via defining and controlling of their roles as users (HARRIS, 2020).
REFERENCES
HARRIS, A. (2020, April 30). Our PAM and IAM the same? Privileged Access Security by Osirium. https://www.osirium.com/blog/privileged-access-management-and-identity-access-management
HITACHI. (2020). IAM versus PAM: Understanding the differences – Idan Shoham. IAM Solutions | Identity Management | Access Governance. https://hitachi-id.com/blogs/idan/iam-versus-pam-understanding-the-differences/
Nikolova, I. (2018, August 22). What is the difference between PAM and IAM? LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-difference-between-pam-iam-ina-nikolova-ph-d-