Privileged Access Management

Technology systems manage security with different levels of access based on user and/or group. This allows system administrators greater control and determines the access each user is granted on the system. Actions like accessing restricted information, adding or deleting users, and reconfiguring an application can lead to security and operational ramifications, which is why only trusted users can have the relevant access to perform these tasks.

Privileged accounts are treated with extra care because of the risk they pose to the technology environment. Data breaches occur when threat actors compromise privileged access accounts. As the accounts hold access to important information in a technology environment, there need to be additional layers of protection. This extra security is Privileged Access Management.

What is Privileged Access Management (PAM)?

Privileged Access Management is a combination of cybersecurity strategies and technologies used for exerting control over the elevated — or privileged — access and permissions for users, accounts, processes, and systems across an IT environment. Subcategories of PAM include:

• Shared access password management
• Privileged session management
• Vendor privileged access management
• Application access management

What is Privileged Access Management Used For?

A central goal of privileged access management is the enforcement of least privileged, which restricts access rights and permissions for users, accounts, applications, systems, devices, and computing processes to the absolute minimum necessary to perform authorized activities. PAM is considered by many analysts and technologists as one of the most important security projects that reduce cyber risk and achieve high-security ROI.

What is a Privileged Access Management System?

Automated, pre-packaged PAM solutions are able to scale across millions of accounts, users, and assets to improve security and compliance. Great solutions can automate discovery, management, and monitoring to eliminate gaps in privileged accounts while streamlining workflows to reduce administrative complexity.

PAM systems may be fully integrated into a single platform and can manage the complete privileged access lifecycle. They can be served by a la carte solutions, and they are organized across primary disciplines.

How Does Privileged Access Management Work?

Privileged Access Management combines people, processes, and technology. In order to implement a PAM solution, the business needs to identify which accounts are granted privileged access and which policies they will apply to those accounts.

Once the organization has completed identifying the privileged accounts and finalizes its policies, it can implement a platform to monitor and enforce its PAM. This solution will automate the organization’s policies and provide security administrators with a platform to manage and monitor privileged accounts.

Why is Privileged Access Management Important?

PAM is vital to any organization since privileged accounts can pose a risk. Cybercriminals target privileged accounts since they can compromise an entire organization instead of a single user. Securing and monitoring these core enterprise identities is crucial. A PAM solution can solve security weaknesses like multiple users accessing and knowing the same password for a particular service. It also lessens the risk of long-standing static passwords administrators don’t want to change for fear of unplanned disruption.

Protect Your Business Against Cybercrime

Protecting your files and data is crucial to remaining a trusted business, which is why security measures like privileged access management systems should be top of mind. PacGenesis has partnered with leaders in the industry to help your business protect its content. With over 10 years of working in data security and hundreds of customers, we are equipped to answer all your questions regarding privileged access management. Contact us today to learn more and find the best security option for you.
To learn more about PacGenesis, follow @PacGenesis on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, or go to www.pacgenesis.com.

512-766-8715