A subset of identity and access management (IAM), Customer Identity and Access Management (CIAM) focuses on managing and securing customer identities, preferences, and access permissions across digital touchpoints. Unlike traditional IAM, which centers on internal employee access, CIAM is designed to handle the scale, performance, and user experience needs of public-facing applications and services.
Core Features
CIAM solutions enable businesses to authenticate users through login forms, social login, or multifactor authentication, manage consent and privacy preferences, and provide personalized user experiences. Key features typically include registration flows, profile management, single sign-on (SSO), passwordless login, identity federation, consent management, and data unification across systems.
Compliance and Insights
Modern CIAM platforms support compliance with global data privacy regulations such as GDPR and CCPA by capturing, storing, and honoring user consent. In addition, CIAM systems often provide customer data insights, helping marketers and product teams deliver more targeted and secure experiences.
Business Applications
By balancing security, compliance, and usability, CIAM is a foundational component for businesses seeking to deliver seamless, personalized, and trusted digital experiences at scale. The technology was pioneered by companies such as Gigya, Inc., a technology company founded in Tel Aviv, Israel, and headquartered in Mountain View, California. Gigya was purchased by SAP in 2017.
