Access Management

  • 11 min read

Access Control vs Access Management: 5 Key Comparisons

Rohit Rao

1st November, 2023

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Access control and access management are integral practices in safeguarding enterprise resources and ensuring systems and data security. These components are crucial in authenticating user identities and granting appropriate access levels to systems and data. 

Although 'access management' and 'access control' are sometimes interchangeable, they play unique roles within your security architecture.

Access control and access management are two fundamental aspects of security within organizations. Access control primarily focuses on regulating and restricting access to specific resources, systems, or data based on predefined rules and policies. It's centered around ensuring security and compliance. 

In contrast, access management takes a more comprehensive approach. It goes beyond access control to encompass user identity management, streamlining access to various applications, improving user productivity, and ensuring compliance with organizational policies and external regulations. 

In this access control vs access management comparison, we delve into the key differences and the essential roles each plays in securing an organization's digital and physical assets. However, before delving into these distinctions, let’s take a closer look at both of these approaches.

Access Control: Understanding Its Core Functions & Objectives

Access control is a critical aspect of information security and data protection, with its primary functions and objectives geared towards safeguarding digital assets and resources. This system is designed to manage and regulate who can access what, where, and when within an organization's network. Let's delve into the core functions and objectives of access control:

Core Functions:

• Authentication: The primary function of access control is authentication, which verifies the identity of users or entities attempting to gain access. This can involve various methods, such as passwords, biometrics, smart cards, or multi-factor authentication.

• Authorization: Once a user's identity is established, access control determines the level of access they are granted. Authorization assigns permissions or roles to users based on their job function, responsibilities, and security clearance.

• Audit and Monitoring: Access control systems monitor and log user activities. This helps in tracking who accessed what, when they did it, and whether any unauthorized or suspicious activities occurred. Audit logs play a crucial role in security incident investigations and compliance reporting.

• Enforcement: Access control systems enforce security policies by allowing or denying access based on the established rules and permissions. This ensures that only authorized individuals can access specific resources.

Primary Objectives:

• Security: The overarching objective of access control is to enhance security. By limiting access to only authorized personnel, organizations can protect sensitive data, systems, and physical spaces from unauthorized intrusions.

• Data Protection: Access control prevents data breaches by ensuring that only those with legitimate reasons and permissions can access and manipulate data. This is vital in safeguarding sensitive information.

• Compliance: Many industries have strict regulatory requirements for data security and privacy. Access control helps organizations meet these compliance standards by controlling who can access sensitive data and maintaining audit trails.

• Risk Mitigation: Controlling access reduces the risk of both internal and external threats. It helps in mitigating the risk of data leaks, unauthorized system changes, and other security incidents.

• Operational Efficiency: Access control also contributes to operational efficiency by streamlining user management. It ensures that users have the necessary access to perform their tasks without over-provisioning, which can create security risks.

• User Accountability: By tracking and logging user activities, access control systems hold users accountable for their actions. This can deter malicious activity and foster responsible behavior.

• Scalability: Access control systems should be scalable to accommodate organizational growth and changes in access requirements.

Understanding the core functions and objectives of access control is crucial for organizations aiming to maintain a robust security posture in an increasingly digital and interconnected world. Effective access control not only protects assets and data but also plays a pivotal role in achieving regulatory compliance and maintaining public trust.

Access Management: Understanding Its Broader Scope

Access management is a broader concept encompassing various practices and strategies aimed at efficiently controlling and overseeing the way users or entities interact with an organization's resources, both digital and physical. Access management includes access control as its fundamental pillar. This aspect focuses on verifying the identity of users, assigning appropriate permissions, and regulating access to digital and physical assets. 

While access control, which primarily deals with authentication, authorization, and enforcement, is a fundamental component of access management, this broader scope extends beyond these core aspects.  

Let's delve into the broader scope of access management:

• Identity Management: Access management often involves identity management, encompassing an organization's entire lifecycle of user identities. This includes user provisioning, de-provisioning, and management of attributes and roles associated with each identity.

