The privileged accounts in your IT environment require special attention because they have elevated access to vital systems and sensitive data. The organization can suffer severe damage if they are misused by their owners or compromised in attacks. In addition, many compliance standards require organizations to maintain tight control over privileged access.
Most organizations have hundreds or thousands of accounts with privileged access. Trying to manage privileged credentials using spreadsheets or text documents is risky and inefficient, increasing the chances of errors and unnoticed vulnerabilities while burdening IT teams, often already stretched to the limit.
In this article, we will discuss how you can safeguard your privileged accounts and monitor their use to spot improper behavior. We will also provide an overview of the leading privileged access management solutions available and explain the essential capabilities to look for when choosing a tool.
Introduction to Privileged Access Management (PAM)
Definition and Importance of PAM in Cybersecurity
Privileged access management (PAM) is the discipline of managing credentials that provide elevated access to systems or data, such as accounts, that can be used to configure applications or read or modify sensitive information. Privileged accounts include accounts assigned to human users like admins and non-human accounts like service accounts.
Core PAM processes include identifying who has privileged rights, ensuring that no one has more privileged access than necessary, and tracking the actions of privileged users in real-time to detect unusual or risky behavior.
Purpose of PAM Solutions
Privileged account management software solutions are purpose-built to help organizations control and secure privileged accounts and monitor their activities across the IT environment. PAM tools help improve security by minimizing the risks associated with improper administrative access. In addition, these tools help organizations comply with a range of industry standards and legislative mandates that require strict control over privileged access.
PAM solutions are offered in various deployment models to suit different organizational needs, including installable software, hardware appliances, and cloud-based solutions.
How Privileged Access Management Works
Basic PAM Workflow
Here is the typical workflow for PAM security solutions:
- A user who needs to perform a task that requires elevated permissions requests access to a privileged account, explaining why they need privileged access.
- The PAM solution either automatically approves the request according to policy or routes it to the appropriate person for manual approval.
- When approval is granted, the PAM solution logs the decision and provides the user with the temporary privileged access required to complete the specified task. Typically, they receive access via the PAM instead of learning the password for the privileged account.
- All actions taken using the privileged account are monitored and logged.
- When the task is completed, the privileged access is revoked so that it cannot be used for any other task.
Overview of Privileged Access Management Operations
As this workflow illustrates, privileged access management solutions typically function across several key operational categories:
- Control of privileged access—PAM helps organizations tightly control who has privileged accessso they can prevent severe damage.
- Monitoring — PAM tools continuously track and record all activities related to privileged accounts, including when such accounts were accessed, what actions were performed, and how long the privileged access lasted.
- Threat detection — PAM systems analyze their activity data to identify actions or patterns that could indicate policy violations or security threats. Examples include attempts to access data or systems beyond the scope of the task, unusual login times, and actions indicative of privilege escalation.
Integration of People, Processes, and Technology in PAM Solutions
A robust approach to privileged access management involves multiple elements: processes, technology, and people:
- Processes—Core PAM processes include structured workflows for requesting, approving, and documenting privileged access. Regular access reviews should be conducted to ensure that privileged accounts adhere to the principle of least privilege. PAM must also be integrated with change control processes to ensure secure system modifications align with established security measures and operational needs.
- Technology—A modern PAM solution should include automated, real-time monitoring and be able to integrate with other security technologies in the IT ecosystem. In particular, it should work with the identity and access management (IAM) platform for comprehensive user management and feed logs into security information and event management (SIEM) systems to enhance threat detection capabilities across the organization.
- People — PAM solutions use role-based access control (RBAC) to match privileges to job functions precisely. In addition, organizations must ensure that all employees, contractors, and other users understand the significance of privileged access and its proper usage.
Types of Privileged Accounts
Overview of Types of Privileged Accounts
A privileged account is any account with elevated access rights that poses a significant risk to security, operations, or compliance. The most obvious examples are the accounts administrators use to install, configure, and manage critical systems and infrastructure. However, service accounts are also often granted elevated permissions and must be included in the scope of PAM. In addition, be sure to identify all users with access to sensitive information or systems, such as executives or finance teams, who can read or modify critical data such as intellectual property or business records.
