Key Points
- Weak authentication methods, password misuse, and poor access controls create vulnerabilities in organizational networks.
- IAM platforms provide multi-factor authentication (MFA), conditional access policies, and passwordless login to enhance security.
- SecureW2 stands out with its managed PKI and Cloud RADIUS, providing passwordless security without on-premise infrastructure.
Every device that connects to your network, every user who logs in to an application, and every service account running in the background represents an identity your organization needs to manage. Identity and Access Management (IAM) solutions handle this at scale by authenticating users, enforcing access policies, and governing the identity lifecycle from onboarding to offboarding.
The global IAM market is projected to increase from over $25.8 billion in 2026 to around $65.7 billion in 2023, according to industry analysts. That growth reflects a simple reality: as organizations adopt cloud infrastructure, support remote workforces, and manage thousands of devices, identity becomes the new security perimeter.
This guide covers what IAM solutions do, the categories you should know, evaluation criteria, and the top platforms worth considering. We also address a gap most IAM discussions miss — how identity management connects to network access through certificate-based authentication and RADIUS.
What Are IAM Solutions?
IAM solutions are platforms that manage digital identities and control access to applications, systems, and data. They answer two questions at every access request: Who is this user? and What are they allowed to do?
At a technical level, IAM platforms handle four functions:
- Authentication — Verifying that a user or device is who it claims to be, using passwords, biometrics, certificates, or multi-factor authentication (MFA).
- Authorization — Determining what resources an authenticated identity can access based on roles, policies, or attributes.
- Administration — Managing the identity lifecycle: provisioning accounts, assigning roles, updating permissions, and deprovisioning access when employees leave.
- Audit and reporting — Logging access events, generating compliance reports, and surfacing anomalies for security teams.
Most IAM platforms focus on application-layer access, or single sign-on (SSO) to SaaS apps, directory services, and user provisioning. But identity doesn’t stop at the application. Network infrastructure, such as Wi-Fi, VPN, and wired connections , also needs identity-aware access control. That’s where certificate-based authentication and Cloud RADIUS extend IAM to the network layer.
Types of IAM Solutions
IAM is a broad category. Understanding the subcategories helps you match solutions to specific problems.
Identity Providers (IdPs) and SSO Platforms
These are the core IAM platforms most organizations start with. They serve as the central directory for user identities and provide SSO across cloud and on-premises applications. Examples include Microsoft Entra ID, Okta, and Ping Identity.
Primary use case: Centralize user authentication and provide frictionless access to SaaS and enterprise applications.
Identity Governance and Administration (IGA)
IGA platforms handle access certification, role mining, and compliance reporting. They answer the question: Does this user still need this access? SailPoint is the most recognized name in this space.
Primary use case: Regulatory compliance (HIPAA, SOX, GDPR), access reviews, and automated provisioning/deprovisioning.
Privileged Access Management (PAM)
PAM solutions secure accounts with elevated privileges, including admin credentials, service accounts, and root access. CyberArk dominates this segment. PAM tools typically include credential vaulting, session recording, and just-in-time access.
Primary use case: Protecting high-risk accounts from credential theft and insider threats.
Customer Identity and Access Management (CIAM)
CIAM platforms manage external identities: customers, partners, and vendors accessing public-facing applications. They prioritize user experience, self-service registration, and consent management alongside security.
Primary use case: B2C authentication flows, customer portals, and partner access management.
Network Access and Certificate-Based Authentication
This category is often excluded from IAM discussions, but it solves a problem the others don’t. Traditional IAM platforms authenticate users to applications. Network access solutions authenticate users and devices to the infrastructure itself — Wi-Fi networks, VPNs, and wired connections —using digital certificates and RADIUS protocols.
SecureW2 operates in this layer. The JoinNow Platform provides managed cloud PKI, Cloud RADIUS, and automated device onboarding so that the identity decisions made in your IdP (Okta, Entra ID, Google Workspace) extend to network access without passwords or pre-shared keys.
Primary use case: Passwordless 802.1X authentication for Wi-Fi and VPN, BYOD onboarding, and real-time device trust enforcement.
How to Evaluate IAM Solutions
Before comparing vendor feature lists, define what you’re solving for. These are the key criteria for assessing solutions, and they apply across IAM categories.
Authentication Strength
Passwords remain the leading attack vector for identity-based breaches. To optimize protection against breaches, look for platforms that support MFA, passwordless authentication, and certificate-based authentication for the highest assurance.
Integration Ecosystem
Your IAM platform needs to work with your existing stack, including MDM (Intune, Jamf, Kandji), identity providers (Entra ID, Okta, Google Workspace), SIEM tools, and network infrastructure. Choose vendor-neutral platforms to reduce the risk of lock-in and simplify multi-vendor environments.
