About Me
CompTIA Security+
1 Threats, Attacks, and Vulnerabilities
1-1 Types of Threats
1-2 Types of Attacks
1-3 Vulnerabilities
1-4 Threat Actors and Motives
1-5 Threat Intelligence
1-6 Incident Response
1-7 Penetration Testing
1-8 Vulnerability Scanning
1-9 Threat Modeling
1-10 Security Controls
2 Technologies and Tools
2-1 Firewalls
2-2 Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS)
2-3 Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS)
2-4 Security Information and Event Management (SIEM)
2-5 Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
2-6 Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response (SOAR)
2-7 Endpoint Security
2-8 Network Security
2-9 Cloud Security
2-10 Mobile Device Security
2-11 Secure Coding Practices
2-12 Cryptography
2-13 Public Key Infrastructure (PKI)
2-14 Certificate Management
2-15 Security Tools and Utilities
3 Architecture and Design
3-1 Security Models
3-2 Security Controls
3-3 Secure Network Design
3-4 Secure Systems Design
3-5 Secure Application Design
3-6 Secure Cloud Architecture
3-7 Secure Mobile Architecture
3-8 Secure IoT Architecture
3-9 Secure Data Storage
3-10 Secure Backup and Recovery
3-11 Security in DevOps
3-12 Security in Agile Development
3-13 Security in Continuous IntegrationContinuous Deployment (CICD)
3-14 Security in Configuration Management
3-15 Security in Identity and Access Management (IAM)
4 Identity and Access Management
4-1 Authentication Methods
4-2 Authorization Mechanisms
4-3 Identity and Access Management (IAM) Concepts
4-4 Single Sign-On (SSO)
4-5 Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
4-6 Federation
4-7 Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)
4-8 Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC)
4-9 Identity as a Service (IDaaS)
4-10 Identity Lifecycle Management
4-11 Access Reviews and Audits
4-12 Privileged Access Management (PAM)
4-13 Identity Federation
4-14 Identity Provisioning and Deprovisioning
5 Risk Management
5-1 Risk Management Concepts
5-2 Risk Assessment
5-3 Risk Mitigation Strategies
5-4 Business Impact Analysis (BIA)
5-5 Risk Register
5-6 Risk Treatment
5-7 Risk Monitoring and Reporting
5-8 Risk Appetite and Tolerance
5-9 Risk Communication
5-10 Risk Transfer
5-11 Risk Acceptance
5-12 Risk Avoidance
5-13 Risk Reduction
5-14 Risk in Cloud Environments
5-15 Risk in Mobile Environments
5-16 Risk in IoT Environments
6 Cryptography and PKI
6-1 Cryptographic Concepts
6-2 Symmetric Encryption
6-3 Asymmetric Encryption
6-4 Hashing
6-5 Digital Signatures
6-6 Public Key Infrastructure (PKI)
6-7 Certificate Management
6-8 Certificate Authorities (CAs)
6-9 Certificate Revocation
6-10 Key Management
6-11 Cryptographic Protocols
6-12 Cryptographic Attacks
6-13 Quantum Cryptography
6-14 Post-Quantum Cryptography
6-15 Cryptographic Use Cases
7 Security Operations
7-1 Security Operations Concepts
7-2 Security Policies and Procedures
7-3 Security Awareness and Training
7-4 Security Monitoring and Logging
7-5 Incident Response
7-6 Forensics
7-7 Disaster Recovery
7-8 Business Continuity
7-9 Physical Security
7-10 Personnel Security
7-11 Supply Chain Security
7-12 Third-Party Risk Management
7-13 Security Audits and Assessments
7-14 Compliance and Regulatory Requirements
7-15 Security Metrics and Reporting
7-16 Security Operations Center (SOC)
7-17 Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response (SOAR)
7-18 Security in DevOps
7-19 Security in Agile Development
7-20 Security in Continuous IntegrationContinuous Deployment (CICD)
4.12 Privileged Access Management (PAM) Explained

4.12 Privileged Access Management (PAM) Explained

Key Concepts

Privileged Access Management (PAM) is a security framework designed to control and monitor access to critical systems and data by privileged users. Key concepts include Privileged Accounts, Just-in-Time Access, Session Monitoring, and Least Privilege Principle.

Privileged Accounts

Privileged accounts are those that have elevated permissions, allowing users to perform critical tasks such as system administration, database management, and network configuration. These accounts are highly sensitive and require strict control to prevent unauthorized access.

Example: An IT administrator has a privileged account that allows them to install software, modify system settings, and access sensitive data. Without proper PAM, this account could be misused or compromised.

Just-in-Time Access

Just-in-Time (JIT) Access is a PAM strategy that grants temporary elevated permissions only when they are needed. This reduces the risk of unauthorized access by limiting the time window during which a user can perform privileged actions.

Example: A developer needs to restart a critical server. Instead of having permanent elevated access, the developer requests JIT access through a PAM system. The system grants the access for a specified period, after which the permissions are automatically revoked.

Session Monitoring

Session Monitoring involves tracking and recording the activities of privileged users in real-time. This helps in detecting and responding to suspicious behavior, ensuring that privileged actions are legitimate and authorized.

Example: When an administrator logs into a server, the PAM system records all actions taken during the session, such as file modifications and system changes. If any unusual activity is detected, the system can alert security personnel for further investigation.

Least Privilege Principle

The Least Privilege Principle is a security best practice that restricts users to the minimum level of access necessary to perform their job functions. This principle is applied to privileged accounts to minimize the potential damage from unauthorized access.

Example: A network engineer is granted access to configure network devices but is not given access to modify financial records. By adhering to the Least Privilege Principle, the organization ensures that the engineer can perform their duties without exposing sensitive data.

Conclusion

Privileged Access Management (PAM) is essential for securing critical systems and data by controlling and monitoring access by privileged users. By understanding and implementing concepts such as Privileged Accounts, Just-in-Time Access, Session Monitoring, and the Least Privilege Principle, organizations can enhance security and reduce the risk of unauthorized access.

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