![\"IAM](\"/69f5d8fc6960a5d3d104150136659437/iam_ciam_idaas.webp\")
Digital Identity and IAM Domain have been the talk of the technology town for decades. There has been plenty of research, innovation, and information around these two, which led to many terminologies for the platforms providing the relevant features. Some of these terminologies are specific to the characteristics of the platform, while others are used interchangeably.
\nIn this article, let’s discuss the following commonly used terminologies for the platforms providing the relevant features:
\nThese terminologies revolve around the IAM, CIAM, and IDaaS platforms. The infographic below categorizes these terminologies within these platforms:
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IAM defines and manages the roles and access privileges of network users and the cases in which users are granted or denied them. The primary purpose of IAM systems is one digital identity per individual. The established digital identity is then maintained, modified, and monitored throughout users' access lifecycles.
\nCIAM is a subset of the broader concept of identity access management (IAM). It explicitly focuses on managing customers' identities who need access to websites, web portals, and mobile apps.
\nIDaaS is an authentication infrastructure that is built, hosted, and managed by a third-party service provider. IDaaS companies supply cloud-based authentication or identity management to enterprises who subscribe. It allows enterprises to use single sign-on, authentication, and access controls to provide secure access to their growing number of software and SaaS applications.
\nIAM is used for employee/internal-facing identity and access management solutions. The following explains a typical example of the IAM implementation within an organization:
\nJohn, a new employee, joins the organization, and the application allows provisioning of his organizational identity. John can then login to his organization's portal, and based on the access configuration, he is either authorized or denied access to information or a resource.
\nBesides, the organization has multiple portals, and John is allowed to access these portals using the same credentials. Throughout the job tenure, John's profile is maintained or updated from time to time. Eventually, when John decides to move on, deleting John's account from one portal revokes his access to all other portals.
\nIAM has the following four components:
\n\n\nOrganizations earlier used on-premises IAM software for identity and access management. Now the identity management process is getting more complicated as organizations add more cloud services to their environments. Thus, as a logical step, the organizations adopt cloud-based Identity-as-a-Service (IDaaS) and cloud IAM solutions.
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CIAM is used for customer-facing solutions. The capabilities of IAM are followed in the CIAM solutions; however, the use cases and requirements vary. Common features of CIAM include:
\nThe following explains a typical example of the CIAM implementation in a customer-facing application:
\nSarah, a new customer registers on the application. If applicable, the application should request for Sarah’s consent on business privacy policies and get her social profile data. The application must ensure the security and privacy of the captured data during registration, social login, or activities performed during her life cycle. Besides, Sarah should be allowed to manage access to her profile data and delete her account from the application. On the other hand, the business should be allowed to get insights on their customer to understand and deliver their needs.
\nThe core components of IAM remain the same across areas like authentication, authorization, user management, and central user repository. Thus, the need for Single Sign-On, Authentication Protocols, Access Management, Centralized and Universal Directories, User Lifecycle Management and Authorization, etc remains the same.
\n\n\nIt is a common misconception that the technology required for CIAM is the same for IAM. CIAM is far more challenging irrespective of the similarities with the IAM, and it is recommended to have a CIAM solution in place for your customers.
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The enterprises typically use IDaaS to extend their existing IAM infrastructure. Thus, enterprise IDaaS providers must deploy solutions that can:
\nThe following are the critical features of IDaaS:
\nSingle Sign-On (SSO) and Federation: SSO capability to allow users to authenticate themselves across multiple applications using the same credentials.
\nSimilarly, the federation capability allows the organizations to manage secure authentication for third-party cloud services accessed beyond the control of internal IT departments.
\n\n\nThe enterprises use several applications, mostly cloud-based services, while some of the applications hosted on-premise. Managing the credentials and access to each of those applications has become hectic.
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\n\nSince IDaaS provides a single point of user and access management for all the applications, granting or revoking access to users becomes very easy. Besides, it enables SSO to avoid managing separate login credentials for different service providers.
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If you are looking for information on more terminology around the platforms mentioned in this article, add your request in the comments below. I will either address them here or write another article dedicated to your requests and questions!
