Privileged access is used to designate special access or abilities above and beyond that of a standard user. Privileged access allows organisations to secure their infrastructure and applications, run business efficiently and maintain the confidentiality of sensitive data and critical infrastructure.
Identity and access management (IAM) is the practice of making sure that people and entities with digital identities have the right level of access to enterprise resources like networks and databases. User roles and access privileges are defined and managed through an IAM system.
PAM vs IAM
Privileged Access Management (PAM) focuses on granting access to sensitive data or assets to privileged users like system administrators, database administrators, and IT managers. It regulates their actions and restricts access to essential information, reducing the risk of potential breaches. Conversely, Identity and Access Management (IAM) oversees user access to a company's resources and information, considering their roles, positions, or other pertinent criteria. IAM additionally empowers administrators to revoke access privileges in case of employment changes or role transitions.
Insider and external attacks often exploit privileged access. To counter this, organisations must pinpoint critical privileged accounts and vulnerabilities, implementing robust access controls aligned with Zero Trust principles.
In Zero Trust, Tier 0 assets are top priority. Continuous MFA is crucial for user and device trust. Step-up authentication and manager approval add layers to protect against privileged attacks.
When a hacker gets hold of privileged credentials, they can masquerade as trusted users, making it hard to spot risky actions. Combining endpoint detection, anti-virus, and patching with privilege management lowers attack risks. Also, using restriction models for trusted apps and accounts can curb ransomware and code injection threats.
Continuous monitoring of privileged access prevents both insider threats and external attacks. Tight controls on user access and isolation layers between endpoints, applications, users, and systems should be established, along with continuous access monitoring to minimise the attack surface.
It's crucial to track who (human and non-human) accesses assets, their permissions, and actions. Organisations should apply the principle of least privilege and attribute-based access controls, balancing security and usability.
1 July 2024 - Ian Wharton, Technical Architect at Principle Networks
28 June 2024 - Sarah Wilson, Marketing Manager
14 June 2024 - Sarah Wilson, Marketing Manager
2 May 2024 - Ian Wharton, Technical Architect at Principle Networks
22 April 2024 - Neil Camden, Solutions Architect at Principle Networks
19 March 2024 - Ian Wharton, Technical Architect at Principle Networks
12 February 2024 - Neil Camden, Solutions Architect at Principle Networks