/What is PIAM in identity and access management?

Physical Identity and Access Management (PIAM) is a critical layer within the broader identity and access management (IAM) ecosystem. It governs how individuals — employees, contractors, or visitors — are identified, verified, and authorized to access physical locations such as data centers, offices, restricted areas, or critical infrastructure.

While traditional IAM solutions focus on digital access, PIAM brings visibility and control to the physical world. In sectors such as energy, banking, government, or large-scale venues, where physical security is as vital as cybersecurity, PIAM bridges the gap.

Veridas offers a next-generation PIAM approach, integrating advanced biometrics, verified credentials, and policy-driven orchestration. Unlike legacy systems that rely on badges or siloed data, Veridas ensures:

• Real-time, biometric verification
• Secure credential issuance via ID Wallets
• Seamless PACS integration
• End-to-end traceability for compliance

For more context on the evolution of PIAM, see NIST’s FRVT evaluations and ISO 27001 certification details.

What does PIAM mean?

PIAM stands for Physical Identity and Access Management. It refers to the technologies and processes used to manage the entire lifecycle of identities — from onboarding to deprovisioning — in the context of physical access.

Unlike siloed badge systems or manual check-ins, PIAM connects identity data to physical access policies. It orchestrates identity verification, credential management, access control, and compliance reporting under a unified system.

PIAM solutions ensure that only verified and authorized individuals can access specific locations, at specific times, under specific conditions — all governed by organization-wide rules.

What is a physical identity and access management system?

A physical identity and access management system is a software and hardware ecosystem that manages identity credentials, verifies individuals, and integrates with physical access control systems (PACS).

Core components include:

• Identity onboarding: via ID document capture, biometric verification, or integrations with HR systems
• Credential issuance and revocation: issuing badges, biometric templates, or mobile credentials tied to verified identities
• Access policy enforcement: rule-based access by role, risk level, time slot, location
• Visitor and contractor management: enabling temporary or external access with full audit trails
• Integration with existing PACS: such as turnstiles, badge readers, or biometric terminals
• Audit, compliance, and alerts: monitoring usage, generating reports, flagging anomalies

Veridas’ PIAM-ready architecture integrates with existing infrastructure and elevates it with biometric precision, decentralized credentials, and real-time access orchestration. Learn more in our Facial Access Control Buyer’s Guide.

Why organizations need an identity management solution

Benefits of an identity & access management platform

Organizations face growing threats from unauthorized access, insider risk, and operational inefficiencies caused by outdated manual systems. A modern identity and access management solution helps:

• Enhance physical security: eliminating generic credentials, fake badges, or outdated access rights
• Reduce human error: via automated workflows for onboarding, role changes, or offboarding
• Improve user experience: enabling seamless, fast, and secure entry using biometrics
• Ensure compliance: with GDPR, ISO 27001, and industry-specific access control mandates
• Enable real-time response: to access violations, anomalies, or high-risk attempts

Key features of ID management systems

A robust identity management system includes:

• Identity verification: document + biometric + liveness
• Role- or attribute-based access policies
• Credential lifecycle management
• Multi-channel access (mobile, card, biometric)
• Visitor/contractor onboarding
• Alerts, dashboards, audit logs
• Integration with PACS, HR, security systems

“This is a fundamental project for our management: we want fans to enjoy the Chilean football experience in a safe way, for families to return to the stadium. On the field, our championships are increasingly attractive, and we want that to be consistent with the experience of the public in our stadiums.”

Pablo Milad, ANFP President Chile.

The 4 pillars of identity and access management

1. Identity lifecycle
   • Onboarding, role change, offboarding
   • Integrates HR, credentialing, and access rights
2. Authentication and credentials
   • Multi-factor, passwordless, biometrics, decentralized identity
   • Secure issuance and revocation
3. Access control policies
   • Role-based, risk-based, time-bound, geofencing
   • Centralized policy management
4. Auditing and compliance
   • Full traceability, reporting, and anomaly detection
   • Supports regulatory audits and internal governance

Comparing identity management systems and platforms

Future of identity and access management solutions

The future of PIAM is:

• Biometric-first: facial and voice recognition as the new standard for frictionless access
• Credentialless: moving away from cards or tokens to verified identities stored in secure wallets
• Privacy-respecting: no sensitive data stored centrally; full control by users
• Integrated: PACS, HR, security, compliance, and operational systems working in sync
• Cloud-native and scalable: with real-time intelligence and cross-location orchestration

Veridas’ platform already anticipates these shifts, offering:

• ID Wallet with W3C verifiable credentials
• Biometric Access Terminals (on-prem and cloud-connected)
• Visitor Management System (VMS) for external identities
• Dashboards and APIs for full control and integration
• Performance proven across stadiums, utilities, government buildings, and corporate campuses

PIAM and access management solutions

Veridas’ PIAM-ready approach solves for both security and convenience:

• No cards or badges
• No passwords or PINs
• No user friction

Just verified identity.

With over 200 customers in sectors like finance, government, events, and infrastructure, Veridas is redefining what access control means. From airports to football stadiums, from utility companies to ministries, our identity-first solutions ensure access is secure, efficient, and future-proof.

“We are probably the club with the most turnstiles in the world, with two levels of access control and 84,000 people at every game. The flow needs to be dynamic, and we developed that access control. It’s a solid solution, and we strive to innovate. Everyone enters everywhere with their face. Why couldn’t we do the same? It’s important for member access to be pleasant and frictionless and for those who cause trouble not to return.”

Patricio Corradi, Systems Manager at River Plate.

Use cases by industry

• Finance: control access to branches, ATMs, and data centers with biometric authentication.
• Government: secure entry to public buildings, ministries, and election centers. Trusted by the Spanish National Security Scheme (ENS High certification).
• Energy & utilities: manage contractors and remote staff accessing critical infrastructure.
• Events & stadiums: verify fans and staff, reduce queues, eliminate ticket fraud. Example: River Plate Stadium in Argentina achieved 100% biometric access adoption with Veridas.
• Healthcare: ensure only authorized staff access restricted zones like labs or medication rooms.

FAQs

1. Does Veridas PIAM work with my existing badge system?
   • Yes. It integrates with leading PACS and can co-exist with cards during transition.
2. How is data privacy handled?
   • All biometric data is encrypted and never stored centrally. Veridas uses privacy-by-design principles.
3. Can visitors or contractors use the system?
   • Yes. Veridas VMS enables seamless pre-registration, ID verification, and temporary access.
4. Is facial recognition reliable in all lighting conditions?
   • Veridas’ algorithms are NIST-evaluated and perform with high accuracy in challenging environments.
5. What regulations does it support?
   • GDPR, eIDAS2, ISO 27001, ISO 30107-3 PAD, among others.