An identity access management (IAM) system is a framework for business processes that facilitates the management of electronic identities.
The framework includes the technology needed to support identity management. IAM technology can be used to initiate, capture, record and manage user identities and their related access permissions in an automated fashion.
This ensures that access privileges are granted according to one interpretation of policy and all individuals and services are properly authenticated, authorized and audited.
Poorly controlled IAM processes may lead to regulatory non-compliance because if the organization is audited, management will not be a http://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/definition/identity-access-management-IAM-systemble to prove that company data is not at risk for being misused.