Examples of Privileged Accounts
- Windows administrator accounts, such as Domain Admin, Local Administrator accounts, and SQL database administrators
- Cloud platform administrator accounts, such as AWS root accounts or Azure Global Administrators
- Root accounts in Unix-like operating systems, which have unrestricted access to all system resources and files
- Network device administrator accounts that manage routers, switches, firewalls, and other network infrastructure
- Service accounts that have elevated access to systems, databases, or applications
- Business user accounts that have access to sensitive business data or systems, such as financial information or human resources applications
Comparing PAM with Other Identity Management Solutions
PAM vs. Privileged Identity Management (PIM)
While PAM and PIM are related, they address different aspects of privileged accounts. Privileged identity management solutions focus on managing the identities of privileged users and ensuring that they have appropriate permissions based on their roles and responsibilities within the organization. In other words, PIM is concerned with the access rights users possess before they attempt to use them.
Conversely, PAM deals with actively managing privileged access and monitoring privileged activity in real-time. It controls user interactions with privileged resources by handling access requests, granting access to perform specific tasks, overseeing privileged sessions as they occur, and removing privileged access when the task is complete.
PAM vs. Identity and Access Management (IAM)
IAM is the broad discipline of managing all identities in the IT ecosystem, ensuring access rights align with the least privilege principle and monitoring access activity.
PAM is a subset of IAM focused specifically on high-risk accounts with elevated access to vital systems and sensitive data. Some modern PAM solutions provide just-in-time (JiT) privileged access, allowing the temporary elevation of privileges only when needed.
Best Practices for Implementing PAM
Critical Strategies for Successful Implementation
Implementing PAM properly requires preparation and strategic planning. Here are some key strategies to help ensure your PAM implementation is a success:
- Regularly identify all privileged accounts across your organization. This comprehensive assessment will help you understand the scope of your PAM needs and ensure that all privileged accounts are correctly managed.
- Rigorously enforce the principle of least privilege by ensuring that each user has the minimum access rights required to perform their assigned job functions.
- Enforce multifactor authentication (MFA) or SSH keys for all privileged accounts and systems to add an extra layer of security beyond just passwords.
- Implement role-based access control (RBAC), which assigns access rights based on job roles rather than individual users, for a more consistent application of access policies.
- Grant privileged access only when needed and only for a limited time. Just-in-time access dramatically reduces the window of opportunity for threat actors.
- Monitor all privileged sessions for suspicious behavior and log all activity in an audit trail for investigations and compliance checks.
Importance of Least Privilege, Just-in-Time Access, and Multifactor Authentication
The principle of least privilege should be a cornerstone of your cybersecurity strategy. Granting users only the minimum permissions necessary for their roles reduces your attack surface, contains active threats (including malware), improves system stability, and helps ensure regulatory compliance.
Just-in-time access is an integral component of a least privilege strategy. It involves granting elevated permissions only when needed and for a limited time. This approach reduces the window of opportunity for attackers and minimizes the risk associated with standing privileges. It helps balance security needs with operational efficiency, allowing users to perform necessary tasks without maintaining constant high-level access.
MFA adds an essential layer of security beyond passwords. Multiple forms of verification are required before access is granted, so even if a password is compromised, the risk of unauthorized access is significantly diminished.
Automating Security to Reduce Human Error
An enterprise privileged access management solution can integrate automation into various facets and eliminate manual processes. Examples include:
- Password management — PAM solutions can automatically generate complex passwords for privileged accounts and ensure that those passwords are regularly rotated.
- Access management—Automated workflows can grant and revoke privileged access based on predefined rules, job roles, or time-based conditions, helping ensure that access rights remain current and aligned with organizational policies.
- Session management — PAM solutions can continuously monitor privileged sessions in real time and even terminate suspicious activity without human intervention.
- Policy management — PAM solutions can consistently apply security policies across all systems, eliminating discrepancies that might arise from manual enforcement.
These automated security measures will minimize the risks associated with human error and improve efficiency for your IT teams and users.
The Role of PAM in Cybersecurity Compliance
How PAM Helps Meet Regulatory Requirements
PAM solutions help organizations comply with regulatory requirements in multiple ways. First, most cyber compliance regulations center around the principle of least privilege, so PAM aligns with them very well. Many regulations, including HIPAA, also mandate the tracking and monitoring of access to sensitive data, which PAM software offers.
