IAM Glossary Definition

Identify And Access Management is a framework for business processes that facilitate the management of electronic or digital identities. The framework includes the organizational policies for managing digital identity as well as the technologies needed to support identity management.

Identity Access Management (IAM) is a Cloud deployment-model concept used to describe where cloud resources run, who can use them, and how environments are combined.

In security and compliance work, this term helps teams describe controls, risks, identity practices, standards, audits, or protective technologies. It is relevant when managing access, reducing exposure, documenting safeguards, or demonstrating accountability.

Architects use this concept when choosing how public, private, hybrid, government, sovereign, or multicloud environments should be combined.

Related concepts include Hybrid Cloud and Cloud Computing.

Additional Resource: Cloud Security Alliance Cloud Security Glossary.