Before we begin to examine the technologies that support IAM for the IoT, it is useful to lay out the life cycle phases of what we call identity. The identity life cycle for an IoT device begins with defining the naming conventions for the device; it ends with the removal of the device's identity from the system. The following diagram provides a view of the process flow:
This life cycle procedure should be established and applied to all IoT devices that are procured, configured, and ultimately attached to an organization's network. The first aspect requires a coordinated understanding of the categories of IoT devices and systems that will be introduced within your organization, both now and in the future. Establishing a structured identity namespace will significantly help manage the identities of the thousands or millions of devices that will eventually be added to your organization.
