CloudIAM

CloudIAM is a cloud-based identity and access management (IAM) system designed to control user identities, authenticate requests, and authorize access to cloud resources and services. It provides centralized management of users and groups, assigns roles and permissions, and enforces policies across multiple cloud environments. CloudIAM typically includes an identity store, a policy engine, and a token service that issues short-lived credentials for API calls and user sessions. It supports standard protocols such as OAuth 2.0, OpenID Connect, and SAML, enabling single sign-on and federation with external identity providers.

Key features include user provisioning and deprovisioning, multi-factor authentication, passwordless options, and conditional access based on user, device, location, or risk level. Access control models commonly used are RBAC and ABAC, with support for least-privilege principles and versioned policy-as-code. Audit logging, activity monitoring, and compliance reporting help organizations track access and detect anomalies.

Deployment models vary: cloud-native IAM services offered by cloud providers, standalone SaaS IAM platforms, or hybrid implementations that sync with on-prem directories. CloudIAM is typically integrated with cloud resources (compute, storage, databases, APIs) and with SaaS apps via SSO. While it strengthens security, effective use requires careful governance, regular access reviews, credential rotation, and ongoing policy tuning to balance security with usability.

Examples of well-known cloud IAM offerings include AWS IAM, Google Cloud IAM, and Azure Active Directory. CloudIAM as a term can refer to any such service designed to manage identities and access in cloud environments.