Identity and Access Management (IAM) is a framework of technologies, policies, and processes that ensure the right individuals or systems have the appropriate access to digital resources at the right time. IAM governs how identities are created, authenticated, authorized, and monitored across IT and OT environments. Core IAM functions include user provisioning, role-based access control (RBAC), multi-factor authentication (MFA), single sign-on (SSO), session management, and audit logging. IAM solutions help organizations enforce the principle of least privilege, reduce identity-related risks, and ensure secure access to critical systems, data, and infrastructure.
IAM is critical to securing modern digital environments, particularly as networks become more distributed, cloud-connected, and reliant on third-party access. In the absence of robust IAM, organizations face increased risks of unauthorized access, insider threats, and credential compromise, which are among the most common causes of data breaches and operational disruptions.
For critical infrastructure sectors, IAM is not just a best practice, it’s a regulatory requirement. Standards such as NERC CIP, IEC 62443, TSA SD02E, NIS2, and Saudi OTCC-1:2022 mandate strict controls over identity verification, session logging, and access policy enforcement. IAM enables organizations to meet these requirements by defining who can access what resources, under which conditions, and for how long, while providing a complete audit trail.
IAM also supports zero trust security, where access is continuously validated rather than implicitly trusted based on location or role. In this model, identity becomes the new perimeter, and robust IAM systems are essential for enforcing adaptive, risk-based access.
Xona strengthens IAM in Operational Technology (OT) environments by serving as a secure, identity-aware access layer between users and critical systems. The platform integrates with leading identity providers, such as Active Directory, LDAP, and SAML, to enforce centralized authentication and authorization policies across distributed environments.
Xona enhances IAM with features such as multi-factor authentication, role-based and time-based access control, credential injection, and session isolation, ensuring that identities are authenticated, permissions are tightly scoped, and access is both secure and auditable. Every session is monitored and recorded in real time, providing the audit logs and visibility required for regulatory compliance and forensic investigation.
Unlike traditional IAM tools designed primarily for IT systems, Xona’s platform is purpose-built for industrial control systems, legacy OT assets, and low-bandwidth field environments. This allows critical infrastructure operators to extend modern IAM principles into operational domains without compromising security, performance, or usability.