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Identity & Access Management (IAM)

Understanding Identity & Access Management (IAM) in Higher Education

 IAM refers to the policies and systems used to verify user identities and manage their access to digital resources. It ensures secure, role-based access across institutional platforms.

Glossary Terms
Term
Description
Identity & Access Management (IAM)

A framework for managing digital identities and controlling access to institutional systems and data.

Single Sign-On (SSO)

A login method that allows users to access multiple systems with one set of credentials.

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

A security feature that requires two or more forms of identity verification.

Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)

Permissions assigned based on a user’s institutional role (e.g., student, faculty, staff).

Authentication Provider

The service that verifies user credentials for system access.

Access Provisioning

The process of granting and managing user access to institutional resources.

Evolving IAM Systems

 Modern IAM tools integrate with SIS, LMS, and HR systems. Institutions are adopting zero-trust security models and real-time threat detection to protect user data and ensure compliance.