Words of Identity

Identity and Access is a complex topic covering a wide range of topics and sub-areas. Getting a grasp on this is difficult for anyone; understanding the subject well enough to explain it to others and collaborate is even more challenging. A natural starting point for understanding a complex topic or area is to seek to learn the native language, such as the professional jargon of the area. And many of us start precisely that way, by searching out dictionaries containing words and terms of “IAM” and its sub-components.There are many such dictionaries to be found. And the subtle—and not-so-subtle—differences in the definitions found in these illustrate the challenge this article aims to alleviate. We may have a de facto “language of Identity and Access,” but this language has no formal structure to its semantics.Our area of technology and business is characterized by an abundance of words having multiple meanings. These are confusing or frustrating for beginners and experienced practitioners alike. This article is intended as a guide for keeping track of ambiguous words and terms often encountered in our industry, as well as to show that this deficiency in understanding may be even more significant in Identity and Access than in other places.The article offers examples of where terms are ambiguous and definitions seem to vary across the industry. These examples serve as an aid both to lessen confusion and encourage better and clearer usage of the terms. This article also discusses reasons for the differences and offers some suggestions on countering this challenge in the line of work.