The difference between IAM and IDM

IDM (Identity Management) and IAM (Identity and Access Management) are often used interchangeably, but there are subtle differences between them:

IDM (Identity Management) focuses on managing user identities, such as creating, maintaining and deactivating user accounts and their attributes (e.g. name, email, role).

IAM (Identity and Access Management) encompasses a broader range of functions, not only identity management, but also system and data access control, user authentication, authorization, and access auditing.

IAM is more complex and includes aspects of access control beyond identity management alone.