What is the function of Identity Management in an organizational network?

Identity Management plays a crucial role in securing an organizational network by primarily focusing on managing user credentials and roles. This function ensures that each user has the appropriate access to resources based on their identity and predefined roles within the organization. By properly managing these credentials, organizations can enforce policies that define who can access what data or applications, which is vital for maintaining security and compliance.

Effective Identity Management systems help streamline user provisioning and deprovisioning processes, reduce the risk of unauthorized access, and ensure that changes in employment status or roles are promptly reflected in access rights. This aspect of Identity Management not only enhances security but also improves operational efficiency by reducing manual oversight and errors in access control.

In contrast, while restricting access based on user identity is related to Identity Management, it is more of an outcome or a policy that results from effective credential and role management rather than a primary function itself. Monitoring network traffic for breaches and enabling secure communication are critical functions of network defense but fall under different domains of cybersecurity practice, focusing more on threat detection and data transmission security, respectively.