What is the main purpose of Identity and Access Management (IAM)?

The main purpose of Identity and Access Management (IAM) is to verify a user's identity and determine their access level within an organization. IAM systems are designed to ensure that only authenticated and authorized individuals can access specific resources, applications, or data. This process typically involves user verification methods such as passwords, multi-factor authentication, and biometric data to confirm that a user is who they claim to be.

Furthermore, IAM plays a crucial role in maintaining security and compliance by providing access controls that align with company policies and regulatory requirements. By managing identities and their corresponding access rights effectively, IAM helps protect sensitive information from unauthorized access, thus enhancing overall organizational security.

The other options do not accurately capture the core function of IAM. For instance, managing network bandwidth relates more to network management than identity verification, implementing software updates pertains to IT maintenance processes, and creating user accounts is just one task within a broader IAM function, not the primary goal.