User Experience and Self-Service
If the security process is painful, users will find workarounds, potentially creating new security risks along the way. To prevent this, evaluate SSO friction, self-service password reset, and BYOD onboarding flows, and track how many clicks it takes for an employee to get access to what they need on day one.
Deployment Model
On-premises IAM (Microsoft AD CS, legacy RADIUS servers) requires hardware, patching, and specialized staff. Cloud-native platforms eliminate that overhead. Hybrid models bridge the gap for organizations still running on-premises infrastructure.
Compliance and Governance
If you operate in healthcare (HIPAA), finance (SOX), education (FERPA), or government (FedRAMP), compliance is a key consideration. You need an IAM platform that can generate audit trails and enforce access policies that satisfy regulators.
Lifecycle Automation
Manual provisioning and deprovisioning don’t scale. Evaluate how each platform handles joiner-mover-leaver workflows, automated access reviews, and integration with HR systems for real-time identity updates.
Top IAM Platforms for 2026
Here are some of the highest-performing IAP platforms available.
Microsoft Entra ID
Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure Active Directory) is the default IAM platform for organizations built on Microsoft 365. It provides SSO, conditional access policies, MFA through Microsoft Authenticator, and integration with thousands of SaaS applications. Entra ID also includes identity governance features for access reviews and entitlement management.
Strengths: Deep integration with Microsoft 365 and Azure; conditional access policies that factor in device compliance, location, and risk level; large app gallery.
Best for: Organizations with Microsoft-centric environments that need a unified identity layer across cloud and hybrid infrastructure.
Okta Workforce Identity Cloud
Okta has held a Leader position in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Access Management for nine consecutive years. The platform provides SSO, adaptive MFA, lifecycle management, and an integration catalog with over 7,000 pre-built connectors. Okta Universal Directory serves as a flexible identity store that aggregates users from multiple sources.
Strengths: Vendor-neutral; extensive pre-built integrations; strong developer tools and API access management.
Best for: Multi-cloud organizations that need a standalone IdP not tied to a specific infrastructure vendor.
Ping Identity
Ping Identity is a Leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant and scored highest in three use cases in Gartner’s Critical Capabilities for Access Management report. The platform supports federated SSO, risk-aware authentication, API security, and decentralized identity. PingOne for Workforce provides cloud-native IAM, while PingFederate handles complex hybrid and on-premises deployments.
Strengths: Flexible architecture for hybrid environments; strong API security capabilities; decentralized identity support.
Best for: Large enterprises with complex, multi-vendor environments that need federated identity across diverse systems.
SailPoint
SailPoint specializes in identity governance—ensuring users have the right access, certifying that access on a regular schedule, and automating role-based provisioning. Its AI models analyze access patterns to surface outliers, recommend reviews, and automate role mining. SailPoint’s 2026 roadmap includes non-human identity management for service accounts and machine identities.
Strengths: Deep governance and compliance capabilities; AI-driven access intelligence; strong in regulated industries.
Best for: Organizations in regulated industries (financial services, healthcare, government) that need audit-ready identity governance.
CyberArk
CyberArk is the market leader in privileged access management. The platform vaults credentials, records privileged sessions, and provides just-in-time access to reduce standing privileges. CyberArk Workforce Identity extends the platform into SSO, adaptive MFA, and endpoint privilege management for standard users.
Strengths: Strongest PAM capabilities in the market; credential vaulting and session isolation; comprehensive privileged threat analytics.
Best for: Security-conscious organizations that need to lock down admin accounts, service accounts, and other high-privilege identities.
IBM Security Verify
IBM Security Verify provides adaptive access, SSO, lifecycle management, and identity analytics. The platform uses AI to analyze login behavior and assign risk scores, triggering step-up authentication when anomalies are detected. It supports both workforce and consumer identity use cases.
Strengths: AI-driven risk assessment; support for both workforce and customer identity; hybrid deployment options.
Best for: Large enterprises that need adaptive, risk-based authentication across a complex identity landscape.
OneLogin
OneLogin (now part of One Identity) provides cloud-based SSO, MFA, directory integration, and automated user provisioning. Its SmartFactor Authentication uses machine learning to adjust authentication requirements based on risk signals like location, device, and network.
Strengths: Fast deployment; strong HRIS integration for automated provisioning; context-aware authentication.
Best for: Mid-market organizations that need a straightforward cloud IdP with automated lifecycle management.
SecureW2
SecureW2 operates in a different layer than the platforms above. While IdPs like Okta and Entra ID authenticate users to applications, SecureW2 extends that identity to the network. The JoinNow Platform provides managed cloud PKI (JoinNow Dynamic PKI), Cloud RADIUS (JoinNow Cloud RADIUS), and automated device onboarding (JoinNow MultiOS) to replace passwords and pre-shared keys with digital certificates for Wi-Fi, VPN, and wired access.
