What is Privileged Access Management (PAM)?

Privileged access is becoming a more common concept as technology develops and the digitalization process accelerates. Specially privileged users to computer systems with critical data, privileged access, which means access by applications, can turn into a major security threat for companies, as can be understood from its definition. A wide range of privileged access, from databases to intermediary software, from network devices to cloud services can be easily seized by malicious people and used to harm companies if cannot be controlled effectively. At this point, Privileged Access Management (PAM) steps in.

What does Privileged Access Management (PAM) Mean?

Privileged Access Management (PAM) is used for the detection, analysis and control of specially authorized users who can access critical data. It is possible to benefit from special software solutions in order to perform all these processes in a healthy and trouble-free manner.

The high risk of privileged access, which is used extensively even in large-scale areas such as finance, telecom, energy and public, makes it inevitable to take high security measures. Measures to be taken regarding privileged access, which has become a necessity for the smooth progress of internal or external business, have become more and more important with the increasing hacking incidents around the world.

Why is Privileged Access Management (PAM) Significant?

The information of users with privileged access is always the first target of malicious people as it provides access to very significant resources. This can cause companies to experience financial losses or brand image tarnishments and suffer great material and moral damage. In addition, the privileged access right, which can be assigned to artificial intelligence-powered non-human users, can also be identified to common accounts used to manage a company's social media profiles.

One of the biggest crises regarding social media and privileged access was experienced on a popular social media platform in 2020. The crisis, which emerged with the hacking of the accounts of world-famous individuals and institutions such as Joe Biden, Bill Gates, Barack Obama, Jeff Bezos, Kim Kardashian, Kanye West, Apple and Uber, continued with the use of related accounts for Bitcoin fraud. Although the platform did not make an official statement about the source of the problem, this situation seems to be due to the privileged access gap.

Considering all of these, it can be understood more clearly that what can privileged access lead to if it is not controlled, regardless of small or large scale. Therefore, it is extremely significant that Privileged Access Management consists of different stages specific to each possible solution and that comprehensive measures are taken at all these stages. To do so, there are also different sub-products and services associated with Privileged Access Management.

What are Privileged Access Management (PAM) Processes?

Privileged Access Management, which consists of various steps such as Privileged Session Manager, Two-Factor Authentication and Dynamic Password Controller, offers services such as password and access control, location and time-based verification or recording the transactions of administrators who can access the database. The most significant of these services are as follows;

Privileged Session Manager: The Privileged Session Manager, which is a central solution, makes it possible to control the relevant sessions by avoiding the confusion that may arise in access management.

Dynamic Password Controller: Dynamic Password Controller, which verifies authorized sessions and offers a fully encrypted infrastructure, also prevents the sharing of authorized passwords and theft by malicious people with its password vault feature.

Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Unlike conventional verification systems, Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) verifies privileged users with time and location information, enables location and time information to be obtained for privileged access requests.

Dynamic Data Masking: Database Access Manager & Dynamic Data Masking, which can record and mask the transactions performed by database administrators, does not leave any question marks about the transactions made in this way.

Privileged Task Automation: Privileged Task Automation (PTA), which enables routine tasks to be performed at any time by automating them, increases efficiency as well as security by eliminating service interruptions.

If you want to have all these high-level security measures together and to take precautions against data breaches with one of the world's leading Privileged Access Management platforms, you can as well take advantage of Kron's Single Connect solution and contact us for detailed information.