DZone
Thanks for visiting DZone today,
Edit Profile
  • Manage Email Subscriptions
  • How to Post to DZone
  • Article Submission Guidelines
Sign Out View Profile
  • Post an Article
  • Manage My Drafts
Over 2 million developers have joined DZone.
Log In / Join
Please enter at least three characters to search
Refcards Trend Reports
Events Video Library
Refcards
Trend Reports

Events

View Events Video Library

Zones

Culture and Methodologies Agile Career Development Methodologies Team Management
Data Engineering AI/ML Big Data Data Databases IoT
Software Design and Architecture Cloud Architecture Containers Integration Microservices Performance Security
Coding Frameworks Java JavaScript Languages Tools
Testing, Deployment, and Maintenance Deployment DevOps and CI/CD Maintenance Monitoring and Observability Testing, Tools, and Frameworks
Culture and Methodologies
Agile Career Development Methodologies Team Management
Data Engineering
AI/ML Big Data Data Databases IoT
Software Design and Architecture
Cloud Architecture Containers Integration Microservices Performance Security
Coding
Frameworks Java JavaScript Languages Tools
Testing, Deployment, and Maintenance
Deployment DevOps and CI/CD Maintenance Monitoring and Observability Testing, Tools, and Frameworks

The software you build is only as secure as the code that powers it. Learn how malicious code creeps into your software supply chain.

Apache Cassandra combines the benefits of major NoSQL databases to support data management needs not covered by traditional RDBMS vendors.

Generative AI has transformed nearly every industry. How can you leverage GenAI to improve your productivity and efficiency?

Modernize your data layer. Learn how to design cloud-native database architectures to meet the evolving demands of AI and GenAI workloads.

Related

  • Modern Digital Authentication Protocols
  • Role-Based Multi-Factor Authentication
  • Exploring Zero-Trust Architecture Implementation in Modern Cybersecurity
  • Zero Trust in API Management

Trending

  • Breaking Bottlenecks: Applying the Theory of Constraints to Software Development
  • Event-Driven Architectures: Designing Scalable and Resilient Cloud Solutions
  • A Developer's Guide to Mastering Agentic AI: From Theory to Practice
  • Medallion Architecture: Why You Need It and How To Implement It With ClickHouse
  1. DZone
  2. Software Design and Architecture
  3. Security
  4. Identity and Access Management Best Practices

Identity and Access Management Best Practices

This article examines some of the best practices IT practitioners should follow when working with identity and access management (IAM) systems.

By 
Maria Pelagia user avatar
Maria Pelagia
·
Sep. 08, 23 · Opinion
Likes (1)
Comment
Save
Tweet
Share
3.3K Views

Join the DZone community and get the full member experience.

Join For Free

Identity and access management (IAM) is fundamental to modern cybersecurity and operational efficiency. It allows organizations to secure their data, comply with regulations, improve user productivity, and build a strong foundation for trustworthy and successful business operations. A robust IAM solution also aids in protecting APIs and applications that are built to accelerate the digitalization of services, enabling growth and customer loyalty. This article will examine some of the best practices IT practitioners should follow when working with IAM systems. Even though some of the suggestions are not necessarily new, they still need to be widely adopted to be effective and should be considered as soon as possible. 

1. Zero-Trust on Identity

As mentioned in the introduction, APIs are critical in accelerating enterprise digital transformation. However, building and managing multiple APIs comes with various security risks since API calls transfer sensitive data that cyber criminals can easily access if the API endpoints are not strongly secured. A zero-trust approach, where no device or service is trusted, needs a strong focus on identity. By using token-based OAuth solutions, identity credentials can flow through services in a secure and integrity-protected way. This enables all parts of a system to properly authorize requests, trusting only the data coming directly from the IAM system.  

authorization

2. Centralized Trust Using Claims

Centralizing trust should be a top priority when operating an Identity and Access Management system. Companies should ensure the IAM system is the only source of truth for claims used to make authorization decisions. Claims contain essential information about the authenticated user, such as the user ID, company ID, or roles. They also provide insight into the token’s context, such as who the issuer is, when the token was issued, and when it expires.  Centralized trust also facilitates the validation of identity information in services. The services can easily verify the integrity of the claims and check that nothing has been added or modified in transit.

3. Implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) 

Another critical IAM best practice is implementing multi-factor authentication. MFA is an authentication method that adds an extra layer of security, helping to authenticate the user's identity. It relies on more than one factor to give access to the user. For example, users might receive a code on their smartphone to authenticate themselves after entering their password to log in to a platform or service. With MFA, there is always a second factor (smartphone, email access, biometric data) as part of the authentication process. This way, unauthorized access is limited.

4. Scalable IAM Solution 

When deciding on an IAM solution, it is essential to consider scalability options. The best practice is to choose an IAM system that is flexible and scalable and can be deployed in any environment according to your business needs. A scalable IAM solution should save time and deployment costs and not be restricted by inter-node dependencies. In addition, your IAM solution should accommodate a growing user base without compromising performance or security. Scalability ensures that the IAM system can handle many user identities and access requests efficiently while ensuring that if the organization grows and evolves, it can handle these changes without significant disruptions.

5. Data Privacy 

Data privacy best practices are vital to safeguard the information of users, employees, and customers. Data privacy in an IAM system would require an article on its own, but one of the most important steps to take is to implement encryption techniques that protect sensitive data in transit and at rest. Effects of unauthorized access can be minimized by encrypting data stored in databases, configuration files, and communication channels. In addition, regularly perform access reviews to ensure users, employees, and customers have the right level of access to resources. Lastly, ensure the IAM system complies with data privacy regulations and industry-specific requirements.

6. Plan Ahead: Decentralized Identifiers and Verifiable Credentials 

Finally, a best practice is to keep an eye on the security capabilities you may need in the near future. Decentralized identifiers (DIDs) and verifiable credentials (VCs) are relatively new concepts in the industry and should be evaluated for future use. They form part of the decentralized identity framework and are being utilized within upcoming standards and technologies that give users more control over their digital identities and which information to share online. Decentralized identifiers are unique identifiers assigned to entities such as users or legal bodies. They are designed to be universally unique. DIDs can be self-generated by the user or the legal entity and aren't managed by central authorities, which means that the entities can have more control over their digital footprint. Verifiable credentials contain identity attributes about users that are cryptographically signed, ensuring authenticity. The user can choose which information to share and not reveal extra personal details. To verify the validity of a VC, entities can use the issuer's public key to validate the signature. DIDs and VCs form the basis of a self-sovereign identity (SSI) model where users can present verifiable credentials without relying on centralized identity providers.

Conclusion

Identity and access management is a vast topic that comprises many security pillars. In this article, we suggested a few best practices to help your organization choose, build, and maintain a robust security infrastructure. Adopting these IAM best practices will enable your organization to scale its security to many APIs, applications, and future use cases.

Digital footprint Multi-factor authentication authentication security

Opinions expressed by DZone contributors are their own.

Related

  • Modern Digital Authentication Protocols
  • Role-Based Multi-Factor Authentication
  • Exploring Zero-Trust Architecture Implementation in Modern Cybersecurity
  • Zero Trust in API Management

Partner Resources

×

Comments
Oops! Something Went Wrong

The likes didn't load as expected. Please refresh the page and try again.

ABOUT US

  • About DZone
  • Support and feedback
  • Community research
  • Sitemap

ADVERTISE

  • Advertise with DZone

CONTRIBUTE ON DZONE

  • Article Submission Guidelines
  • Become a Contributor
  • Core Program
  • Visit the Writers' Zone

LEGAL

  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy

CONTACT US

  • 3343 Perimeter Hill Drive
  • Suite 100
  • Nashville, TN 37211
  • support@dzone.com

Let's be friends:

Likes
There are no likes...yet! 👀
Be the first to like this post!
It looks like you're not logged in.
Sign in to see who liked this post!