All Things IAM and PAM for Secuity Engineer POV
By oculus
•
November 10, 2025
Your focus in enterprise IAM/PAM will center on two areas: foundational protocols and commercial tools that implement these protocols across cloud and on-premise environments.
IAM and PAM Tools, Frameworks, and Technologies
Category | Type | Name / Vendor | Description | Environment |
Protocols & Frameworks | Authentication | OIDC (OpenID Connect) | Modern identity verification layer on OAuth 2.0 (uses JWTs). | Cloud/Hybrid |
Protocols & Frameworks | Authorization | OAuth 2.0 (Open Authorization) | Delegated access for apps to resources (uses Access Tokens). | Cloud/Hybrid |
Protocols & Frameworks | SSO/Federation | SAML (Security Assertion Markup Language) | XML-based standard for enterprise SSO and federation. | On-prem/Hybrid |
Protocols & Frameworks | Provisioning | SCIM (System for Cross-domain Identity Management) | Automates user account provisioning/de-provisioning across systems. | Cloud/Hybrid |
Protocols & Frameworks | Directory Svc | LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) | Protocol for accessing and managing directory data (e.g., Active Directory). | On-prem/Hybrid |
Commercial IAM Tools | IDaaS/SSO | Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD) | Microsoft-centric IAM solution, strong for Azure/M365 integration, conditional access. | Cloud/Hybrid |
Commercial IAM Tools | IDaaS/SSO | Okta Workforce Identity | Vendor-neutral cloud platform with extensive app integrations for SSO and lifecycle management. | Cloud-Native |
Commercial IAM Tools | IGA | SailPoint | Specializes in Identity Governance and Administration (IGA), compliance reporting, access reviews. | Cloud/Hybrid |
Commercial PAM Tools | PAM Leader | CyberArk | Market leader in securing privileged credentials (vaulting, session monitoring, JIT access). | Cloud/On-prem/Hybrid |
Commercial PAM Tools | PAM/Privilege Mgmt | BeyondTrust | Focuses on endpoint privilege management and secure remote access without VPNs. | Cloud/On-prem/Hybrid |
Commercial PAM Tools | Secrets Mgmt | HashiCorp Vault | Developer-centric tool for managing secrets (API keys, passwords, certificates) in dynamic environments. | Cloud/Hybrid |
Description of Technologies and Tools
Protocols & Frameworks
- OIDC and OAuth 2.0: These form the modern backbone of identity and access on the internet and within cloud-native enterprises. OIDC provides the ID Token (proof of "who you are"), and OAuth provides the Access Token ("what you can do").
- SAML: Essential for legacy web applications and B2B enterprise federation. It uses XML and is a mature, robust standard for corporate SSO.
- SCIM: Crucial for automation, SCIM allows different systems (like an HR system and Okta) to communicate and keep user accounts synchronized in real-time, reducing the risk of "orphan" accounts.
- LDAP / Active Directory: While AD is a Microsoft product, LDAP is the protocol that governs how directory services are accessed. Understanding AD security is foundational for any enterprise security engineer, as it is still widely used on-premise.
Commercial Tools
- IAM Platforms (Entra ID, Okta, Ping Identity): These tools manage general user access across the organization, simplifying the user experience with SSO and robust MFA while enforcing central policies (often following the Zero Trust model). They handle identity lifecycle management (joining, moving, leaving the company).
- Identity Governance and Administration (IGA) (SailPoint): IGA tools provide visibility and compliance. They automate access reviews, certify that users only have the access they need (least privilege), and generate audit reports for regulatory requirements.
- Privileged Access Management (PAM) (CyberArk, BeyondTrust, Delinea): PAM is a specialized and critical subset of IAM. It focuses specifically on highly sensitive accounts (administrators, root, service accounts). Key features include:
- Password Vaulting: Storing sensitive credentials in a highly secure, centralized vault.
- Session Monitoring/Recording: Recording all activity during a privileged session for auditing and forensics.
- Just-In-Time (JIT) Access: Granting elevated privileges only when needed and for a limited duration, then automatically revoking them.
- Least Privilege Enforcement: Ensuring that even with admin access, users can only perform necessary tasks.
For a security engineer, competency in managing both the broad IAM landscape (all users) and the deep PAM security (admin users) is essential for securing modern hybrid enterprise environments.