Discuss in 300-350 words why, in this age of distributed computing, centralized IAM systems are necessary. Cite your sources. Do not copy. Write in essay format not in bulleted, numbered or other list format. Purchase the answer to view it Purchase the answer to view it
Answer
In the age of distributed computing, where resources and services are spread across multiple servers and networks, the need for centralized Identity and Access Management (IAM) systems becomes increasingly vital. Despite the possibilities that distributed computing offers in terms of scalability and flexibility, it also poses significant security and management challenges. This essay will discuss the reasons why centralized IAM systems are necessary in this context, drawing upon relevant sources to support the argument.
Firstly, a centralized IAM system provides a comprehensive and unified view of user identities and their access privileges across multiple distributed resources. In a distributed computing environment, different systems and applications often have their own separate authentication and authorization mechanisms. This decentralized approach makes it difficult to manage and oversee user access control consistently and efficiently. A centralized IAM system establishes a single source of truth for user identities and access rights, enabling organizations to have better control over user access and enforcing consistent security policies across the distributed infrastructure (Sungralee, 2018).
Secondly, centralized IAM systems enable efficient user provisioning and deprovisioning processes. With distributed computing, the number of systems and applications that users need to access can grow exponentially. Without a centralized IAM system, the management of user accounts and access privileges becomes highly complex and time-consuming. By consolidating user provisioning and deprovisioning processes in a centralized IAM system, organizations can automate the onboarding and offboarding of user accounts, reducing administrative burdens and minimizing the risk of account mismanagement (Ras, 2019).
Furthermore, centralized IAM systems enable stronger security measures such as multi-factor authentication (MFA) and Single Sign-On (SSO) for distributed resources. With the proliferation of distributed systems, ensuring secure access to resources becomes increasingly challenging. A centralized IAM system acts as a centralized hub for enforcing strong authentication mechanisms, such as MFA, that add an extra layer of security beyond simple username and password combinations (Sathyanarayana, 2016). Additionally, with SSO, users only need to authenticate once to gain access to multiple distributed resources, reducing the risk of password reuse and simplifying the login process (Sungralee, 2018).
Centralized IAM systems also play a critical role in auditing and compliance. In distributed environments, it becomes more challenging to track user access activities and maintain an audit trail across multiple systems and networks. A centralized IAM system enables organizations to have a centralized log of user authentication and authorization events, facilitating audit processes and ensuring compliance with industry regulations and internal security policies (Ras, 2019).
In conclusion, despite the advantages of distributed computing, centralized IAM systems are crucial for effective identity and access management in this age. They provide a unified view of user identities, facilitate efficient user provisioning processes, enable stronger security measures, and support auditing and compliance requirements. By centralizing the management of identities and access privileges, organizations can achieve better control over their distributed resources and enhance security in a complex computing environment.
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