•  Single Sign-On (SSO): Implementing SSO solutions fall under access management. SSO simplifies user authentication by allowing them to log in once and gain access to multiple connected systems or applications without the need to re-enter credentials.

• Role-Based Access Control (RBAC): Developing and managing roles and associated permissions, a critical part of access management, helps in efficient access provisioning and aligning user access with their job functions.

• Access Governance: Access management often involves the implementation of access governance policies and practices. This ensures that access controls and permissions are maintained according to compliance requirements and organizational policies.

• User Experience: Access management aims to strike a balance between robust security and user convenience. This includes providing a seamless and user-friendly experience when accessing resources.

• Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Implementing MFA as part of access management enhances security by requiring multiple forms of verification, such as something the user knows (password), something the user has (smart card), or something the user is (biometric data).

Access management's broader scope is essential in today's interconnected and dynamic digital landscape. It involves a holistic approach to not only protect assets but also ensure efficiency, compliance, and a positive user experience. 

By understanding this wider context, organizations can build more comprehensive and effective access management strategies that address their evolving security and operational needs.

Access Control vs Access Management: 5 Key Differences 

Let's explore 5 pivotal distinctions that set these two concepts apart, shedding light on their roles in securing digital and physical assets.

1. Scope and Focus

Access Control primarily regulates and restricts access to specific resources, systems, or data based on predefined rules and policies. It is primarily concerned with enforcing access policies and permissions.

For example, in a company's network, an access control policy may dictate that only employees with specific job titles can access sensitive financial data. Anyone else attempting to access this data is denied entry.

Access Management encompasses a broader range of activities, including user authentication, authorization, provisioning, and identity management. It looks beyond mere access restriction and focuses on managing user identities and their access throughout their lifecycle.

For example, access management may involve creating, modifying, or disabling user accounts as employees join, change roles, or leave the company. It ensures that the right individuals can access the right resources at the right time.

2. Components and Technologies

Access Control typically involves technologies like firewalls, authentication methods (e.g., usernames and passwords), and authorization rules (e.g., access control lists) to enforce access policies.

For example, a is a common access control technology that allows or denies network traffic based on predetermined rules. It can block unauthorized access attempts from external sources.

Access Management includes components such as identity and access management (IAM) systems, single sign-on (SSO) solutions, identity federation, and user directories for managing user identities and their access.

For example: Single sign-on (SSO) tools allows a user to log in once with a single set of credentials and gain access to multiple applications or systems. For instance, a user logs in to an SSO portal and can access email, file storage, and project management tools without needing to enter credentials for each.

1. User Experience

User experience is typically less prioritized in Access Control, where the primary concern revolves around security and compliance.

For instance, when users are required to input complex passwords with frequent expiration requirements, the primary focus is on enhancing security, often at the expense of user convenience.

In contrast, Access Management places a higher emphasis on user experience, striving to deliver seamless and user-friendly access by incorporating features like Single Sign-On (SSO) and multi-factor authentication.

For instance, through multi-factor authentication, users gain access to their accounts using both something they know (password) and something they have (their smartphone), thus elevating security while ensuring a user-friendly and convenient experience.

3. Comprehensive Approach

Access Control serves as a foundational element, addressing the fundamental need to control access to resources. It focuses on establishing the rules and mechanisms that determine who is permitted or denied access.

Consider an access control list (ACL) configured on a network device. This ACL is essential for controlling network access by allowing or denying specific IP addresses. It forms the bedrock of network security, ensuring that only authorized traffic can traverse the network while blocking unauthorized access attempts.

Access Management takes a more expansive approach, extending beyond the core principles of access control. It encompasses a wide range of activities that include managing the entire lifecycle of user identities, ensuring compliance with regulations, and adopting a holistic strategy for identity and access in the digital realm.

For example, identity and access management (IAM) systems provide a vivid illustration of access management's comprehensive approach. While it certainly oversees user access, it goes beyond by actively tracking and guaranteeing adherence to regulatory requirements. 

