The proliferation of distributed and federated systems, including cloud computing environments, multi-organization collaborations, and cross-border digital services, has introduced significant challenges in managing identities and controlling access to sensitive resources. Traditional identity and access management (IAM) approaches, which rely on centralized control, are increasingly inadequate in environments characterized by multiple administrative domains, heterogeneous platforms, and dynamic user populations. This study proposes a secure IAM model specifically designed for distributed and federated systems, integrating advanced authentication, authorization, and governance mechanisms to ensure secure, scalable, and compliant access management. The proposed model emphasizes federated identity management, enabling single sign-on (SSO) and secure token exchange across disparate systems while maintaining strict adherence to organizational policies and regulatory standards. Multi-factor authentication (MFA), adaptive risk-based access control, and zero-trust principles are incorporated to enhance security in environments where users, devices, and applications may operate beyond organizational boundaries. Role-based and attribute-based access control frameworks are combined with dynamic policy enforcement to ensure that access rights are context-aware, time-bound, and aligned with compliance requirements such as GDPR, HIPAA, and ISO/IEC 27001. Key technical components include secure identity provisioning, federated trust management, continuous access monitoring, and automated anomaly detection using artificial intelligence and machine learning. The model also provides mechanisms for auditing, reporting, and accountability, enabling organizations to demonstrate regulatory compliance and maintain trust in multi-stakeholder environments. By integrating security, compliance, and operational efficiency, the proposed IAM model supports seamless collaboration, reduces the risk of unauthorized access, and enhances resilience against identity-related threats. The framework offers a scalable and adaptive solution for enterprises and consortiums operating in complex, distributed, and federated systems, establishing a foundation for secure digital transformation and robust governance of identity and access in multi-domain computing ecosystems.
Secure Identity, Access Management, Distributed Systems, Federated Systems, Authentication, Authorization, Identity Federation, Single Sign-On (SSO), Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC), Trust Frameworks, Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), Credential Management
IRE Journals:
Theophilus Onyekachukwu Oshoba, Nafiu Ikeoluwa Hammed, Olushola Damilare Odejobi "Secure Identity and Access Management Model for Distributed and Federated Systems" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals Volume 3 Issue 4 2019 Page 550-567
IEEE:
Theophilus Onyekachukwu Oshoba, Nafiu Ikeoluwa Hammed, Olushola Damilare Odejobi
"Secure Identity and Access Management Model for Distributed and Federated Systems" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals, 3(4)