What is PAM?

Privileged Access Management is a cyber security strategy that involves the control and security of access rights and approvals for identities, users, accounts, processes, and systems that are of high importance or privileged in an IT environment. With PAM in place, organizations can significantly reduce their attack surface, protecting themselves not only from external attacks but also insider threats. PAM is a subset of Identity and Access Management. Its objective is to offer explicit control, visibility, and auditability over accessing all privileged identities and credentials within an organization.

Importance of PAM

Privileged Access Management is undeniably important when it comes to cybersecurity. When an organization has accounts with privileged permissions, it becomes an attractive target for malevolent cybercriminals who wish to gain confidential information and access systems. A major breach through compromised privileged accounts can provide attackers stealthy access to an organization’s IT environment without being detected. Noteworthy large-scale breaches that have hit big corporate entities show us why a sound PAM approach is highly recommended.

Implementing PAM is a measure that should be taken to reduce cyber security risks and become a qualified cyber insurance candidate. It implements the principle of least privilege, allowing access rights to only authorized activities and limiting them to the minimum necessary. 

What Are Privileged Accounts?

A privileged account is any account that is granted access and permissions beyond those of non-privileged accounts. These accounts are responsible for performing various administrative tasks and managing IT systems. Those who use these accounts have higher access and compromising such accounts poses considerable risk. Cybercriminals looking for unauthorized entry are particularly interested in privileged accounts because such accounts offer high permissions that can be used to gain significant information or perform valuable operations.

Types of Privileged Accounts

There are different types of privileged accounts. Some of them are listed below along with their uses.

1. Superuser Accounts:
   • Root Accounts (Unix/Linux): Provide unrestricted access to system resources and the ability to execute any command.
   • Administrator Accounts (Windows): Allow users to install software, modify system settings, and manage other user accounts.
     
2. Domain Administrative Accounts: These accounts have administrative access across all workstations and servers within a domain. These accounts can be precious targets for attackers.
3. Service Accounts: Used by applications and services to interact with the operating system. They typically have higher privileges necessary for automation and routine tasks.
4. Application Accounts: These accounts are used by applications to access databases, run scripts, or interact with other applications.
5. Break Glass Accounts: Also known as emergency accounts, they provide administrative access during emergencies and are typically time-limited to minimize security risks.

Key Components of Privileged Access Management

A Privileged Access Management solution is needed to control and safeguard privileged accounts within an organization. The key components of a PAM system are listed below.

1. Discovery and Inventory

Effective PAM starts with discovering and cataloging all privileged accounts within an organization. Discovery tools scan the network to locate accounts with privileged permissions. Mostly such tools are looking for superuser accounts, service accounts, and application accounts. Techniques such as network discovery scans, credential audits, and manual reviews help ensure that all privileged accounts are accounted for. 

2. Credential Management

PAM provides secure storage and control of passwords and credentials. Centralized password vaults encrypt privileged credentials to make sure that they stay out of the reach of unauthorized people. In addition, an automatic password rotation policy is a feature that should be available in a password vault. This will reduce the possibility of passwords being compromised. In addition to the password rotation policy, password vaults must have policies for password complexity, expiration, and revocation so that all the credentials remain secure. Moreover, advanced PAM solutions should provide multi-factor authentication, creating an additional security layer of the sensitive credentials that are being accessed by authorized users.

3. Session Management

Session management involves monitoring and controlling privileged access sessions in real-time. PAM solutions track and record user activities during these sessions. It provides an audit trail for compliance and forensic analysis. Real-time session monitoring helps administrators to observe privileged user actions, detect suspicious behavior, and respond to potential threats. Features such as session recording, live session views, and automatic session termination in response to prohibited user actions are essential for maintaining control over privileged access.

4. Access Controls

Implementing the principle of least privilege is fundamental for effective PAM. This principle limits user access rights to the minimum necessary for performing their tasks, thereby reducing the risk of misuse. Just-in-time access further minimizes risk by providing temporary, time-limited access only when needed. This approach helps limit exposure and ensure that the privileges are used only for specific, authorized activities.

