Comprehensive strategies for protecting privileged accounts that provide access to critical systems and data.
Privileged Account Risk
Privileged accounts are high-value attack targets. Admin accounts provide access to critical systems, infrastructure, and data. Compromised privileged accounts enable attacker persistence and lateral movement.
PAM Solutions
PAM (Privileged Access Management) solutions enforce least privilege, monitor privileged activity, rotate credentials, and maintain audit trails. Organizations should implement comprehensive PAM strategies covering both humans and machines.
Credential Management
Privileged credentials should be stored in secure vaults, not in configuration files or shared notes. Vaults should rotate credentials automatically and audit all access.
Just-In-Time Access
Instead of permanent privileged access, organizations should grant access only when needed. Temporary elevated access minimizes the window for abuse.
Privileged Activity Monitoring
All privileged actions should be logged and monitored. Suspicious activity should trigger alerts. Session recording can capture what privileged users do.
Session Recording
For critical systems, recording what privileged users do enables forensic investigation and deters abuse. Session recording should be transparent—users should know they're being monitored.