Identity and access management

Identity is often considered the perimeter in infosec, especially as traditional enterprise perimeters dissolve. Identity and access management is critical to maintain data security. From passwords to multifactor authentication, SSO to biometrics, get the latest advice on IAM here.

Top Stories

Opinion 10 Apr 2024
Identity, data security expectations for RSA Conference 2024

Security practitioners can expect to hear about key issues at this year's RSA Conference, including identity and data security, AI and DSPM. Continue Reading
Podcast 05 Apr 2024
Risk & Repeat: Cyber Safety Review Board takes Microsoft to task

This podcast episode discusses the Cyber Safety Review Board's report on Microsoft and its conclusion that the software giant must overhaul its security culture. Continue Reading

Opinion 10 Apr 2024

Identity, data security expectations for RSA Conference 2024

Security practitioners can expect to hear about key issues at this year's RSA Conference, including identity and data security, AI and DSPM. Continue Reading
Definition 10 Apr 2024

single sign-on (SSO)

Single sign-on (SSO) is a session and user authentication service that permits a user to use one set of login credentials -- for example, a username and password -- to access multiple applications. Continue Reading
Podcast 05 Apr 2024

Risk & Repeat: Cyber Safety Review Board takes Microsoft to task

This podcast episode discusses the Cyber Safety Review Board's report on Microsoft and its conclusion that the software giant must overhaul its security culture. Continue Reading
Definition 28 Mar 2024

retina scan

Retina scanning is a biometric authentication technology that uses an image of an individual's retinal blood vessel pattern as a unique identifying trait for access to secure installations. Continue Reading
News 27 Mar 2024

Unpatched flaw in Anyscale's Ray AI framework under attack

Oligo Security researchers say thousands of Ray servers have been compromised through the flaw, but Anyscale said it has received no reports of exploitation. Continue Reading
Tutorial 27 Mar 2024

Use sudo insults to add spice to incorrect password attempts

The life of an admin doesn't have to be dry. When a user enters a wrong password, for example, why not respond with a message that says, 'You're fired!' With sudo insults, you can. Continue Reading
News 26 Mar 2024

Top.gg supply chain attack highlights subtle risks

Threat actors used fake Python infrastructure and cookie stealing to poison multiple GitHub code repositories, putting another spotlight on supply chain risks. Continue Reading
Opinion 26 Mar 2024

Top 6 data security posture management use cases

Data security posture management is a top 10 security issue for 2024, according to research. Check out the top six use cases for DSPM and weigh in on other possibilities. Continue Reading
News 21 Mar 2024

AWS fixes 'FlowFixation' vulnerability for account hijacking

A Tenable researcher discovered a session fixation flaw in AWS Managed Workflows for Apache Airflow that, combined with a misconfiguration, could enable account hijacking. Continue Reading
Podcast 19 Mar 2024

Risk & Repeat: Microsoft's Midnight Blizzard mess

This podcast episode discusses the latest disclosure from Microsoft regarding Midnight Blizzard, which accessed internal systems, source code and some cryptographic secrets. Continue Reading
News 13 Mar 2024

Researchers warn devs of vulnerabilities in ChatGPT plugins

OpenAI and two third-party providers fixed vulnerabilities in the experimental ChatGPT plugins framework, but Salt Security researchers caution devs that security risks persist. Continue Reading
Definition 13 Mar 2024

cryptography

Cryptography is a method of protecting information and communications using codes, so that only those for whom the information is intended can read and process it. Continue Reading
News 12 Mar 2024

Sophos: Remote ransomware attacks on SMBs increasing

According to new research from Sophos, small businesses are seeing a rise in threats such as remotely executed ransomware attacks, malvertising, driver abuse and more. Continue Reading
Definition 11 Mar 2024

identity provider

An identity provider (IdP) is a system component that provides an end user or internet-connected device with a single set of login credentials that ensures the entity is who or what it says it is across multiple platforms, applications and networks. Continue Reading
News 08 Mar 2024

Midnight Blizzard accessed Microsoft systems, source code

Microsoft said Midnight Blizzard used data stolen from a breach of its corporate email system to access other parts of the company's network, including source code repositories. Continue Reading
Tip 08 Mar 2024

How to create a local admin account with Microsoft Intune

Local admin accounts can cause problems for Windows administrators due to their lack of oversight and privileged account status. Learn how IT can manage these accounts with Intune. Continue Reading
News 07 Mar 2024

