Author: Veli-Pekka Vähälummukka, Program Director at Trivore
Imagine a scenario: a new employee, Laura, starts her first day in the finance department on Monday morning. She is issued a work laptop, email credentials, and access to several systems. In theory, everything should be ready for her to hit the ground running.
But who decided which systems Laura should be able to access? And who ensures those permissions remain up to date six months down the line when her role changes?
Many organisations face these exact challenges. This is where IAM (Identity and Access Management) and IGA (Identity Governance and Administration) come into play—two terms often mentioned together and easily confused.
While both relate to identities and access rights, their perspectives differ significantly:
- IAM answers the question: Who is the user and what can they access?
- IGA asks: Should the user have that access in the first place?
In other words, IAM grants the access, while IGA ensures that the access is based on rules and aligns with organisational policies.
IAM Enables Seamless User Lifecycle Management
IAM forms the technical foundation of identity management. At its core, it handles user identification, authorisation, and enabling access to applications.
When a new employee joins and receives their credentials, roles, and access to company services, IAM manages the process. It ensures that logins work, permissions are correct, and the user experience remains smooth. Simultaneously, automation reduces manual workload and the risk of human error.
In Laura’s case, IAM automatically triggers a series of events: the system creates a user ID, assigns her to the correct role, and opens access to finance applications. Her first login is successful without a single support ticket, and she can start working immediately.
Without an IAM solution, these steps would require multiple manual actions from different teams. A single mistake could be enough to block access or, conversely, grant excessive permissions.
IGA Provides Control and Oversight
A few months later, Laura moves into a new role. Some of her old access rights no longer belong to her new position, but they don’t magically disappear on their own. This is where IGA enters the frame.
IGA orchestrates the review of access rights, requests approval from a manager, and removes unnecessary permissions. Meanwhile, the system records an audit trail, detailing who approved the change and on what grounds.
IGA approaches access from a governance perspective. It evaluates the validity and security of access rather than focusing on technical implementation. It looks at risk levels, the principle of least privilege, and regulatory requirements.
It also defines who approves access and who owns it. Policies, certifications, and audit trails cover the entire lifecycle of permissions, preventing “privilege creep”—the unnoticed accumulation of unnecessary rights.
Blurring the Lines in Practice
IAM and IGA function much like physical access control and management authority in an office. IAM ensures your key card works at the door; IGA ensures the card only opens the specific doors your job requires.
Today, the line between IAM and IGA is no longer as sharp as it once was. IAM solutions increasingly include features typically associated with IGA, such as approval workflows for access requests, lightweight access reviews, and basic risk logic.
At the same time, IGA solutions are expanding into the IAM domain by adding automated provisioning, technical role orchestration, and identity lifecycle management for backend systems. The functions overlap technically, even though the underlying approaches remain distinct.
In practice, Laura can now request new access directly through a portal. IAM handles the technical execution, while IGA defines the approval chain and assesses the risk. From the user’s perspective, the process appears as one seamless whole.
Both are Vital for a Modern Identity Strategy
IAM provides the foundation for technical identity management and fluid access. IGA, in turn, ensures that access remains controlled, transparent, and compliant with risk management standards.
Laura’s workday only remains productive when access works correctly and permissions match her actual needs. IAM enables the work to happen, while IGA ensures it happens in a controlled and secure manner.
Together, they form an identity strategy that supports both business operations and risk management. The boundary is no longer a hard line, but a continuum where the emphasis shifts according to the organisation’s needs.