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Identity and access management
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<p>Identity and access management (IAM or IdAM) or Identity management (IdM), is a framework of policies and technologies to ensure that the right users (that are part of the <a href="/facts/Software_ecosystem/mA9Fcymk">ecosystem</a> connected to or within an enterprise) have the appropriate access to technology resources. IAM systems fall under the overarching umbrellas of <a href="/facts/Computer_security/7E5dIy7G">IT security</a> and <a href="/facts/Data_management/Cykeqxc7">data management</a>. Identity and access management systems not only identify, authenticate, and control access for individuals who will be utilizing IT resources but also the hardware and applications employees need to access. </p><p>The terms "identity management" (IdM) and "identity and access management" are used interchangeably in the area of identity access management. </p><p><a href="/facts/Identity_management_systems/vscJAb6v">Identity-management systems</a>, products, applications and platforms manage identifying and ancillary data about entities that include individuals, computer-related hardware, and <a href="/facts/Software_application/YQuj7Kog">software applications</a>. </p><p>IdM covers issues such as how users gain an <a href="/facts/Digital_identity/HWIe84hG">identity</a>, the roles, and sometimes the permissions that identity grants, the protection of that identity, and the technologies supporting that protection (e.g., <a href="/facts/Protocol_(computing)/5uady7cB">network protocols</a>, <a href="/facts/Public_key_certificate/J7aYI4Bx">digital certificates</a>, <a href="/facts/Password/WEoul230">passwords</a>, etc.). </p>