Privileged
Access
Management
(PAM) Best
Practices
Sechard.com
Embracing Privileged
Access Management (PAM)
In an era where data breaches and cyberattacks have become rampant,
Privileged Access Management (PAM) stands as a critical defense mechanism in
an organization's cybersecurity framework. PAM is more than just a technology;
it's a comprehensive strategy and a set of practices that meticulously manage,
control, and monitor account and data access rights within an organization.
The core objective of PAM is to ensure that individuals and systems have the
appropriate level of access to critical resources when required, and nothing
more. It targets the often-overlooked concept of privileged access, including
human access (employees, vendors, or contractors) and non-humans
(applications, systems, or connected devices). Sechard.com
The sophistication of modern cyber threats necessitates a solution that extends
beyond traditional perimeter-based security models. PAM, therefore, provides a
granular level of control that helps protect sensitive information and critical
systems by restricting access based on necessity and relevance. Moreover,
PAM acts as a safeguard against external threats and significantly mitigates
insider threats. By meticulously managing privileged access, PAM helps minimize
the risk of data leaks, misuse of privileges, and unauthorized access, ensuring a
robust security ecosystem within the organization.
As we step further into the digital age, where the proliferation of cloud-based
solutions, remote work, and digital transformation initiatives continue to grow,
the role of PAM in enhancing an organization's security posture becomes more
critical than ever before. It's time for organizations to embrace PAM as an
essential part of their cybersecurity strategy.
Sechard.com
PAM
Best
Practices
Privileged Access Management
(PAM) Best Practices
1 Employ Temporary Privilege
Escalation
Security vulnerabilities often arise from granting users
excessive access rights. A wise way to reduce these
vulnerabilities is to use temporary privilege escalation,
where admin rights are granted only when necessary.
This strategy allows organizations to avoid unnecessary
exposure and effectively manage insider threats, thus
lowering the risk of both internal and external attacks.
2 Keep Track of Assets and Privileges
Visibility into your digital assets and corresponding
privileges is key to managing them effectively. By
maintaining a clear inventory of your digital assets,
you can understand which privileges are redundant,
obsolete, or potentially risky. This proactive approach
ensures your organization stays on top of its asset
management, helping avoid any unforeseen security
challenges.
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Privileged Access Management
(PAM) Best Practices
3 Deploy Attribute-Based
Access Control
Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) adds
another level of security to your organization. It uses
a combination of user, device, and environmental
attributes to make access decisions. This
comprehensive approach enhances your security
posture by giving you more control and flexibility in
defining who can access what, when, and under
what circumstances.
4 Monitor Assignment of Privileges
Versus Usage
The privileges granted to a user or role may not
always align with their actual usage. Regularly
reviewing the assigned privileges versus actual
usage can uncover unused privileges that could
pose potential security risks. This active monitoring
helps organizations maintain a lean, efficient, and
secure access management strategy.
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Privileged Access Management
(PAM) Best Practices
5 Deploy Zero Trust, Everywhere
The Zero Trust model assumes breach, meaning it
doesn't automatically trust anything inside or
outside its perimeters. It verifies every access
request as though it originates from an open
network. This rigorous strategy enhances security
by requiring complete authentication, authorization,
and encryption for every request, regardless of
origin.
6 Record and Audit
Record-keeping and regular audits are critical for
maintaining a healthy PAM strategy. An audit trail
of all privileged activities aids in identifying
unusual patterns and supports forensic
investigations. Regular audits also ensure your
organization stays compliant with regulatory
requirements, making it a vital practice in
effective PAM.
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Privileged Access Management
(PAM) Best Practices
7 Monitor and Alert
Implementing real-time monitoring and alerting
systems significantly enhances your organization's
ability to detect unusual or potentially harmful
activities. Quick detection can either prevent
potential breaches or minimize their impact, thereby
helping maintain your organization's cybersecurity
integrity.
Adopting these best practices for Privileged
Access Management can significantly improve
an organization's security posture. Not only
does a robust PAM strategy protect your critical
assets, but it also supports compliance, boosts
operational efficiency, and fuels business
growth, making it a valuable component of your
overall business strategy.
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SecHard Privileged
Access Manager
SecHard Privileged Access Manager is packed with advanced
features and is engineered to offer unbeatable protection for your
organization's privileged accounts.
From an encrypted password vault that securely stores all your
critical credentials and comprehensive session recording capabilities
that provide in-depth visibility into user activities to 2FA
authentication, ensuring extra layers of security, SecHard Privileged
Access Manager is your ultimate defense against cyber threats.
But that's not all - our solution is more than just a security tool. It's
designed to enhance operational efficiency too. By automating
routine tasks, reducing the potential for human error, and providing
tools for seamless policy enforcement, SecHard Privileged Access
Manager helps your organization save valuable time and resources.
Contact us today to learn more
about how Sechard can help you
achieve your cybersecurity goals!
sales@sechard.com