Furthermore, it streamlines user provisioning, authentication, and authorization processes, offering a comprehensive framework for managing identity and access throughout an organization. 

This ensures that not only are users given the appropriate access, but also that the organization remains compliant with pertinent regulations and standards.

Thus, access control lays the groundwork for controlling resource access, while access management takes a broader and more comprehensive stance, addressing user identity management, compliance, and a holistic approach to managing access in today's digital landscape.

4. Goals and Objectives

Access Control is primarily concerned with regulating who can access specific resources and systems and under what conditions, with a core focus on enhancing security. This involves setting up rules and policies that dictate who is granted or denied access based on factors like role and security clearance.

For example, network administrators use access control to specify which individuals or roles can access specific network segments and systems. For instance, they may configure access control rules that allow only authorized personnel, such as IT administrators or managers, to access critical network infrastructure.

In contrast, Access Management goes beyond access control. It not only controls access but also takes on a more comprehensive role in managing user identities, streamlining access to multiple applications, improving user efficiency, and ensuring compliance with organizational policies and external regulations.

For instance, an access management strategy may encompass a range of activities. This includes user provisioning (automatically creating user accounts for new employees), implementing Single Sign-On (SSO) solutions for seamless access to various applications, and conducting compliance checks to verify that users' access aligns with security and regulatory requirements. This approach provides a more holistic framework for identity and access management within an organization.

While access control and access management share a common goal of controlling access to resources and systems, they differ in their goals and objectives. 

In short, access control primarily focuses on security and setting the rules for access, while access management takes a more comprehensive approach, managing user identities, improving user experiences, and ensuring compliance. Both play vital roles in securing and managing access within organizations.

Comparison Table: Access Control vs Access Management

Here's a quick comparison table for access control vs access management:

Please note that while access control is a subset of access management, the two concepts “access control vs access management” are closely related and often work together in an overall security strategy.

How Zluri Facilitates User Access & Permission Management

Zluri's access management solution offers a robust feature streamlining the process of reviewing user access, simplifying your ability to manage and evaluate users' access rights. This reduces security risks and empowers you with greater control over user access within your organization. 

The initial step in monitoring application access involves identifying all the SaaS systems and applications in use. Zluri provides a centralized platform that offers a comprehensive list of all the applications utilized within your organization's SaaS portfolio. This clear, centralized view grants your IT teams full visibility into your organization's SaaS ecosystem.

This enhanced visibility enables efficient user access management throughout the SaaS stack. You can effectively handle and review access requests, ensuring alignment with industry standards and necessary regulations, all while maintaining appropriate access rights. 

Zluri's access management solutions utilize user attributes to grant and limit access to systems. By considering user attributes such as roles, responsibilities, and security clearance, Zluri ensures that access is finely tuned to meet industry standards and organizational requirements.

Zluri’s access management with quick USPs:-

• Data Loss Prevention through Attribute-Based Access Control: Zluri employs attribute-based access control for effective data loss prevention. This method restricts access based on specific attributes, safeguarding sensitive information. For example, it enforces restrictions on user access to prevent unauthorized data exposure, aligning with industry standards for data protection.

• Compliance at the Core: Zluri's access management solution put compliance at the core of their functionality. By offering precise control over access rights and ensuring that access aligns with industry standards and regulations, Zluri minimizes risks, making it easier for organizations to meet stringent compliance requirements.

• Streamlined Access to Systems: Further, it simplifies access to systems by providing a centralized platform to manage and review access rights. This streamlining enhances security and ensures that users have the right level of access to systems, reducing the risk of unauthorized access and data breaches.

With Zluri, you'll have access to the necessary tools to fortify your systems and ensure the seamless management of access rights across your organization's software applications, employing attribute-based access control to bolster security.

Simplifies Onboarding: Identity Verification Before Granting Access 

With Zluri's robust integration capabilities, your IT team can ensure the secure access of your employees to SaaS applications by verifying their digital identities before granting access rights. How does Zluri accomplish this seamless process? 

