Identity and access controls decide who a system believes a user is and what that user is allowed to do. “Identity” covers sign-in and authentication, such as passwords, tokens, single sign-on, or multi-factor checks. “Access” covers authorization: the permissions, roles, and rules that limit which data, tools, or services an account can reach.
These controls matter because many attacks begin with stolen credentials, account takeover, or overly broad privileges. If an attacker logs in as a real user, weak access rules can let them move through internal systems, steal data, or change code and settings. Good defenses include least-privilege permissions, strong MFA, session management, privileged-account separation, and regular access reviews. In large online platforms, including game services, identity and access also protect developer tools, update pipelines, customer accounts, and admin consoles, making them a core part of release integrity and operational security.