As security threats increase in volume and sophistication, many
companies are adopting modern identity management (IDM) technology to more systematically authorize users, protect sensitive data, and control access to network resources.

Some companies are meeting these requirements by deploying
application-centric IDM systems that work hand-in-hand with their business applications. These systems are usually anchored by the human resources management system (HRMS), where provisioning functions naturally start within an organization. Whereas older IDM systems were siloed and typically platform-centric because they revolved around homogeneous computing environments, these newer IDM systems govern access to many types of information systems, computer platforms, and user access scenarios.