In addition, modern privileged access management tools automate password management in a way that meets the password policy requirements of many regulations. The real-time monitoring these tools provide will satisfy the incident management requirements in standards like ISO 27001. Finally, PAM helps enforce separation of duties (SoD) by controlling who can access what systems and when, which is a crucial requirement of financial regulations like SOX.
Benefits of PAM in Auditing and Compliance Reporting
Perhaps the best feature of premier PAM solutions today is their extensive reporting and compliance documentation to demonstrate compliance during audits. PAM solutions can automatically generate detailed reports on privileged access activities, making compliance preparation much less time-consuming for busy IT professionals.
Privileged Access Management Solutions
Overview of Leading PAM Solutions on the Market
Trying to compare all the available PAM products can feel overwhelming. Here are some solutions to consider during your selection process:
- Netwrix PAM software— The Netwrix PAM solution enables you to control the use of privileged access closely to protect your sensitive data and critical systems and comply with industry and government regulations. In addition to standard PAM capabilities for vaulting and session management, Netwrix Privileged Secure has the unique capability for you to replace your risky standing privileged accounts with ephemeral accounts that provide enough access for the task at hand — without hurting administrator productivity.
- Delinea (formerly Centrify) Server PAM — This cloud-based PAM service focused on privileged account and session management (PASM). It enables least-privilege access for human and machine identities based on verifying who is requesting access, the request’s context, and the access environment’s risk. It centralizes fragmented identities and improves audit and compliance visibility.
- CyberArk PAM solutions— CyberArk PAM solutions help you provision, manage, and monitor activities associated with all types of privileged identities, including root accounts on UNIX servers and embedded passwords in applications and scripts.
- BeyondTrust PAM solutions — BeyondTrust offers broad capabilities, including endpoint privilege management, secure remote access, privileged password management, PASM, and privilege elevation and delegation management (PEDM). It also offers integration with adjacent technologies.
Key Features of Robust PAM Tools
The best PAM solutions offer various features to serve multiple use cases. When evaluating PAM solutions, consider whether they provide the following key capabilities:
- Privileged account discovery and onboarding — The tool should help you locate privileged accounts in your IT ecosystem and bring them under PAM control.
- Just-in-time privileged access — To reduce the risk of standing privileges being exploited by malicious insiders or outside attackers, look for a tool that grants privileged access only when needed and only for the time necessary to complete the approved task.
- Privileged session management and activity tracking — Monitoring and recording how privileged credentials are being used helps you spot improper behavior, immediately block access to sensitive information and resources, and hold individuals accountable for their actions.
- Reporting and analysis — Evaluate how well the PAM solution enables you to analyze and report how privileged accounts are used. In particular, consider whether it will help you find insights for improving your security posture and prove compliance with regulatory mandates and industry standards.
- Privilege elevation and delegation management (PEDM) — Check whether the solution makes it easy to grant and remove rights from privileged accounts as needed in your systems.
- Privileged credential management and access governance — A central hub can be an ideal way to review privileged accounts and permissions and formally manage privilege assignments.
- Secret management —Assess the options the PAM solution provides for managing privileged credentials and other information, such as APIs and tokens.
- Multifactor authentication—Ensure that privileged users can confirm their identity in more than one way before accessing company systems and applications.
- Automation — Consider whether the solution provides automated workflows for handling repetitive PAM tasks.
How PAM Integrates with Other Cybersecurity Tools and SIEM Solutions
Check whether the PAM solution can be integrated with your IAM, SIEM, change management, single sign-on (SSO), and other security solutions. The integration allows for the centralized collection of privileged access logs alongside other security event data. This consolidation simplifies compliance reporting and auditing processes, providing a holistic view of the organization’s security posture. In the event of a security incident, the integration provides detailed audit trails and session recordings from the PAM solution, which can be correlated with other security events in an SIEM for thorough forensic analysis and prompt response to threats.
To maximize the effectiveness of your existing security infrastructure, selecting a PAM solution that seamlessly integrates with your current tools is crucial. PAM integration enhances security by ensuring privileged access management aligns with your established security ecosystem. Organizations can derive more value from their PAM investment without increasing costs by leveraging PAM data across multiple security tools.
Implementing PAM in Your Organization
Steps to Begin PAM Implementation
The following steps provide a roadmap for organizations looking to begin their PAM implementation journey:
- Conduct a thorough privileged access audit and inventory all privileged accounts.
