As organizations continue to adopt new technologies to digitize their assets and streamline operations, security and access decisions become increasingly complex.
Most businesses are focused on improving efficiency while keeping sensitive data protected. In practice, balancing those two goals is harder than it sounds, especially as workforces become more distributed and IT environments grow more fragmented.
This challenge is one reason the market for identity and access management (IAM) solutions continues to grow rapidly. The IAM market exceeded $12 billion in 2022 and is expected to expand significantly over the coming decade.
However, investing in IAM tools alone is rarely enough. Organizations also need to think carefully about how access is granted, enforced, and monitored across systems. That’s where access management comes into focus.
What Is Access Management?
Access management is the method organizations use to control who can access specific resources and what they are allowed to do with them.
In physical environments, access management may include limiting entry to certain areas, issuing badges, or tracking employee movement. In digital environments, access management focuses on identifying users, verifying their identity, and controlling access to applications, systems, and data within the IT environment.
Access management typically operates as a core component of a broader IAM program. While IAM encompasses identity lifecycle management, governance, authentication, and privileged access, access management is often where organizations feel the most operational pressure day to day.
When access controls are well-designed, employees can access the tools and data they need without unnecessary friction. When they are poorly designed, organizations often experience access creep, audit challenges, and increased exposure to security incidents.
Types of Access Management Controls
There are multiple ways organizations control access to systems and resources. Broadly speaking, access controls fall into two primary categories.
Physical access control (PAC) systems focus on managing access to physical spaces. Common examples include badge readers, RFID-enabled ID cards, and secured entry points.
Logical access control (LAC) systems govern access to digital resources such as networks, applications, and data. These controls rely on software-based mechanisms to authenticate users and enforce permissions across the IT environment.
Within these categories, organizations commonly implement several access control models, often in combination.
Mandatory Access Control (MAC)
Mandatory access control restricts access based on predefined security labels assigned to both users and data. These labels reflect levels of sensitivity, such as confidential or restricted, and are enforced by the system rather than individual users.
MAC is most commonly used in highly regulated or government environments where strict control is required. While it offers strong security guarantees, it is typically inflexible and difficult to manage in dynamic enterprise environments.
Discretionary Access Control (DAC)
Discretionary access control grants access based on the identity of individual users and access control lists that specify permissions such as read, write, or modify.
In DAC models, resource owners can grant access to others. While this flexibility can support collaboration, it also introduces risk. Over time, permissions are often shared informally and rarely reviewed, leading to over-permissioning and limited visibility during audits.
Policy-Based Access Control (PBAC)
Policy-based access control evaluates access requests based on defined policies that consider business roles, conditions, and rules.
PBAC can provide more consistent enforcement than discretionary models, but it also requires strong governance. Without clear ownership and ongoing maintenance, policies can quickly become outdated or overly complex.
Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC)
Attribute-based access control determines access based on attributes associated with users, resources, or the environment. These attributes may include department, location, device type, or time of access.
ABAC offers flexibility and precision, particularly in complex or cloud-based environments. However, organizations often underestimate the operational effort required to define, maintain, and audit attributes at scale.
Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)
Role-based access control assigns permissions based on a user’s role within the organization. This approach is widely used because it simplifies access management by grouping permissions into standardized roles.
RBAC is most effective when roles are clearly defined and actively maintained. Without governance, organizations frequently experience role sprawl, where roles multiply and become difficult to manage, undermining the intended simplicity of the model.
RBAC is commonly paired with least-privilege strategies to reduce unnecessary access and limit exposure to sensitive systems.
Rule-Based Access Control
Rule-based access control applies predefined rules that determine access across users or systems. These rules are often preventative in nature and help enforce consistent controls across environments.
While rule-based and role-based models are sometimes used together, rule-based controls focus on enforcing conditions, whereas role-based controls focus on aligning access with job functions.
Access Management Terms to Know
Access management is closely connected to several related IAM concepts. Understanding how these terms fit together helps organizations make more informed decisions about their access strategy.
The AAA Identity and Access Management Model
The AAA model outlines three foundational components of access management.
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Authentication verifies a user’s identity using credentials such as passwords, biometrics, or security keys.
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Authorization determines what an authenticated user is allowed to access and what actions they can perform.
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Accounting tracks user activity across systems, providing visibility for auditing, troubleshooting, and compliance purposes.
Together, these elements form the basis for controlling and monitoring access across environments.
Privileged Access Management (PAM)
Privileged access management focuses on securing accounts with elevated permissions, such as administrators and service accounts.
These accounts often pose the highest risk if compromised. A strong PAM strategy limits standing privileges, enforces additional controls, and provides visibility into privileged activity.
Single Sign-On (SSO)
Single sign-on allows users to authenticate once and gain access to multiple authorized systems without repeated logins.
SSO improves user experience and reduces password fatigue. When implemented correctly, it also supports stronger authentication policies and centralized access control.
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Multi-factor authentication requires users to present more than one form of verification to confirm their identity.
MFA significantly reduces the risk of credential-based attacks, particularly when applied to remote access, privileged accounts, and high-risk applications.
Need Help Managing Access and Identities?
Designing an effective access management strategy requires more than selecting the right tools. Organizations must account for operational realities, governance models, and long-term sustainability.
Many teams struggle not because access controls are missing, but because they are difficult to manage, audit, or adapt as the business evolves.
GCA helps organizations design and implement access management programs that are practical, scalable, and aligned with how teams actually work. Our Identity specialists focus on clarity, consistency, and reducing operational friction across IAM environments.
If you’re evaluating access management options or looking to improve an existing program, connecting with an experienced IAM partner can help you avoid rework and long-term complexity.
