When it comes to cybersecurity, digital identities are simultaneously a vital asset to consumers and a constant point of vulnerability for organizations. Safety measures need to be in place for the sake of protecting user identities and sensitive data, which is why many organizations use an identity framework. Standard cybersecurity practices have increasingly involved the use of identity frameworks for their security and ability to streamline operations regarding identity and access management.
In this article, we'll explore the basics of identity frameworks and touch on how they can make user identities and organization systems safer and attack-proof.
What is an identity framework?
An identity framework is a structured system or model that people, organizations, and services use to manage and authenticate digital identities. Identity frameworks are comprehensive systems that include various components. They usually consist of set parameters, authorization policies, cybersecurity technology, and more. All of the components of an identity framework help ensure that authorized users can access the resources in a system that they're supposed to, while all other users without proper clearance are kept out.
At the core of an identity framework lies identity and access management (IAM), which is the cybersecurity discipline concerned with ensuring the right people can access the right data at the right time. This is the overarching goal of an identity framework, as well as minimizing risks related to data breaches, external attacks, and internal vulnerabilities. Identity and access management involves accounting for an inconceivable amount of weak points and areas of entry in your organization's security plan, and using an identity framework makes that much easier. Let's find out how it does so by going over some valuable functions of identity frameworks.
What can an identity framework do?
Manage user identities and privileges: As we mentioned with IAM, it's important that your organization's system has a good way of managing user permissions and access to sensitive info. Identity frameworks often make it much easier to assign privileges to users based on the resources they've been cleared to use. This also helps out on the front-end side of things, as an identity framework makes managing customer accounts much easier in the event of lost or stolen information.
Easily moderate access control: An identity framework often provides an architecture for a permission schema that ascribes resource access to employees based on their job role. This is called role-based access control, and it's implemented in identity frameworks to standardize access to important data within an organization's database. Identity frameworks can also use many different elements of access control in conjunction with one another, although this varies between solutions. For instance, there are different frameworks you can use if your organization emphasizes collaboration on projects compared to higher-security endeavors that require strict access limits.
Integrate well with the workflow: Good identity frameworks are often compatible with the systems and technology your organization is already using. Integrating new cybersecurity solutions can be tedious and disrupt operations within an organization, which is why identity frameworks can be a great choice for minimizing setup time. Many frameworks can supplement the procedures your team is already familiar with so that your organization's employees can easily acclimate to elements of the identity framework.
Audit and monitor account activity: Monitoring user account activity is another key feature of a quality identity framework. This helps identify anomalous activity that can signify if a user is struggling with account access, or if a breach of the organization is being attempted by a bad actor. System administrators can not only aid valid users or limit account privileges accordingly with an identity framework, but also retain a log of activity in the event of a breach to identify vulnerabilities.
Why adopt an identity framework?
Identity and access management is ever-evolving. Here are a few considerations for why every organization should adopt an identity framework.
Risk reduction and mitigation
Identity frameworks always have sophisticated protocols and security measures in place that insulate your data and clients from cyberattacks. Multi-factor authentication, real-time auditing, and granular verification processes are only a few of the risk mitigation measures put in place by an identity framework. Individually, any of these security measures can effectively thwart login bypass attempts or other malicious activity, but together, they form an airtight system.
Other IAM measures like one-time passwords and scheduled offboarding are also common extensions of an identity framework, forming a dynamic approach to data security that can't be rivaled by anyone attempting to gain unauthorized access.
Consistent, robust policies
All rules and permissions pertaining to access control become standardized and unambiguous with the use of an identity framework. As a result, it becomes much easier for all users and employees to navigate the onboarding and authentication process.
Transparency is also a big factor with security measures, especially for organizations that store sensitive data in a digital environment. That said, the consistency of identity framework policies helps an organization relay its security measures to clients and stakeholders with more clarity.
Improved incident response
Identity frameworks can streamline collective team efforts in crucial areas like incident response and damage control. It's important to prepare for the worst, and an identity framework will ensure that an organization's cybersecurity team can execute a faster, more coordinated response to a cyberattack or a data breach.
Using the above framework functions like audit logs or access moderation, administrators can easily detect and target vulnerabilities and other security issues before they worsen, which saves time, money, and the organization's reputation. With an identity framework's top-down view of a cybersecurity system, administrators can also better analyze and understand weaknesses to minimize future threats.
Resource efficiency
With an identity framework, it takes far less time and money to properly secure an organization's system. Many identity framework solutions offer automated processes that save valuable time and minimize areas where manual errors could be made as well. Many identity frameworks are very cost-efficient for organizations, and they specifically optimize tasks related to identity and access management that would otherwise be tedious and costly if done without a proper framework.
An identity framework doesn't just secure your clients, investors and employees' data; it also boosts productivity, reduces monthly overhead on the cybersecurity front, and gives system administrators peace of mind.
Want to learn more?
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