In modern organizations, Identity and Access Management (IdM) is a key component of information systems security. In addition to regular user accounts, there are privileged accounts that have significantly higher privileges and whose compromise can have disastrous consequences. For this reason, Privileged Account Management (PAM) is becoming increasingly popular. How are these two concepts related and how can they work together to improve the security and efficiency of organizations? Let’s take a look.
What is IdM and how does it work?
IdM is used to manage the lifecycle of identities and user access within an organisation. Its functions include:
- Identity creation: HR staff enter the user into the HR system, IdM retrieves the information and establishes the user’s identity.
- Access management: users can request access to various systems, which are approved or denied.
- Account deactivation: When a user leaves the organization, IdM automatically deletes or deactivates their accounts.
This process is key for regular employee and freelance accounts, but what about privileged accounts?
Privileged accounts and their importance
Privileged accounts have special rights, such as changing system settings, modifying data, or changing permissions and passwords. Their misuse can cause significant damage to an organisation. A well-known example is the SolarWinds hack in 2020, where attackers gained access to service accounts and disrupted the software production line. Therefore, it is essential to monitor privileged accounts and control their access.
PAM: Bank vault for digital valuables
PAM provides secure storage for sensitive information such as passwords and access keys to important accounts and systems. Think of a PAM as a bank vault: a bank stores its customers’ valuables in an impregnable vault that can only be accessed by authorized individuals under the watchful eye of cameras. Similarly, PAM ensures that sensitive information is securely stored and accessible only under well-defined conditions.
The pitfalls of managing privileged accounts
- A privileged account must be created, terminated, and placed in the correct groups.
- It must be stored in the PAM vault at the correct time.
- The user must be able to work with the privileged account, which requires permissions.
An administrator is needed to set up a privileged account and perform a series of steps in different systems, which can be time consuming and requires a lot of human resources.
Integrating IdM with PAM: A case study
For our customers, we have solved these challenges by integrating the IdM system IdStory with CyberArk PAM. What does this integration enable?
- Process automation: The user requests a role in IdM, which starts an automated process that creates a privileged account on the end system, creates a personal vault in PAM, and sets the necessary permissions.
- Saving time and resources: the entire routine that would otherwise be performed by administrators is automated and executed immediately. This saves time and reduces licensing costs for PAM administrators.
- Increased security: PAM monitors and audits the use of privileged accounts, while IdM audits who had what account when and what permissions were set. This ensures control and security of the entire process.
Conclusion
There are many benefits to integrating IdM and PAM, from cost and time savings to improving the overall security of an organization. Automating privileged account management reduces the risk of human error and ensures that all processes are transparent and auditable. In today’s digital world, such integration is a necessary step in maintaining a high standard of information security.
