IAM security policies include:
1. Establish clear and concise IAM policies that specify who can access what resources and how they can be used.
2. Use strong authentication and authorization mechanisms to ensure that only authorized users are able to access resources.
3. Keep track of user access logs to ensure that all activity is properly documented and tracked.
4. Regularly review and update IAM policies to ensure that they are still effective and relevant to the needs of your organization.
Management of User Accounts:
For any business, all stakeholders who participate in the virtual representation of the business are considered users. To manage these users and provide them with relevant access to data, a startup must have proper infrastructure in place. This infrastructure can be an internal system that keeps track of all job records or an online store maintained by the startup. The use of an IAM tool can be beneficial in managing users effectively.
Single Sign-On:
Startups may use several services that require account creation, either in-house or distributed by third-party developers or vendors. Remembering numerous passwords can be challenging, and saving them can lead to data breaches. Single sign-on (SSO) enables access to multiple services using the same credentials, providing a convenient solution. Once a user account is created in one application, access to all other applications can be granted automatically or by the admin with ease.
Federated Authentication:
Federated authentication is a centralized method of creating user accounts that allows users to access any provided service using existing accounts, such as signing up with Google or Facebook.
Multi-Factor Authentication:
Two-factor authentication, commonly sending a secret code to a phone or email, is a well-known security measure. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) takes it a step further by adding a few more steps to the authentication process, such as proving identity with something you know, something you own, or something you are. While additional security is crucial, it may come at a cost to convenience.
Adaptive Authentication:
Adaptive authentication overcomes the convenience issue brought on by MFA while maintaining high security. It allows for delegation of authentication steps based on factors like the user’s role or location. For example, access to a service from a public Wi-Fi network may require higher security than access from a secure office network. Adaptive authentication can also be useful in a startup, where certain roles may require extra layers of security.
Summary:
Implementing an IAM system from the beginning can be beneficial for a startup in the long run, as it provides a solid infrastructure for expansion and avoids identity silos. It also provides security protection against possible attackers.
