PAM vs IAM – What’s the Difference?
Identity & Access Management (IAM) and Privileged Access Management
(PAM) are often misunderstood having similar features - both dealing with
users, access and roles. They also refer to safeguarding data by protecting
who has access to the systems, and what they are allowed to do on sensitive
systems.
In contrast, PAM tools are able to manage passwords and authentication and
enable servers and databases to securely communicate. These privileged
accounts are defined as highly sensitive because they give access to
administrative capabilities such as network and server settings.
1. IAM systems are great at establishing and removing the access to
accounts but they lack the visibility and reporting when privileged
access is performed on applications and databases. The ability to audit
and monitor the actions of system administrators is a critical security
capability required by regulations and reviewed periodically by
auditors. And this is what PAM does - provides auditing and
monitoring what a system administrator is doing in a specific system, a
visibility on how identities are being used, and logging session reports.
Scope: IAM is the broadest of the three frameworks, encompassing
access management for all users and resources within an organisation.
Primary Function: IAM governs the overall access management
process, including authentication, authorisation, and user lifecycle
management..
4. Monitoring and Auditing: While IAM provides monitoring and auditing capabilities
for overall user activities, PAM focus specifically on monitoring and logging activities
associated with privileged accounts and access.
PAM often includes advanced features such as session monitoring, recording, and behaviour
analytics.
5. Password Management: IAM typically includes password management capabilities
for regular user accounts, while PAM focus on strong password management practices for
privileged accounts, including password vaulting, rotation, and encryption.
By understanding IAM vs PAM, organisations can better align their security strategies and
implement the appropriate solutions to address their specific needs and risk profiles.
What is Identity and Access Management (IAM)?
At the core of any security strategy lies Identity and Access Management (IAM). This
comprehensive framework governs how users – whether employees, contractors, or third-party
vendors – are granted access to an organisation's resources, such as applications, data, and
systems.
IAM encompasses a range of policies, processes, and technologies that ensure the right users
have access to the right resources at the right time and for the right reasons.
Key Components of IAM:
1. Authentication: Verifying a user's identity through various factors, such as
passwords, biometrics, or multi-factor authentication (MFA).
2. Authorisation: Depending on their roles and responsibilities, authenticated
users are granted different levels of access and permissions.
3. User Provisioning and Deprovisioning: Managing user accounts lifecycles
from creating new accounts to modifying or revoking access when necessary.
4. Single Sign-On (SSO): Accessing multiple apps and services with one
credential simplifies and reduces credential misuse.
5. Identity Governance and Administration (IGA): Ensuring that access
policies are in line with business needs and regulatory requirements through
audits and reports.
By implementing IAM, organisations can effectively manage user identities, control access to
sensitive data, and maintain a secure environment for their digital assets.
While IAM provides a comprehensive approach to access management, Privileged Identity
Management (PIM) focuses specifically on safeguarding highly privileged accounts – those with
elevated permissions and access to critical systems and data.
Privileged accounts, often used by administrators, developers, and other IT personnel, pose a
significant risk if compromised. Malicious actors actively seek to exploit these accounts to gain
unauthorised access, potentially leading to data breaches, system disruptions, and other severe
consequences.
1. What is Privileged Access Management (PAM)?
While PIM focuses on managing privileged identities, Privileged Access Management (PAM)
encompasses privileged identities and access.
PAM solutions secure privileged employee accounts and define the level of access for privileged
users for systems, applications, and data. PAM builds upon the foundation laid by PIM and
introduces additional layers of security and control.
Key Features of PAM:
1. Granular Access Control: Implementing granular access controls to ensure
that privileged users can access only the resources necessary for their roles,
reducing the risk of unauthorised access and data exposure.
2. Session Monitoring and Recording: Continuously monitoring and
recording privileged user activities, enabling detection of suspicious
behaviour and providing valuable forensic data for incident response and
investigation.
3. Password Vaulting: Secure encryption, storage and rotation of account
credentials in a centralised vault. This reduces the risk of credential theft or
misuse.
4. Approval Workflows: Requiring approvals from designated personnel
before granting access to critical resources, ensuring accountability and
oversight.
5. Behavior Analytics: Incorporating advanced analytics capabilities to detect
discrepancies in privileged account behaviour and patterns, enabling
proactive identification of potential threats.