Former Google engineer charged with stealing AI trade secrets

Linwei Ding, a Chinese national, allegedly evaded Google's data loss prevention systems and stole confidential information to start his own China-based AI company. Continue Reading
Definition 29 Feb 2024

phishing

Phishing is a fraudulent practice in which an attacker masquerades as a reputable entity or person in an email or other form of communication. Continue Reading
News 26 Feb 2024

CISA: APT29 targeting cloud accounts for initial access

U.K. and U.S. government agencies have observed the Russian nation-state group increasingly target dormant and inactive cloud service accounts to gain initial access. Continue Reading
News 13 Feb 2024

Proofpoint: 'Hundreds' of Azure accounts compromised

Proofpoint researchers found that the attackers manipulated the MFA of compromised accounts, registering their own methods to maintain persistent access. Continue Reading
Definition 12 Feb 2024

password spraying

Password spraying is a cyberattack tactic that involves a hacker using a single password to try and break into multiple target accounts. Continue Reading
Tip 09 Feb 2024

Understand the pros and cons of enterprise password managers

Almost half of breaches occur because of compromised credentials. Using a password manager to control how users create their IDs may be a good step to protect enterprise assets. Continue Reading
News 06 Feb 2024

Linux group announces Post-Quantum Cryptography Alliance

The Post-Quantum Cryptography Alliance aims to 'drive the advancement and adoption of post-quantum cryptography' and respond to security threats introduced by the emerging tech. Continue Reading
News 05 Feb 2024

AnyDesk hacked, details unclear

Of the hack, AnyDesk said it found 'no evidence that any end-user devices have been affected.' But researchers said they saw AnyDesk customer credentials for sale on the dark web. Continue Reading
Tip 05 Feb 2024

6 multi-cloud identity management tips and best practices

The more cloud services organizations adopt, the more identity challenges they face. Follow these five tips to improve multi-cloud identity management. Continue Reading
News 02 Feb 2024

Cloudflare discloses breach related to stolen Okta data

Cloudflare initially believed it contained an attempted cyberattack last October by a threat actor using an access token stolen in a breach of Okta's customer support system. Continue Reading
Tip 01 Feb 2024

Top 8 cloud IAM best practices to implement

Cloud adds a level of complexity to identity and access management. Be sure to follow these cloud IAM best practices to prevent identity-related security issues. Continue Reading
Tip 31 Jan 2024

7 cloud IAM challenges and how to address them

Cloud use affects how organizations manage access and identity governance. Learn about seven cloud IAM challenges and how to handle them. Continue Reading
Tip 29 Jan 2024

Cybersecurity skills gap: Why it exists and how to address it

The cybersecurity skills shortage is putting enterprises at risk. Worse, it shows no sign of abating. Here is why it's happening and what employers can do to mitigate the problem. Continue Reading
Tutorial 25 Jan 2024

Using Microsoft AD Explorer for common admin tasks

The utility makes it easier to navigate the Active Directory database and features snapshot capabilities with a comparison function to detect where a change caused a problem. Continue Reading
Tip 22 Jan 2024

How to use a Microsoft Entra ID emergency access account

A break-glass account in Microsoft's identity and access management platform helps avoid disruptions in a crisis. Follow these best practices to keep these credentials safe. Continue Reading
Feature 09 Jan 2024

Top incident response tools: How to choose and use them

The OODA loop helps organizations throughout the incident response process, giving insight into the incident response tools needed to detect and respond to security events. Continue Reading
News 03 Jan 2024

SonicWall acquires Banyan to boost zero-trust, SSE offerings

With its second acquisition in two months, SonicWall aims to help enterprises with growing remote workforces through zero-trust network and security service edge offerings. Continue Reading
Definition 02 Jan 2024

identity theft

Identity theft, also known as identity fraud, is a crime in which an imposter obtains key pieces of personally identifiable information (PII), such as Social Security or driver's license numbers, to impersonate someone else. Continue Reading
Definition 28 Dec 2023

one-time password

A one-time password (OTP) is an automatically generated numeric or alphanumeric string of characters that authenticates a user for a single transaction or login one-time password session. Continue Reading
Tip 27 Dec 2023

How to manage a migration to Microsoft Entra ID

Thinking of leaving Active Directory behind? A successful move to Microsoft's cloud-based identity and access management platform hinges on how well you've prepared in advance. Continue Reading
Tip 27 Dec 2023

What are the Microsoft Entra ID benefits for on-prem admins?

