Security+ Identity And Access Management (Test #11)

Identity and Access Management (IAM) is a critical component of cybersecurity, ensuring that only authorized individuals can access specific resources. This article dives into key IAM concepts, tools, and practical commands to help you master this domain for the Security+ exam and real-world implementation.

You Should Know:

1. Key IAM Concepts

Authentication (Who you are) – Verifying identity via passwords, biometrics, or tokens.
Authorization (What you can do) – Defining permissions post-authentication.
Accounting (What you did) – Logging user activities for audits.

2. Common IAM Technologies

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) – Requires multiple verification methods.
Single Sign-On (SSO) – One login for multiple systems.
Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) – Permissions based on job roles.

3. Practical Linux Commands for IAM


<h1>User Management</h1>

sudo useradd -m username # Add a new user 
sudo passwd username # Set password 
sudo usermod -aG groupname username # Add user to a group

<h1>Permission Management</h1>

chmod 750 file.txt # Set read/write/execute permissions 
chown user:group file.txt # Change file ownership

<h1>View Authentication Logs</h1>

tail -f /var/log/auth.log # Monitor login attempts (Debian/Ubuntu) 
journalctl -u sshd # Check SSH logs (Systemd systems)

4. Windows IAM Commands


<h1>User & Group Management</h1>

New-LocalUser -Name "user1" -Password (ConvertTo-SecureString "P@ssw0rd" -AsPlainText -Force) 
Add-LocalGroupMember -Group "Administrators" -Member "user1"

<h1>Check Active Directory (AD) Users</h1>

Get-ADUser -Filter * | Select Name, Enabled

<h1>Enable MFA in Windows (Requires Group Policy)</h1>

Set-MsolUser -UserPrincipalName [email protected] -StrongAuthenticationRequirements @{}

5. IAM Best Practices

Enforce Least Privilege – Grant minimal necessary permissions.
Regularly Rotate Credentials – Change passwords and keys periodically.
Audit Access Logs – Detect unauthorized access attempts.

What Undercode Say

IAM is the backbone of cybersecurity, ensuring secure access while minimizing risks. Mastering these commands and concepts is essential for both exams and real-world security hardening.