- Assemble a cross-functional team for PAM implementation and assign their project roles.
- Define the scope of your PAM initiative and set specific objectives aligned with your organization’s security strategy and compliance requirements.
- Create a comprehensive set of access control policies that specify how privileged accounts will be managed and monitored.
- Choose a PAM solution that fits your organization’s needs and integrates with existing IT infrastructure. Before full deployment, start with a pilot program.
Continuous Monitoring and Improvement of PAM Practices
PAM solutions should continuously monitor privileged account activities in real-time. This includes tracking login attempts, session duration, commands executed, and data accessed. Choose a solution with advanced analytics to analyze user behavior patterns and identify anomalies in privileged user activities that may indicate a compromise or insider threat.
Remember that you must regularly review and update your PAM policies based on new threats, changes in your IT infrastructure, and evolving business needs. This might include adjusting password complexity requirements, session time limits, or approval workflows for privileged access requests. Continue to gather feedback from privileged users about the PAM system’s usability and effectiveness and use this input to refine processes and improve the user experience.
The Growing Need for PAM in Modern IT Environments
The Impact of Cloud Environments, IoT, and DevOps on PAM
For many years, organizations had to secure only on-premises environments. Today, thanks to the rapid migration to the cloud, this is no longer the case — the widespread adoption of cloud services has expanded the attack surface and blurred traditional network boundaries. Accordingly, PAM solutions must now secure access to cloud-based resources, including infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS), platform-as-a-service (PaaS), and software-as-a-service (SaaS) environments.
In addition, the proliferation of IoT devices has introduced new privileged access points that must be managed and secured. These devices often have default or weak credentials, making them attractive targets for attackers. Other key challenges include the sheer number and diversity of devices, which increases the need for automated credential management at scale.
Another relevant trend is the adoption of DevOps methodologies that accelerate software development cycles and increase automation. This has led to a rise in non-human privileged access, such as service accounts and application-to-application passwords. PAM solutions must be able to manage these dynamic environments by providing just-in-time access and integrating with CI/CD pipelines to ensure security without impeding agility.
How PAM Adapts to Modern Cybersecurity Challenges
The widespread adoption of remote and hybrid work models has significantly transformed the cybersecurity landscape, presenting new challenges for security teams. As organizations embrace remote access for employees, third party suppliers, and contractors, the need to manage privileged accounts effectively has become more critical than ever. PAM remote access solutions have rapidly evolved to address these challenges and enforce strict authentication and authorization policies for all privileged users regardless of location. AI will continue to play a bigger role in PAM innovation to stay one step ahead of evolving attack methodologies.
Conclusion
PAM has become indispensable to a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy as organizations face increasingly sophisticated cyber threats and expanding digital environments. A well-implemented PAM solution can significantly reduce the attack surface, mitigate insider threats, and defend against external cyberattacks targeting privileged accounts. PAM ensures that the principle of least privilege tightly controls access to critical systems and that all elevated access activity is monitored and audited. PAM is an essential strategy that helps companies protect their reputation, financial stability, and operational integrity.
To promote PAM adoption, you must educate stakeholders about its benefits, integrate it with existing security tools, and provide ongoing training and support. By positioning PAM as a critical component of their overall cybersecurity framework, companies can significantly enhance their security posture and reduce the risk of data breaches and insider threats.
FAQ
What are privileged access management solutions?
PAM solutions help organizations control and manage elevated access to systems, data, and other resources in an IT environment.
What does a PAM solution cost?
The cost of PAM tools will vary depending on factors such as organization size, breadth of feature set, and whether the solution is hosted on-premises or in the cloud. The cost of many tools is based on the number of privileged accounts managed. Licensing can be perpetual or subscription-based. Be sure also to consider the costs of implementation and integration, training, and ongoing maintenance.
What are identity and access management solutions?
Identity and access management solutions are systems designed to manage the identities in an IT ecosystem and control and monitor their access rights and activity. Privileged access management is a subset of IAM focused on accounts with elevated access to systems and data.
What is a privileged access management tool?
PAM tools help organizations control and monitor privileged access to critical systems, data, and other resources. They usually include functionalities like password management, privileged session monitoring and recording, just-in-time privileged access, least privilege enforcement, and multifactor authentication.