By seamlessly integrating with your HRMS (Human Resource Management System), whenever a new employee joins your organization, their details are promptly updated in the HR system.

Subsequently, Zluri fetches this data and syncs it with the centralized dashboard. Thus, simplifying the identity verification process for your IT team, who no longer need to switch between screens multiple times.

Once the verification process is successfully completed, your team can seamlessly proceed to the next step: creating an onboarding workflow. This workflow streamlines the process of granting access to multiple employees simultaneously with just a few clicks, enhancing efficiency and security.

Zluri's integration with the active directory ensures that privileged accounts are effectively managed, and access is only granted after successful authentication, maintaining a high level of security throughout the onboarding process.

Efficiently Manages Access During Mid-Lifecycle Changes

As employees' roles change due to promotions, department shifts, or relocations, their access requirements evolve. Quick and efficient access to the right SaaS apps is crucial to maintain productivity and streamline workflows.

Zluri simplifies this process by integrating it with your HR system. It updates employee role changes and other user attributes on its central dashboard, enabling your IT team to promptly make access decisions, granting or revoking access as needed.

To enhance the employee experience, Zluri offers a self-serve solution – the Employee App Store. This curated collection of approved SaaS applications, managed by your IT admin, empowers employees to make user access controls with ease. They can select and gain access to systems and SaaS apps swiftly, improving efficiency across your organization. 

All that's required from your employees is to submit an access request. Once received, your IT admin is promptly notified. Subsequently, the admin can swiftly verify the employee's identity and grant secure access with just a few simple clicks.

Ensures Secure Access Revocation Upon Deprovisioning

When employees leave the organization, whether through termination, voluntary resignation, or sabbatical, it's vital for your IT teams to promptly make access decisions. This involves revoking their access to all SaaS apps and deactivating or suspending their accounts in a timely manner. Failing to do so can lead to potential data breaches and unauthorized users gaining access, compromising data security.

With Zluri, your team can securely manage access to prevent oversights. This is achieved by creating an offboarding workflow, which allows your team to streamline the deprovisioning process with just a few clicks. By doing so, you maintain strict control over user access controls, ensuring that your organization's data remains secure.

Regular Access Reviews: Ensures Right Employee Have Right Access Levels 

Zluri offers robust automated access review capabilities, streamlining access rights management for enhanced security and regulatory compliance. Access reviews enable IT teams to verify who holds what access permissions and the reasons for their access. This efficient and secure process is a key component of successful access management and governance.

• Access Rules: Zluri's automated access reviews include access rules as a key feature. These rules provide a clear understanding of your organization's access landscape, serving as the foundation for precise control. For instance, if you identify employees with unnecessary access to critical systems, you can promptly establish rules to restrict their permissions, bolstering sensitive data security.

  

  

• Scheduled Certification: Zluri simplifies access rights certification management by enabling proactive scheduling. These certifications are essential to ensure alignment with organizational policies and regulatory requirements. With Zluri's scheduling feature, you can automatically conduct certifications at regular intervals, verifying that employees maintain the necessary access levels. This proactive approach reduces the risk of unauthorized access or data breaches, particularly in scenarios where sensitive customer data requires stringent control.

  

  

• Auto-remediation: Zluri takes access rights management to the next level with auto-remediation capabilities. It doesn't stop at reviews but actively responds to access violations, enhancing security and ensuring industry standards compliance. Whether a team member changes roles or an individual has unnecessary access permissions, Zluri's auto-remediation efficiently adjusts access privileges, minimizing potential security risks.

  

  

  To sum up, Zluri's automated reviews substantially reduce manual work, speeding up the process by tenfold and decreasing the need for cross-departmental coordination. This intelligent automation simplifies data collection, organization, and analysis while ensuring compliance with industry standards, allowing your IT team to focus on strategic initiatives.

  

  

  Now that you understand why Zluri is the right choice, take the next step to explore it further. Book a demo today and experience it for yourself!

About the author

Rohit Rao

Rohit works in the Community and Marketing Team of Zluri and is a strong advocate of community led growth.