Active Directory's presence looms large for organizations that rely on Microsoft's venerable directory service for a multitude of tasks tied to identity and access. Continue Reading
Feature 14 Dec 2023

9 cybersecurity trends to watch in 2024

Analysts are sharing their cybersecurity trends and predictions for 2024. From zero-day attacks to generative AI security and increased regulations, is your organization ready? Continue Reading
News 12 Dec 2023

IBM engineers hatch Linux Foundation HashiCorp Vault fork

IBM engineers working on Open Horizon within the Linux Foundation begin a Vault fork as challenges continue for HashiCorp, which also addressed Terraform Cloud pricing angst. Continue Reading
Definition 07 Dec 2023

adaptive multifactor authentication (adaptive MFA)

Adaptive multifactor authentication (MFA) is a security mechanism intended to authenticate and authorize users through a variety of contextual authentication factors. Continue Reading
Opinion 06 Dec 2023

Amazon IAM announcements at re:Invent 2023

At AWS re:Invent 2023, Amazon announced several new features around machine and human identities designed to improve identity and access management. Continue Reading
News 05 Dec 2023

Exposed Hugging Face API tokens jeopardized GenAI models

Lasso Security discovered more than 1,600 exposed Hugging Face API tokens provided access to generative AI and large-language models contained in hundreds of repositories. Continue Reading
Feature 01 Dec 2023

How to solve 2 MFA challenges: SIM swapping and MFA fatigue

While MFA improves account security, attacks still exploit it. Learn about two MFA challenges -- SIM swapping and MFA fatigue -- and how to mitigate them. Continue Reading
Feature 01 Dec 2023

5 MFA implementation tips for organizations

Organizations need to protect user accounts from malicious attackers. IAM expert Marco Fanti offers tips organizations can use when implementing MFA. Continue Reading
Definition 28 Nov 2023

privileged identity management (PIM)

Privileged identity management (PIM) is the monitoring and protection of superuser accounts that hold expanded access to an organization's IT environments. Continue Reading
Feature 27 Nov 2023

How passwordless authentication aids identity security

Enterprise Strategy Group's Jack Poller discusses survey results on user authentication practices and explains the security benefits of passwordless methods. Continue Reading
Definition 21 Nov 2023

possession factor

The possession factor, in a security context, is a category of user authentication credentials based on items that the user has with them, typically a hardware device such as a security token or a mobile phone used in conjunction with a software token. Continue Reading
Tip 15 Nov 2023

Traditional MFA isn't enough, phishing-resistant MFA is key

Not every MFA technique is effective in combating phishing attacks. Enterprises need to consider new approaches to protect end users from fraudulent emails. Continue Reading
Tip 13 Nov 2023

What should admins know about Microsoft Entra features?

Microsoft Entra combines new and existing cloud-based products and packages them under a new name. Learn how this change affects identity access management in your organization. Continue Reading
Definition 09 Nov 2023

mandatory access control (MAC)

Mandatory access control (MAC) is a security strategy that restricts the ability individual resource owners have to grant or deny access to resource objects in a file system. Continue Reading
News 08 Nov 2023

FBI: Ransomware actors hacking casinos via third parties

A new Private Industry Notification focuses on ransomware trends involving attacks against casinos as well as a callback phishing campaign perpetrated by the Luna Moth gang. Continue Reading
News 03 Nov 2023

Okta breach led to hijacked sessions for 5 customers

Okta provided a detailed timeline of the events surrounding the breach against its customer support case management systems and said five customers had sessions hijacked. Continue Reading
Definition 01 Nov 2023

authentication

Authentication is the process of determining whether someone or something is who or what they say they are. Continue Reading
Opinion 31 Oct 2023

Collaborate with third parties to ensure enterprise security

Third-party risk is a major threat today, as evidenced in numerous recent breaches. Organizations must work with partners to ensure their data is protected properly. Continue Reading
Podcast 26 Oct 2023

Risk & Repeat: Okta under fire after support system breach

This podcast episode covers a security breach suffered by identity vendor Okta involving its customer support systems, which has sparked criticism from customers. Continue Reading
Tip 26 Oct 2023

How to create a company password policy, with template

Use these guidelines and our free template to ensure your company's password policy sets the ground rules for strong and effective password creation and use. Continue Reading
News 24 Oct 2023

1Password stops attack linked to Okta breach

1Password said a threat actor used a HAR file stolen in the recent Okta breach to access the password manager's Okta tenant, but the activity was detected and blocked. Continue Reading
News 23 Oct 2023

