In an enterprise environment, privileged access refers to special access or abilities that go beyond those of a standard user. This level of access allows organisations to secure their infrastructure and applications, operate their business efficiently, and maintain the confidentiality of sensitive data and critical infrastructure.
It can be granted to both human users and non-human entities such as applications and machine identities. Therefore, it is essential to manage it. In this blog, we will explore the significance privileged access management holds in data security.
What is Privileged Access Management?
Privileged access management (PAM) is an essential identity security solution that safeguards organizations against cyber threats by monitoring, detecting, and preventing unauthorized access to critical resources. By employing a combination of people, processes, and technology, PAM provides visibility into privileged account usage, allowing organizations to track activities and identify potential security risks. Restricting the number of users with administrative access enhances system security while implementing additional layers of protection helps mitigate data breaches caused by malicious actors. PAM plays a crucial role in maintaining the integrity and security of organizational assets.
How Does Privileged Access Management Work?
Privileged Access Management (PAM) encompasses people, processes, and technology. The initial step in implementing a PAM solution involves identifying accounts with privileged access and determining the policies to be applied. For example, service accounts may require password renewal upon each access, while system administrators may be required to use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). Detailed logging of privileged sessions can also be implemented. Once the organization finalizes its PAM policies, a technology platform can be employed to automate and monitor privileged accounts, providing security administrators with effective management capabilities.
What is the difference between PAM and PIM?
Privileged Access Management (PAM) helps organizations effectively manage identities and strengthens network security against potential threats. It provides added protection to privileged groups that control access to domain-joined computers and associated applications. PAM offers monitoring, visibility, and granular controls, allowing organizations to track privileged admins and their account usage.
On the other hand, Privileged Identity Management (PIM) focuses on mitigating risks associated with excessive or misused access to sensitive resources. PIM enforces just-in-time and just enough access, along with policy options like multifactor authentication, to secure privileged accounts.
Privileged Access Management Challenges
Organizations often encounter various challenges when it comes to protecting, controlling, and monitoring privileged access. These challenges include:
- Managing account credentials: Many IT organizations rely on manual and error-prone processes to rotate and update privileged credentials, which can be inefficient and costly.
- Tracking privileged activity: Enterprises often lack centralized monitoring and control over privileged sessions, leaving them vulnerable to cybersecurity threats and compliance violations.
- Monitoring and analyzing threats: Organizations may lack comprehensive threat analysis tools, making it difficult to proactively identify suspicious activities and address security incidents.
- Controlling Privileged User Access: Effectively managing privileged user access to cloud platforms, SaaS applications, and social media can be challenging, leading to compliance risks and operational complexity.
- Protecting Windows domain controllers: Vulnerabilities in the authentication protocol can be exploited by cyber attackers to impersonate authorized users and gain access to critical IT resources and confidential data.
Why is Privileged Access Management Important?
Privileged Access Management is crucial in any organization as privileged accounts pose a significant risk to the enterprise. If a threat actor compromises a standard user account, they will only have access to that particular user’s information. However, if they manage to compromise a privileged user, they will have far greater access and may even have the ability to sabotage systems. Due to their status and profile, cybercriminals target privileged accounts to compromise entire organizations. Securing and monitoring these core enterprise identities is vital, as Forrester estimates that 80 per cent of security breaches involve privileged accounts. PAM solutions can address security weaknesses, such as multiple users accessing the same administrative password, and mitigate the risk of data breaches by internal and external cybersecurity threats.
Conclusion
In conclusion, safeguarding your organization from cyberattacks requires a comprehensive approach that encompasses your people, processes, and technology. Technology alone is not sufficient. By considering these three elements, you can establish a robust defence against potential threats and ensure the security of your organization’s valuable assets.
