The difference between IAM and PAM: What you need to know?

In the modern digital world, access management to systems and data has become a key aspect of ensuring security. However, confusion often arises between two important concepts: IAM (Identity and Access Management) and PAM (Privileged Access Management). Let’s break down their features and differences.

What is IAM?

IAM (Identity and Access Management) is designed to manage access for everyday users. This includes:

• Authorization and authentication of employees to perform their work tasks.
• Controlling access to data and systems based on each user's role.
• Ensuring simplicity and convenience for standard operations, such as logging into systems or using corporate applications.

Example: IAM helps determine which folders in the corporate network are accessible to your accountant or marketer. It's like a pass system in an office where each employee is given access rights based on their job responsibilities.

What is PAM?

PAM (Privileged Access Management) focuses on protecting high-level accounts that have access to the most critical resources of the organization. The main tasks of PAM include:

• Restricting and monitoring access for accounts with elevated privileges.
• Providing additional protection for key systems and data.
• Reducing risks from the compromise of accounts that could cause significant damage to the infrastructure.

Example: PAM locks the server room and gives keys only to selected administrators. This helps protect the "heart" of your system from unauthorized access.

Key Differences:

1. Purpose: IAM covers all users and manages their access to everyday resources. PAM focuses on a limited group of users with access to critical systems.
2. Security Level: PAM provides stricter control and protection since working with privileged accounts requires a higher level of security.
3. Risks: Violations in IAM may lead to the leakage of standard data, while the compromise of a PAM account can destroy the entire infrastructure.

IAM and PAM perform different but complementary functions within a cybersecurity strategy. While IAM can be compared to building access management, PAM is like securing the server room where the most critical processes occur. Understanding these differences helps build a more robust security system for your organization.

Softprom offers the best PAM solutions to ensure reliable protection for your infrastructure.