SecureW2 integrates natively with Entra ID, Okta, Google Workspace, Intune, Jamf, and Kandji. When a user authenticates to the network, Cloud RADIUS performs a real-time identity lookup against the IdP to verify the user is still active and the device is compliant. If a user is disabled or a device falls out of compliance, access is revoked immediately — no waiting for the next password rotation.
Strengths: Only cloud-native platform that combines managed PKI, Cloud RADIUS, and BYOD onboarding in a single solution; vendor-neutral (works with any access point, firewall, MDM, or IdP); eliminates passwords and pre-shared keys at the network layer; 99.999% RADIUS uptime.
Best for: Organizations that have deployed an IdP but still rely on passwords or pre-shared keys for Wi-Fi and VPN access. SecureW2 bridges the gap between IAM and network access control.
How IAM Connects to Network Access
Most IAM discussions stop at the application layer. A user authenticates through Okta or Entra ID, gets an SSO session, and accesses their SaaS tools. But that same user also connects to Wi-Fi, VPN, and wired networks — and those connections often rely on shared passwords, pre-shared keys (PSKs), or legacy protocols like PEAP-MSCHAPv2 that are vulnerable to credential theft.
This is the gap certificate-based authentication closes. It eliminates passwords at the network layer, removes shared credentials that can be stolen or phished, and ties every network connection back to a verified identity in your IAM system.
Here’s how it works in practice:
- The IdP authenticates the user : Okta, Entra ID, or Google Workspace verifies the user’s identity and provisions their account.
- A digital certificate is issued: SecureW2 Dynamic PKI issues an X.509 certificate to the user’s device, either through self-service onboarding (BYOD) or auto-enrollment via MDM (Intune, Jamf, Kandji).
- The device connects to the network: When the device connects to Wi-Fi or VPN, it presents the certificate instead of a password. The 802.1X protocol handles the authentication exchange.
- Cloud RADIUS validates the identity: SecureW2 Cloud RADIUS receives the authentication request, validates the certificate, and performs a real-time lookup against the IdP to confirm the user is active and the device is compliant.
- Access is granted or denied: If everything checks out, the user gets network access. If the user has been disabled in the IdP or the device is non-compliant, access is denied immediately.
Choosing the Right IAM Strategy
IAM is not a single product decision. Most organizations end up with a stack: an IdP for workforce SSO, possibly an IGA tool for governance, a PAM solution for privileged accounts, and a network access solution for Wi-Fi and VPN authentication.
Start by mapping your identity surface area. How many users, devices, and applications do you manage? Where are the gaps—is it application access, privileged accounts, compliance reporting, or network authentication? The right combination depends on your environment, your regulatory requirements, and where your current security posture has blind spots.
If your organization has already deployed an IdP like Okta or Entra ID but still uses passwords or shared keys for Wi-Fi and VPN, that network layer is an open gap. SecureW2 closes it by turning your IdP into the authority for network access — no additional on-premises servers, no passwords, and no shared credentials.
Get a free demo and learn how SecureW2 extends your IAM to the network layer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an IAM solution?
An IAM solution is a platform that manages digital identities and controls access to systems, applications, and data. It handles authentication (verifying who a user is), authorization (determining what they can access), user provisioning, and access governance. IAM solutions range from identity providers like Okta and Microsoft Entra ID to specialized tools for privileged access management and identity governance.
What are the four components of IAM?
The four components of IAM are authentication, authorization, administration, and auditing.
Authentication verifies user identity through credentials, biometrics, or certificates. Authorization enforces access policies based on roles or attributes. Administration manages the identity lifecycle, creating accounts, assigning permissions, and deprovisioning access. Auditing logs access events and generates reports for compliance and security analysis.
How do IAM solutions support compliance?
IAM platforms generate audit trails that document who accessed what, when, and from where. They enforce access policies aligned with regulations like HIPAA, SOX, GDPR, and FERPA. Identity governance features automate access reviews, certify entitlements, and flag excessive permissions. For network access, certificate-based authentication provides a verifiable chain of trust that ties every connection to a specific user and device.
What is the difference between IAM and PAM?
IAM is the broad category covering all identity and access management, including user authentication, SSO, directory services, and lifecycle management for the general workforce.
PAM (Privileged Access Management) is a subset that focuses specifically on securing high-privilege accounts like admin credentials, service accounts, and root access. Organizations typically deploy both: an IAM platform for workforce identity and a PAM solution for high-risk accounts.
Do IAM solutions cover network access?
Most IAM platforms focus on application-layer access: SSO to SaaS apps, directory services, and user provisioning. Network access (Wi-Fi, VPN, wired connections) typically requires additional infrastructure, like a RADIUS server for 802.1X authentication and a PKI for issuing digital certificates.
SecureW2 bridges this gap by integrating with IdPs like Okta and Entra ID and extending identity-based access control to the network layer using managed cloud PKI and Cloud RADIUS.
