Are PAM (Privileged Access Management) and IAM (Identity And Access Management) the same? Let us explain the difference.
PAM and IAM are same or not. Here we will know.
No, PAM (Privileged Access Management) and IAM (Identity and Access Management) are not the same, although they both deal with managing access to resources within an organization.
IAM focuses on managing user identities, their authentication, and authorization to access various systems, applications, and data. It involves user provisioning, user lifecycle management, access control policies, and authentication mechanisms like username/passwords, multi-factor authentication, and single sign-on.
On the other hand, PAM primarily deals with managing and controlling privileged accounts or privileged access within an organization. Privileged accounts are those with elevated permissions and access to critical systems, networks, and data. PAM solutions help secure, monitor, and control access to these privileged accounts to prevent unauthorized access, minimize the risk of insider threats, and ensure accountability for privileged actions. PAM includes features like privileged account discovery, credential management, session recording, access control, and privilege elevation.
While IAM focuses on managing access for regular users, PAM focuses specifically on managing privileged access for administrators, IT staff, and other users with elevated privileges. Both IAM and PAM are important components of a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy, but they serve different purposes and address distinct security concerns within an organization.
Let we know the differences between PAM and IAM.
- Purpose:
- IAM: Identity and Access Management focuses on managing user identities, authentication, and authorization for regular users. It ensures that the right individuals have access to the appropriate resources, systems, and applications.
- PAM: Privileged Access Management focuses on managing and controlling privileged accounts, which are accounts with elevated permissions and access to critical systems, networks, and data. PAM solutions help secure, monitor, and control access to these privileged accounts.
- Scope of Access:
- IAM: IAM manages access for regular users and focuses on their day-to-day operational needs. It involves user provisioning, deprovisioning, access requests, and enforcing access policies for non-privileged users.
- PAM: PAM focuses specifically on privileged accounts and managing access for administrators, IT staff, and other users with elevated privileges. It deals with granting, controlling, and monitoring access to privileged accounts and ensuring accountability for privileged actions.
- Risks Addressed:
- IAM: IAM primarily addresses the risks associated with unauthorized access, data breaches, and ensuring compliance with security policies for regular users.
- PAM: PAM addresses the risks associated with misuse, abuse, or unauthorized access to privileged accounts, which have the potential to cause significant damage if compromised. It helps prevent insider threats, mitigate the risk of data breaches, and ensure proper oversight of privileged actions.
- Features and Functionality:
- IAM: IAM solutions offer features such as user provisioning, user lifecycle management, access control policies, authentication mechanisms, and single sign-on capabilities.
- PAM: PAM solutions provide features such as privileged account discovery, credential management, session recording, access control, just-in-time access, and privilege elevation.
