Identity and Access Management (IAM) 101: A Guide for Business & IT Leaders
- Belinda Louch
- Jan 2
- 6 min read
Updated: Jan 3
A Fresh Approach to Identity Security | Orbital
Let’s Talk Identity and Access Management
Every organisation relies on people being able to access the systems and information they need to do their job. When that access works smoothly, most people never think about it. When it doesn’t, work slows down, frustration builds, and risk creeps in.
That’s where Identity and Access Management (IAM) comes in.
You might hear the term thrown around, but what does it really mean, and why should it matter to your business or leadership team? Let’s break it down together, no buzzwords, no waffle, just straight-talking guidance.
At Orbital, we’ve worked in identity management and cybersecurity for over 25 years, across government, national infrastructure, and global enterprise environments. That experience shapes how we approach IAM: practical, calm, and focused on keeping organisations running.
What Is IAM, Really?
You may see the acronym IAM used more widely in the US and across the technology sector, whereas IdAM is more commonly used in the UK and across government organisations.
At its heart, IAM is about ensuring the right people have the right access to the right things, for only as long as they need it. Sounds simple. But in practice, it’s been one of the most overlooked areas of IT security.
IAM is the interface between people and your technology.
Accounts, passwords, and permissions are often your weakest links. One compromised login can cause widespread disruption and is a common entry point for many modern cyberattacks.
In most organisations, this means managing platforms like Microsoft Entra ID or Active Directory, the engines behind who gets access to what.
IAM aims to reduce that risk by managing digital identities properly and making access smarter, safer, and auditable.
Whether you run a small business or lead a growing organisation, IAM quietly underpins how people work every day. When access is simple and reliable, teams stay productive. When it isn’t, delays, confusion, and risk quickly follow.
Why Should Business and IT Leaders Care?
Because IAM isn’t just about compliance, it’s about continuity. If identity security fails, everything stops. Consider recent ransomware attacks: systems and services can suddenly stop or become unexpectedly unavailable, leaving users unable to access them and halting day-to-day operations.
IAM connects people, processes, and technology. When it’s weak or unclear, both security and operations suffer.
With the growth of remote working, cloud platforms, and insider threats, IAM security has never been more critical.
The Risks IAM Helps You Avoid
These risks don’t just affect large enterprises; they show up in organisations of all sizes, often without anyone realising until something breaks.
Identity Risk Area | What this looks like in practice |
Compromised accounts: | User or service accounts are compromised during a cyber incident, often serving as the initial entry point into systems or data. |
Over-privileged users: | People have more access than they need, increasing the impact of mistakes or compromised credentials. Too much access = too much risk. |
Uncontrolled admin accounts: | Privileged accounts are not managed or protected separately, making high-impact access easier to misuse or exploit. |
Stale, dormant, or orphaned and shadow accounts: | Accounts remain active for people or services that no longer exist, creating hidden access paths over time. |
Password fatigue: | Passwords are reused, shared, or weakened over time as people struggle to manage multiple credentials. |
Gaps in multi-factor authentication (MFA) | Password-only access is still used for certain systems, applications, or devices. |
Weak Joiner, Mover, Leaver (JML) processes: | Access is not updated consistently when people join, change roles, or leave the organisation. |
Legacy identity infrastructure and protocols | Older platforms, devices, or authentication methods remain in use, sometimes out of support, using weak protocols, and without clear ownership or regular review. |
With those risks in mind, it helps to step back and consider what good identity practice looks like.
What IAM Should Look Like: Orbitals Top 10
What “Good” Looks Like in Practice
This isn’t a technical checklist. It’s a view of what good identity practice tends to look like in well-run organisations, giving leaders the language to ask better questions and teams a shared frame of reference.
People understand why identity matters.
Identity access is recognised as a business and security issue, not just an IT task. People know how access affects risk and operations, and feel safe raising concerns early in a zero-blame culture.
Clear ownership is in place.
There is clear accountability for identity access, whether handled internally or by an external provider, including who owns policies, reviews, and day-to-day oversight.
Access is appropriate, not excessive.
Access follows the principle of least privilege. People have what they need to do their job, and nothing more, with permissions reviewed as roles change.
Admin access is tightly controlled.
Privileged access is treated differently from standard user access, using controls such as role separation, just-in-time (JIT) access, and regular review to reduce risk and prevent admin sprawl.
Joiners, Movers, and Leavers are handled consistently.
Access changes follow a defined Joiner, Mover, Leaver (JML) process, ensuring access is granted, adjusted, and removed in a timely and predictable way.
Authentication is stronger than passwords alone.
Additional sign-in protections such as multi-factor authentication (MFA) are used where it matters most, helping reduce risk while keeping everyday access straightforward for users.
Identity systems don’t drift unchecked.
Identity configuration, permissions, and integrations are reviewed periodically, rather than relying solely on original setup or high-level policy assumptions.
Legacy and inherited risk are understood.
Older systems, protocols, or historic identity decisions are known and documented. There is awareness of where legacy risk exists and a plan to manage or reduce it over time.
Activity can be reviewed and evidenced.
Key identity actions, particularly changes to access and privileges, are logged and reviewable, supporting investigation, assurance, audit, and insurance or regulatory enquiries.
Identity is reviewed, not assumed.
Good organisations conduct regular identity reviews or assessments to confirm that controls are working as intended and to identify opportunities to strengthen or optimise them.
These principles apply regardless of size, sector, or technical setup. They’re not about perfection; they’re about knowing where you stand and having confidence that identity is being actively managed.
Good IAM starts with clarity, ownership, and regular review.
IAM Doesn’t Have to Be Complicated
IAM done right provides one of the most practical, secure and high-impact steps you can take.
Our job is to help you figure out where your risks are and what you can realistically do about them. This isn’t about buying more tools or launching an extensive transformation programme; it’s about understanding what you already have and using it well. But you do need a clear picture and the confidence to act.
Our goal isn’t to take control away from your team; it’s to help you build the knowledge and confidence to manage IAM securely.
What to Do Next
Start the right conversation.
Ask how identity access is managed today, who owns it, and how confidence in that setup is maintained, whether internally or by an external IT provider. The aim is to replace assumption with assurance.
Use an independent assessment to build confidence.
Even when things appear to be working, an identity risk assessment provides an objective view of how identity is really configured and integrated. It offers reassurance where foundations are strong and visibility into areas that may warrant closer attention, supporting internal assurance, audit, and external scrutiny when needed.
Address gaps and optimise where it matters.
Where issues are identified, the focus should be on proportionate improvements, closing gaps, strengthening processes, and reducing risk in ways that make sense for your organisation.
Empower your team and your partners.
Good identity practice isn’t about taking control away. It’s about giving internal teams and external providers the clarity they need to manage access well and keep things on track over time.
Ready to Take Control of Your Identity Security?
IAM is about protecting people, processes, and peace of mind. Whether you’re just starting to explore it or know your setup needs a rethink, we’re here to talk.
Book a chat with Orbital, and let’s take the stress out of IAM, together.
You can subscribe to our blog or follow us on social media to stay up to date on the next feature, #IdFriday, and real-world identity insights.
About Orbital
Orbital is a UK-based identity security consultancy specialising in Identity and Access Management (IAM) across Microsoft, cloud, and hybrid environments. We help organisations reduce identity risk and strengthen identity foundations through independent assessments and expert, consultancy-led guidance, working alongside internal teams and trusted IT partners.
Comments