Privileged Access Manager (PAM) addresses the specific risks associated with privileged accounts, which are user accounts with elevated permissions that can perform powerful actions like modifying system settings, installing software, or accessing sensitive data. Choosing the right PAM solution depends on your organization’s specific needs and size. Consider factors like: —> The number of privileged accounts you have —> The types of systems and data you need to protect —> Your budget —> The features and functionality you need —> Ease of use and scalability Unlike a traditional PAM product, SecHard offers a PAM solution that integrates with other Protection Visibility Control (PVC) areas recommended by the Zero Trust Architecture. SecHard not only gives privilege access to the right person but also performs the recommended PVCs that are required for the ZTA on all the network devices used in the connection and on the computer that makes the connection. Like all other PAM products, SecHard has a password vault. It can enable access to RDP, VNC, SSH, and Telnet without knowing the password and can record all the sessions in video and text format. Do you already have a PAM product? Don’t worry. SecHard can integrate with third-party PAM products and score their security hardening, as well.
The complexity and diversity of privileged accounts
Privileged accounts can include administrators, service accounts, application accounts, cloud accounts, and more. Each account type may have different access levels, permissions, and lifecycles. Managing these accounts requires a comprehensive and consistent policy that covers all scenarios and platforms.
The dynamic and distributed nature of IT environments
IT environments are constantly evolving and expanding, especially with the adoption of cloud computing, DevOps, and loT. These technologies introduce new types of privileged accounts and increase the attack surface for cybercriminals. PAM solutions need to be agile and scalable to keep up with the changes and protect the assets across different domains.
The human factor and insider threats
Human error, negligence, or malicious intent can compromise privileged access and cause data breaches or sabotage. For example, a privileged user may share their credentials with someone else, use a weak password, or fall victim to phishing or social engineering. PAM solutions need to enforce the principle of least privilege, implement strong authentication and authorization mechanisms, and monitor user behavior and activity.
How to overcome PAM Challenges
To address PAM challenges, organizations need to adopt a holistic approach to PAM that combines technology, processes, and people.
They need to assess their current PAM maturity level, identify the gaps and risks, and define a roadmap for improvement. They also need to involve all stakeholders, such as IT, security, compliance, and business units, in the PAM program and ensure that everyone understands their roles and responsibilities.
Moreover, organizations need to select the right PAM solution that fits their needs and budget. They should look for solutions that offer features such as privileged session management, password vaulting, credential rotation, access request and approval workflows, and audit trails. They should also consider the integration capabilities of the solution with other security and IT management tools.
Organizations need to invest in PAM training and awareness programs for their employees, contractors, and partners. They need to educate them on the importance of PAM, the risks and consequences of privileged access abuse, and the best practices for secure and compliant access management. By doing so, organizations can reduce the likelihood and impact of data breaches, compliance violations, and business disruptions caused by unauthorized privileged access.