Okta customer support system breached via stolen credentials

During the latest breach against the identity and access management vendor, attackers took advantage of the system intended to provide support for Okta customers. Continue Reading
Definition 20 Oct 2023

soft token

A soft token is a software-based security token that generates a single-use login personal identification number (PIN). Continue Reading
Opinion 18 Oct 2023

SailPoint extends identity security platform with data security

With DAS, privilege access management, AI and other features, SailPoint moves Atlas from an identity governance platform to an identity security platform. Continue Reading
News 18 Oct 2023

Mandiant: Citrix zero-day actively exploited since August

Exploitation against CVE-2023-4966 is ongoing, and Mandiant CTO Charles Carmakal warned patching alone is insufficient against potential attacks that leverage MFA bypass techniques. Continue Reading
Definition 18 Oct 2023

Google Authenticator

Google Authenticator is a mobile security application that provides a second type of confirmation for websites and online services that use two-factor authentication (2FA) to verify a user's identity before granting him or her access to secure resources. Continue Reading
Tip 18 Oct 2023

Use these 6 user authentication types to secure networks

One layer of security that all networks and applications need is authentication. Read up on six authentication types, from 2FA to biometrics to certificates. Continue Reading
Definition 17 Oct 2023

Secure Sockets Layer certificate (SSL certificate)

A Secure Sockets Layer certificate (SSL certificate) is a small data file installed on a web server that allows for a secure, encrypted connection between the server and a web browser. Continue Reading
Definition 16 Oct 2023

central bank digital currency (CBDC)

A central bank digital currency (CBDC) is a digital version of a country's central bank money or fiat currency. Continue Reading
News 16 Oct 2023

Google Authenticator synchronization raises MFA concerns

Infosec experts say a synchronization feature added to Google's Authenticator app could lead to unintended consequences for organizations' multifactor authentication codes. Continue Reading
Answer 16 Oct 2023

Best practices to conduct a user access review

User entitlement reviews ensure only authorized users have access to essential systems and data. Uncover the steps of a user access review and helpful best practices. Continue Reading
Definition 12 Oct 2023

Microsoft Windows Credential Guard

Microsoft Credential Guard is a security feature in Microsoft Windows operating system (OS) that isolates user credentials, such as login information, from the rest of the operating system. Continue Reading
Definition 11 Oct 2023

authentication, authorization and accounting (AAA)

Authentication, authorization and accounting (AAA) is a security framework for controlling and tracking user access within a computer network. Continue Reading
Tip 11 Oct 2023

Top 6 password hygiene tips and best practices

Passwords enable users to access important accounts and data, making them attractive targets to attackers, too. Follow these password hygiene tips to keep your organization safe. Continue Reading
Opinion 11 Oct 2023

Takeaways from Oktane23: Okta AI, universal logout and more

New game-changing security features from Okta speed threat detection and response times, enabling IT pros to log all users out of applications during a cyber attack. Continue Reading
Tip 10 Oct 2023

How to remove digital signatures from a PDF

Digital signatures let organizations execute and secure agreements, but users can remove them if they need to reformat documents or protect signers' privacy. Continue Reading
Definition 10 Oct 2023

password entropy

Password entropy is a measurement of a password's strength based on how difficult it would be to crack the password through guessing or a brute-force attack. Continue Reading
Definition 06 Oct 2023

risk-based authentication (RBA)

Risk-based authentication (RBA) is an authentication method in which varying levels of stringency are applied to a system’s authentication process based on the likelihood that access to that system could result in its compromise. Continue Reading
News 04 Oct 2023

Okta debuts passkey support to combat account compromises

The identity and access management vendor introduced products and features that addressed new social engineering techniques that require additional security measures beyond MFA. Continue Reading
Definition 02 Oct 2023

multifactor authentication

Multifactor authentication (MFA) is an account login process that requires multiple methods of authentication from independent categories of credentials to verify a user's identity for a login or other transaction. Continue Reading
Definition 26 Sep 2023

Protected Extensible Authentication Protocol (PEAP)

Protected Extensible Authentication Protocol (PEAP) is a security protocol commonly used to protect wireless networks. Continue Reading
Definition 26 Sep 2023

principle of least privilege (POLP)

The principle of least privilege (POLP) is a concept in computer security that limits users' access rights to only what is strictly required to do their jobs. Continue Reading
News 25 Sep 2023

Dallas doles out $8.5M to remediate May ransomware attack

The city of Dallas provided a detailed attack timeline that showed Royal threat actors compromised a service account a month before ransomware was deployed. Continue Reading
Tip 25 Sep 2023