\n","frontmatter":{"date":"July 24, 2020","updated_date":null,"title":"IAM, CIAM, and IDaaS - know the difference and terms used for them","tags":["iam","ciam","idaas","identity"],"coverImage":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":1.5037593984962405,"src":"/static/a5130bd86b66f92b9a0458e359a10100/58556/triplets.webp","srcSet":"/static/a5130bd86b66f92b9a0458e359a10100/61e93/triplets.webp 200w,\n/static/a5130bd86b66f92b9a0458e359a10100/1f5c5/triplets.webp 400w,\n/static/a5130bd86b66f92b9a0458e359a10100/58556/triplets.webp 800w,\n/static/a5130bd86b66f92b9a0458e359a10100/99238/triplets.webp 1200w,\n/static/a5130bd86b66f92b9a0458e359a10100/7c22d/triplets.webp 1600w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}},"author":{"id":"Archna Yadav","github":null,"avatar":null}}}},{"node":{"fields":{"slug":"/identity/identity-as-a-service-for-business/"},"html":"Identity as a Service (IDaaS) can be a game-changer for your business—but only if you know how to play it right.
\nSpeaking of which, the term identity refers to characteristics that make an entity recognizable. Likewise, digital identity refers to attributes that identify people, organizations, or other entities online.
\nWith more and more businesses migrating to the cloud, the demand for seamless authentication of digital identities has reached a critical point.
\nExperts predict a massive change in the way enterprises handle customer identity and access management (CIAM) within the next decade.
\nBy 2022, Identity as a Service (IDaaS) solutions is expected to grow the identity and access management space to a $13.42 billion property. Hence, now is the best time to invest in a secure, highly accessible, simplified, low-risk solution like IDaaS.
\nIdentity as a service (IDaaS) refers to identity and access management services that are offered through the cloud or via SaaS (software-as-a-service) systems. It offers cloud-based authentication delivered and operated by third-party providers on a subscription basis.
\nIn short, IDaaS helps manage digital identities so that the right users can access the resources that are meant for them.
\nIDaaS is a win-win for both businesses and their customers. With modern IDaaS access features, there’s no need for end-users to remember multiple account credentials. Likewise, system administrators can reduce the number of user accounts they have to manage.
\nAs an application developer, you must see features like registration, authentication, and account recovery as opportunities to better customer experiences. But, that’s not it. The following are three important benefits of IDaaS for developers.
\nIDaaS allows application developers to decentralize the user identity from the application. This leads to the following advantages for developers.
\nBy letting an external service handle identity and authentication, developers can focus on bringing more value to the business.
\nOne of the core competencies of IDaaS is that they are API-first. Interestingly, most of these third parties provide on-demand expertise that would otherwise become more time-consuming and resource-heavy, if developed in-house.
\nBy leveraging APIs, developers can add them to their existing technology and save a significant amount of time.
\nWith developers constantly bugged to build revenue-generating apps in shorter deadlines, IDaaS allows them to get the job done quickly, and simultaneously create high quality and secure output.
\nFurthermore, IDaaS has the potential to deliver a secure, streamlined on-demand identity expertise. Such strategies can also do a great deal to reduce internal tension and eventually bridge the gap between developers and the security workforce.
\n![\"Guide-to-Modern-Customer-Identity-ebook\"](\"/cb344658920387aac010223f2c1d79a1/EB-Guide-to-Modern-Customer-Identity-1024x310.webp\")
A comprehensive IDaaS solution brings a plethora of benefits to the entire business environment. There's agility, security, and efficiency, to name a few. Some other advantages include:
\nIDaaS allows businesses the freedom to choose the right IT resources that fit them and their customers. When they have the best tool to get their job done, that leads to better agility and increased speed. The outcome? A competitive position in the market.
\nIDaaS offers the liberty to businesses to manage their IT environment from a single platform. There's less scope for human error too. With a comprehensive identity solution, they can let their customers access multiple web properties with a single set of credentials. This leads to increased productivity and better security.
\nA modern IDaaS solution secures identities and protects your IT environment. With features like MFA, SSO, and password complexity, businesses can control access and increase security. Needless-to-say, with identities being the epicenter of every cyberattack, identity security features such as these are instrumental in safeguarding your digital properties.