5. Auditing and Reporting

It is important to monitor and log all privileged access events. To do this, PAM systems create detailed reports about who requested access, what the user did after accessing the system, and whether these actions conform to compliance policies or not. PAM helps in analyzing how users typically access resources so that abnormal patterns can be identified.

Integration with Existing IT Infrastructure

Effective PAM solution must become a key component of the IT infrastructure without causing any disturbances. This refers to the following.

• Directory Services: The ability to integrate with directory services such as Active Directory or LDAP guarantees uniform management of identities and access rights.
  
• SIEM and Monitoring Tools: PAM solutions need to be compatible with Security Information and Event Management systems. It provides complete visibility into security events with appropriate alerts being triggered.
  

When organizations select a PAM solution that suits their particular requirements, they not only improve their security stance but also bring in better control over privileged access.

Advantages of Using PAM

Implementing PAM has numerous benefits for improving organizational security. Some of them are listed below.

1. Controls access to privileged accounts ensuring that only authorized users can access sensitive systems and data.
   
2. Securely stores credentials in encrypted vaults. This minimizes the risk of unauthorized access.
   
3. Automatically removes privileges when user roles change. This helps reduce the likelihood of privilege misuse.
4. Centralized access management to make it easier to monitor privileged accounts and implement uniform security regulations.
   
5. Mandates unique logins for each user to reduce risks associated with credential sharing.
   
6. Provides real-time notifications for chosen events. This enables administrators to respond promptly to potential security threats.
   
7. Allows flexible deployment and smooth integration with existing systems.
   
8. Upholds IT compliance by having the least privilege access policies. These policies help organizations meet regulatory and compliance requirements effectively.

Challenges and Considerations in PAM

Throughout this article, we talked about the benefits of implementing PAM, but now we will go through the challenges.

Complexity of Implementation

Deploying a PAM system can be complex, particularly in large IT systems. Effective implementation requires careful planning, testing, and user training to prevent errors and guarantee smooth operation.

Integration

When choosing a PAM solution, you need to take into account the operating system and the database used in the company’s infrastructure, as well as other hardware and software specifications of your environment. Not every PAM solution may be suitable to your particular environment.

Best Practices of Adapting to PAM

Adapting to PAM requires the following best practices to maximize security. Here are some key best practices.

1. Identify all privileged accounts and access points within the organization to establish a baseline for PAM implementation.
   
2. Add an extra layer of security for accessing privileged accounts to prevent unauthorized access.
   
3. Track all activities of privileged users in real time. This maintains detailed audit trails for compliance and forensic analysis.
   
4. Continuously assess and maintain access permissions by assigning the required permissions to roles so that it’s easy to assign and remove permissions from a user.
   
5. Educate employees on PAM policies, procedures, and security practices to make them aware of the policies.

How PAM differs from other Privilege Management Types

PAM differs from other privilege management types by its focused approach to securing and controlling high-risk accounts with higher permissions. Unlike standard Identity and Access Management, which handles user identities and access broadly, PAM specifically targets privileged accounts like administrators and root users. PAM includes advanced features such as secure password vaults, session monitoring, and real-time alerts to protect these high-value accounts. In contrast, least privilege and role-based access control may offer general access controls but lack the tools for managing and monitoring privileged access that PAM provides.

Conclusion

PAM is highly important for safeguarding sensitive systems and data by controlling and securing privileged access within organizations. Effective PAM involves discovering and managing privileged accounts, securing credentials, monitoring sessions, enforcing least privilege access, and conducting thorough audits. It is necessary to invest in a PAM system to improve security measures, maintain adherence, and protect important assets. Businesses need to assess their PAM methods, rectify any weaknesses, and consider the adoption or improvement of a PAM solution to maintain their overall security position.