Passwords are the keys to organisations’ most sensitive and mission critical data. Super users and admin users are the key holders. Even though most organisations require specifics for password encryption including complexity and defined rotation periods, it still leaves the question – who manages the management of passwords?
Privileged Access Management (PAM) helps organisations provide secure access to critical applications and data by addressing the very first security layer – the passwords.
Why is this important?
For hackers getting access to Admin or super user passwords is like hitting the goldmine – instant access to an organisations most critical assets and potentially right across the network. Here’s why we think Privileged Access Management software is crucial to your organisation:
7 benefits of Privileged Access Management
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1. Manage super admin passwords
PAM provides a secure vault for all passwords protected by encryption. This vault provides a randomly generated password for the data being accessed. This method of access adds a ring of steel around all administrator passwords making it more difficult for hackers to get in.
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2. Secure privileged passwords
You can choose whether to generate random passwords or rotate the current password set, manually or automatically. This means that when a user requires access, a new password is generated each time. This password expires immediately upon exit thus guaranteeing the security and integrity of the data.
Of course, as part of the reporting process, the system can generate a report showing any issues there may have been with failed passwords, something which your security department will need to be able to monitor and report on.
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3. Maintain audit and IT compliance
PAM records and reports on password requests and transactions throughout the system. It offers multiple reports including asset, compliance, vulnerability and privilege to help you maintain IT compliance.
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4. Manage non-employee access
Many organisations need to provide access to trusted third parties for maintenance and updates of specific systems. PAM software enables you to provide access to these systems by role. This means you don’t need to provide domain credentials to outsiders and provides an additional level of security.
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5. Detect multiple access
The Privileged Access Management system detects and then grants targeted and separate access if more than one person enters the same area. This means that you always know who has been using the system.
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6. Control privilege creep
Privilege creep is unnecessary and un-audited rights to data and applications. This can happen for many reasons including incorrect employee off-boarding. PAM helps control this.
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7. Multiple access points
The number of people requesting access points from laptops, phones and tablets is growing daily. PAM’s secure application launcher grants access to non-local devices.
In summary, PAM prevents data breaches, including the misuse of data caused by malicious insiders and protects your organisation’s most critical assets.
As more and more attacks and data breaches are caused by misuse of privileged access, organisations are starting to realise that protecting credential data is a top priority. Presidio partners with CyberArk (a leader in Gartner Magic Quadrant’s for Privileged Access Management) to offer a secure password management software solution.
Find out more about our cybersecurity offering.