\n![](\"/ecda0feac4efd7080ac3429239ba4155/imgae2-1024x621.webp\")
The features and functionalities of an Identity as a Service solution vary across all market segments but generally include digital identity access and management. Here are some of the most common components.
\nA typical IDaaS vendor will operate a multi-tenant service delivery model. The vendor will issue updates and performance enhancement requests whenever these become available.
\nIDaaS service taps all the points of an ideal identity and access management platform. It includes maintaining features like multi-factor authentication and biometric access across all access points.
\nWhen it comes to customer identity and access management, single sign-on is a vital feature.
\nSSO is designed to maximize the end-user experience while simultaneously maintaining the security of a network. With SSO, users are encouraged to use strong password combinations to access their everyday IT services.
\nIn an Identity as a service environment, SSO allows enterprises to secure authentication for third-party services without requiring an internal IT department’s involvement.
\nMulti-factor authentication (MFA) is associated with Identity as a Service and is occasionally referred to as two-factor authentication. Using multiple factors for authentication helps prevent data breaches, making it one of the best ways to protect digital identities.
\nOther examples of how MFA works include Google 2-Step Verification and Microsoft Authenticator. Both work on the TOTP (time-based one-time password) mechanism.
\nBiometrics uses the \"inheritance\" as a means of verification—meaning something the user is.
\nSMS and voice verifications are also popular multi-factor authentication methods. Iris or retina recognition, fingerprint, hand, thumbprints, full facial recognition, and DNA usage are catching up too.
\nIdentity as a Service also utilizes automated approval workflows. These workflows help IT admins to:
\nUsing analytics and intelligence capabilities in IDaaS lets enterprises report misuse related to access privileges. This makes it easier to detect anomalies in user functions and data usage.
\nEnterprises can leverage the intelligence capabilities of an Identity as a Service platform to manage governance and compliance-related workflows. Real-world authentication processes can be aligned with governance policies to mitigate security risk.
\n![](\"/3985d0fc0e97f7f6526b5800bdf29e65/image-3-1-1024x621.webp\")
1. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
\nGDPR is the core of Europe's digital privacy legislation. It requires businesses to safeguard the personally identifiable information (PII) of the European Union citizens for transactions that occur within the member states. Failure to comply may cost dearly. Individual rights include:
\n2. California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)
\nThe CCPA is a state-level law that mandates that businesses inform customers of their plan to monetize their data, and provide them with a clear means of opting out, whenever required. Any violation can lead to hefty fines. A few other requirements include:
\nIn a world that’s swiftly migrating to the cloud, the LoginRadius IDaaS provider is positioned to combine both security and ease-of-use in solving emerging business needs for enterprise-level organizations.
\nHere’s what LoginRadius IDaaS can do for your digital enterprise.
\nLoginRadius IDaaS implementation in the cloud is fast and straightforward. Since servers are already installed in the cloud, you only need to configure your chosen platform according to your IT protocols to get it up and running.
\nA cloud-based Identity as a Service platform like LoginRadius easily integrates with 3rd-party apps. You can also add or remove any feature from your existing CIAM environment at any time, such as MFA, SSO, or Progressive Profiling.
\nTransferring identity data to a new environment in the cloud may seem daunting to the uninitiated. LoginRadius provides customers with data migration software, and sets up and executes the migration for a seamless, hassle-free transfer.
\nPasswordless Authentication deters cybercriminals by reducing the risk of password sprawl. With the LoginRadius IDaaS platform, you can set up secure, passwordless authentication and secure password resets.
\nCIAM experts are an asset to any company when it comes to implementing IDaaS and securing customer identities. Luckily, onboarding a CIAM expert isn’t necessary when using Identity as a Service. With LoginRadius CIAM, we are with you every step of the way in your digital transformation.
\nThere is a lot of anticipation about Identity as a Service in solving real-world business problems. It is important, and no, you cannot mess it up. Because then, you will be out of business. No wonder, IDaaS has already entered the mainstream and will continue growing from here.
\n![\"book-a-free-demo-loginradius\"](\"/788a6a84e389edac18728007099fdc1d/Book-a-free-demo-request-1024x310.webp\")