Privileged Access Management (PAM) is a cybersecurity strategy and set of technologies for controlling, monitoring, and securing all human and non-human privileged accounts and activities across an enterprise's IT environment.
Context for Technology Leaders
For CIOs and Enterprise Architects, PAM is critical for mitigating insider threats and external attacks targeting elevated access. It aligns with frameworks like NIST Cybersecurity Framework and ISO 27001 by enforcing least privilege, ensuring auditability, and protecting an organization's most sensitive assets and data from compromise, directly impacting regulatory compliance and overall security posture.
Key Principles
- 1Least Privilege: Granting users and systems only the minimum access rights necessary to perform their tasks, reducing the attack surface.
- 2Session Monitoring: Recording and analyzing privileged sessions to detect suspicious activities and provide forensic evidence for investigations.
- 3Credential Vaulting: Securely storing and managing privileged credentials, eliminating hardcoded passwords and preventing unauthorized access.
- 4Just-in-Time Access: Providing temporary, time-limited privileged access only when required, minimizing exposure windows.
Related Terms
Identity and Access Management (IAM)Zero Trust ArchitectureMulti-Factor Authentication (MFA)Security Information and Event Management (SIEM)Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)Cybersecurity Mesh Architecture