Identity and access management (IAM) is a security discipline that ensures which of the following?

Identity and access management (IAM) is primarily concerned with ensuring that the right individuals have access to the appropriate resources at the appropriate times and for the correct reasons. This encompasses several critical aspects of security, including user identity verification, access rights management, and the overarching goal of minimizing unauthorized access.

By ensuring that individuals are granted access based on their specific roles, responsibilities, and contexts, IAM helps organizations maintain a secure environment while providing necessary access to authorized users. This framework supports regulatory compliance, enhances data protection, and enables more effective management of sensitive information.

In contrast, the other options focus on specific components of IAM but do not capture the holistic philosophy behind the practice. For instance, while proper authorization and authentication are important, they are part of the broader goal articulated in the correct answer. Moreover, the option suggesting unauthorized users obtaining access directly contradicts the fundamental objective of IAM, which is to prevent unauthorized access and enhance security.