How to add digital signatures to a PDF

Organizations use digital signatures to secure agreements. Common document applications, such as Adobe Acrobat and macOS Preview, let users quickly add digital signatures to PDFs. Continue Reading
Opinion 21 Sep 2023

Strong identity security could've saved MGM, Caesars, Retool

Three cyber attacks that featured vishing led to compromised identities, data loss and the interruption of operations. Passwordless authentication could have prevented all three. Continue Reading
News 14 Sep 2023

Developer platform Retool breached in vishing attack

A successful vishing attack against a Retool employee led to account takeovers of 27 cloud customers, but the company is pointing the finger at Google. Continue Reading
Opinion 12 Sep 2023

Time for an identity security revolution

Identity needs to be the foundational component of the cybersecurity stack, because attackers are primarily after an organization's data. Continue Reading
News 11 Sep 2023

Cisco VPN flaw faces attempted Akira ransomware attacks

Cisco said it became aware of 'attempted exploitation' last month and referenced an Aug. 24 security advisory saying its VPNs were under attack by the Akira ransomware gang. Continue Reading
News 06 Sep 2023

Okta: 4 customers compromised in social engineering attacks

Okta said a threat actor convinced IT personnel at several customers to reset MFA factors for highly privileged users, though it's unclear how they accomplished that task. Continue Reading
Opinion 06 Sep 2023

Identity needs a seat at the cybersecurity table

The shift to the cloud and remote work, combined with the rise of phishing and other identity-related attacks, puts identity security at the forefront of cybersecurity concerns. Continue Reading
News 30 Aug 2023

CrowdStrike CTO: 'Rookie mistakes' are hurting cloud security

CrowdStrike's Elia Zaitsev discusses the rise in credential-based attacks, as well as the common errors organizations make in the cloud that often lead to breaches. Continue Reading
Definition 30 Aug 2023

biometric authentication

Biometric authentication is a security process that relies on the unique biological characteristics of individuals to verify they are who they say they are. Continue Reading
News 29 Aug 2023

Cisco VPNs under attack via Akira, LockBit ransomware

Cisco and Rapid7 say ransomware actors LockBit and Akira have apparently been targeting Cisco VPNs not configured for multifactor authentication. Continue Reading
Tip 24 Aug 2023

How do digital signatures work?

Digital signatures add a level of security to online agreements, which can prevent bad actors from impersonating other individuals or tampering with sensitive contracts. Continue Reading
Definition 23 Aug 2023

BYOI (bring your own identity)

BYOI (bring your own identity) is an approach to digital authentication in which an end user's username and password are managed by a third party. BYOI is increasingly being used for website authentication. Continue Reading
Definition 14 Aug 2023

Directory Services Restore Mode (DSRM)

Directory Services Restore Mode (DSRM) is a Safe Mode boot option for Windows Server domain controllers. Continue Reading
Definition 11 Aug 2023

message authentication code (MAC)

A message authentication code (MAC) is a cryptographic checksum applied to a message in network communication to guarantee its integrity and authenticity. Continue Reading
News 09 Aug 2023

Wiz warns of exposed multi-tenant apps in Azure AD

During a Black Hat USA 2023 session, a Wiz researcher explained how a common misconfiguration in Azure Active Directory led to the exposure of nearly 1,300 applications. Continue Reading
News 08 Aug 2023

CrowdStrike observes massive spike in identity-based attacks

Identity-based attacks like Kerberoasting saw massive increases over the last 12 months as adversary breakout time fell, according to CrowdStrike's 2023 Threat Hunting Report. Continue Reading
Definition 07 Aug 2023

orphan account

An orphan account, also referred to as an orphaned account, is a user account that can provide access to corporate systems, services and applications but does not have a valid owner. Continue Reading
Definition 31 Jul 2023

Common Access Card (CAC)

A Common Access Card (CAC) is a smart card issued by the Unites States Department of Defense for accessing DOD systems and facilities. Continue Reading
Definition 28 Jul 2023

national identity card

A national identity card is a portable document, typically a plasticized card with digitally embedded information, that is used to verify aspects of a person's identity. Continue Reading
Tip 28 Jul 2023

Improve IAM with identity threat detection and response

Attackers increasingly target user accounts to gain access. Identity threat detection and response offers organizations a way to improve security for identity-based systems. Continue Reading
News 25 Jul 2023

DocuSign launches AI-backed live video ID verification tool

The e-signature vendor's new AI-supported identity confirmation tool uses biometrics and live video to verify signers' identity and physical presence at the time of signing. Continue Reading