Imagine your phone, computer, or favorite app being compromised, wouldn’t you want an immediate solution?
Well, lucky for you, there is one! There’s a digital detective whose job is to figure out who did it, how they did it, and what they accessed. That’s what Cyber Forensics is all about, solving digital crimes by collecting and analyzing evidence from electronic devices.
Now, here’s where IAM, short for Identity and Access Management, becomes a hero:
IAM is like the bouncer at a VIP party. It decides who gets in, what rooms they can enter, and what they’re allowed to do. And when something goes wrong, IAM keeps a record of every door opened and by whom. Think of it as having a detailed guest list and security footage at every door.
This makes Cyber Forensics faster and more accurate because investigators can trace digital footprints back to specific users or actions. Meaning that we are able to let you rest, knowing that you’re safe.
So in today’s world of constant digital threats, IAM isn’t just about security. Let’s imagine a scenario together so that you will know what to do in a situation where Cyber Forensics is needed. Because IAM is also about catching criminals.
You have just received an email from our cybersecurity team, telling you and the team to be cautious in opening suspicious emails or answering any call that requests us to log in to the link(s) that they provide.
Everyone began to question what was happening and found that there was a threat actor (TA) attempting to impersonate an IT support personnel, asking employees to log in to a link in order to get their user ID and password, also known as a user's login credentials.
The TA can use the login of whoever falls for the trick and get confidential company information. We were all relieved to find that our identity and access management (IAM) security awareness program was able to save the company from the cyber attack.
So, what exactly happened? The TA was able to convince one employee to create a login, hence getting access to their credentials. The TA then tried to log in to our company’s application from his device, in which he was prompted to use two-factor authentication.
The user was told to give him the authentication code which raised a red flag. It is
known that people are not meant to share the code with anybody especially for something important. The user immediately hung up and reported the incident to our security team…
This is known as an outsider threat, which happens when a person outside of a secure system manages to get in and essentially steal, change or block access to data.
However, companies must also be wary of the people on the inside, individuals within the system who misuse their access. IAM systems enhance digital forensics by monitoring user access, enforce stricter controls, and strengthen security overall.
IAM and Cyber Forensics play hand in hand together, and with this example above, it’s clear it’s more common than we think.
Every time you log into your email, swipe your access card at work, or even unlock your phone with Face ID, IAM is quietly working in the background. It’s making sure you are really you, and that you’re only accessing what you’re supposed to.
But when something goes wrong, like a data breach or unauthorized access, Cyber Forensics steps in. And thanks to IAM logs and records, investigators can follow the digital breadcrumb trail. They can pinpoint who accessed what, when, from where, and even what device they used.
This partnership is crucial, especially today when cybercrimes are becoming more sophisticated. Without IAM, forensic experts would be digging through a digital haystack without a clue. But with IAM? It’s like turning on the lights in a dark room.
Together, IAM and Cyber Forensics don’t just help respond to attacks, they help prevent them, by tightening access controls and spotting unusual behavior before it becomes a bigger problem.
So the next time you log in somewhere or get asked to verify your identity, remember: that tiny inconvenience is actually part of a much bigger system working to keep you, and your data safe.
