What is the focus of identity and access management (IAM)?

The primary focus of identity and access management (IAM) is to control user access to systems and data based on roles and permissions. IAM is essential in ensuring that users have the appropriate level of access needed to perform their jobs while also protecting sensitive information from unauthorized access. It involves defining user roles, determining what data and systems those roles can interact with, and implementing policies that manage user authentication and authorization.

This helps organizations mitigate security risks and adhere to compliance requirements by ensuring that only the right individuals have access to specific resources. By aligning access rights with user roles, IAM helps create a structured way to manage user identities and their associated privileges, which is critical in maintaining the security posture of an organization.

While aspects like setting passwords, monitoring performance, or encrypting data contribute to an organization's overall security strategy, they do not encapsulate the core purpose of IAM, which revolves specifically around managing and controlling user identity and access.