What is Identity Lifecycle Management?

Identity Lifecycle Management (ILM) is the process of managing a user’s digital identity from the moment it is created, through updates and changes, until it is deactivated or deleted.

It covers the entire lifespan of an identity within an organization, ensuring that users have the correct access at every stage of their relationship with the company, and that access is removed when no longer needed. This includes the management of digital identities, authentication, authorization, privileges, and directory services. 

Identity Lifecycle Management is crucial for maintaining security and operational efficiency within an organization. It ensures that users have the correct access at every point in time, preventing unauthorized access and minimizing the risk of security breaches.

Automating identity processes reduces human error, enhances productivity, and ensures quick responses to changes in user roles or statuses. Effective ILM also supports regulatory compliance by providing clear audit trails of who has access to what, and when access is granted or revoked.

ILM is a key component of Identity and Access Management (IAM), as it governs the entire lifecycle of user identities within an organization. ILM focuses on the creation, updating, and removal of digital identities, ensuring that users have appropriate access to systems and resources at each stage of their relationship with the organization.

This aligns with IAM’s broader goal of managing both the identities and access permissions of users across various applications and systems.

In IAM, ILM provides structure and automation for managing user accounts and access, ensuring that policies are consistently enforced, and that access is granted or revoked based on defined roles or attributes.

Together, ILM and IAM ensure that security, efficiency, and compliance are maintained across the organization by providing a unified framework for managing who has access to what resources and when.