by Lamaris Davis | Nov 25, 2024 | Privileged Access management
Implementing a Privileged Access Management (PAM) solution involves several critical steps to ensure its effectiveness and alignment with an organization’s security goals. Here’s a high-level overview of the process:
1. Assess and Plan
•Conduct a Risk Assessment: Identify privileged accounts, credentials, and assets. Prioritize high-risk areas based on potential impact.
•Define Objectives: Establish clear goals, such as compliance, minimizing insider threats, or improving operational efficiency.
•Engage Stakeholders: Involve IT, security, compliance, and business leaders to align the PAM implementation with organizational objectives.
•Choose a PAM Solution: Evaluate vendors like CyberArk, BeyondTrust, or Delinea to select a platform that meets your needs.
2. Prepare the Environment
•Inventory Privileged Accounts: Create a comprehensive list of privileged accounts, their access levels, and usage patterns.
•Audit Current Privileged Access: Identify redundant, orphaned, or over-privileged accounts and remediate as needed.
•Infrastructure Readiness: Ensure your environment is prepared for PAM deployment (e.g., directory integration, network configuration).
3. Design the Solution
•Scope the Deployment: Decide whether to roll out the solution for specific departments, regions, or enterprise-wide.
•Access Policies: Define policies for privileged account usage, approval workflows, and session recording.
•Segmentation: Plan for vaulting sensitive accounts and segregating critical systems to limit lateral movement.
4. Deploy in Phases
•Start with a Pilot: Implement the solution for a small, controlled group to test configurations and gain feedback.
•Onboard Privileged Accounts: Begin with high-risk accounts (e.g., domain admins) and gradually onboard other accounts.
•Configure Features:
•Vaulting and rotation of privileged credentials.
•Session monitoring and recording.
•Multi-factor authentication (MFA) for privileged access.
5. Train and Educate
•IT Teams: Train system administrators and IT staff on using and managing the PAM system.
•End-Users: Educate privileged users on the new workflows, emphasizing security benefits.
•Security Teams: Provide detailed training on monitoring tools and interpreting session logs.
6. Monitor and Optimize
•Enable Real-Time Monitoring: Use PAM tools to monitor sessions, detect anomalies, and flag unauthorized activities.
•Audit Regularly: Schedule periodic reviews to identify unused accounts, policy violations, and improvement areas.
•Update Policies: Adjust access controls as the organization’s needs evolve.
7. Scale and Integrate
•Integrate with SIEM/ITSM Tools: Streamline alerts and incident responses by connecting PAM to existing security and ticketing tools.
•Extend Coverage: Expand the PAM solution to include endpoints, cloud environments, and third-party vendors.
8. Maintain and Support
•Perform Maintenance: Regularly update the PAM software to ensure security patches and new features.
•Continuous Improvement: Stay informed about emerging threats and PAM best practices to adapt your strategy.
9. Document Everything
•Implementation Steps: Record configurations, policies, and key decisions for future reference.
•Incident Response Playbooks: Define procedures for responding to compromised privileged accounts.
10. Measure Success
•KPIs and Metrics: Track success indicators such as reduced account sprawl, faster access provisioning, and fewer security incidents.
•Stakeholder Feedback: Gather input from end-users and security teams to refine the system.
by Lamaris Davis | Oct 29, 2024 | Privileged Access management
Here are some of the top Privileged Access Management (PAM) solutions that are widely recognized for their comprehensive features and ability to help organizations manage, secure, and monitor privileged access effectively:
1. **CyberArk**
– **Overview:** Considered a market leader, CyberArk provides a robust suite of PAM tools focused on securing privileged accounts, session monitoring, and credential management.
– **Key Features:** Password vaulting, session recording, privileged session management, least privilege enforcement, and real-time threat detection.
– **Strengths:** Known for scalability, strong security features, and integration with various enterprise applications.
2. **BeyondTrust**
– **Overview:** BeyondTrust offers a unified PAM solution that combines privileged password and session management, endpoint least privilege, and remote access.
– **Key Features:** Secure remote access, password management, session management, privilege elevation, and threat analytics.
– **Strengths:** Easy-to-use interface, strong reporting capabilities, and integration with IT service management tools.
3. **Thycotic (now Delinea after merging with Centrify)**
– **Overview:** Known for ease of use and fast deployment, Thycotic (Delinea) provides a cloud-first PAM solution with strong capabilities for managing privileged accounts.
– **Key Features:** Privilege elevation, password management, endpoint least privilege, and flexible deployment options (on-premises and cloud).
– **Strengths:** User-friendly interface, customizable workflows, and strong cloud-native capabilities.
4. **IBM Security Verify Privilege Manager**
– **Overview:** IBM’s PAM solution is integrated into its broader IBM Security suite, providing advanced capabilities for managing privileged identities and access.
– **Key Features:** Privilege session recording, access control, policy enforcement, and automated credential rotation.
– **Strengths:** Seamless integration with IBM’s security and IAM products, suitable for large enterprises with existing IBM infrastructure.
5. **One Identity Safeguard**
– **Overview:** One Identity Safeguard offers a complete PAM solution with a focus on ease of deployment and integration with other One Identity products.
– **Key Features:** Password management, session management, secure remote access, and behavioral analytics.
– **Strengths:** Strong integration with One Identity IAM solutions, ease of use, and excellent support.
6. **HashiCorp Vault**
– **Overview:** HashiCorp Vault is particularly popular among DevOps teams for secrets management, with strong capabilities in PAM as well.
– **Key Features:** Secrets management, dynamic credential generation, access control, and API-driven approach.
– **Strengths:** Strong focus on automation and DevOps, highly scalable, and flexible for cloud environments.
7. **Microsoft Azure AD Privileged Identity Management (PIM)**
– **Overview:** As part of Azure AD, Microsoft’s PIM solution is built for managing privileged access within the Microsoft ecosystem, including Azure and Office 365.
– **Key Features:** Just-in-time access, role-based access control, access reviews, and activity logging.
– **Strengths:** Excellent for organizations already using Microsoft Azure and Office 365, with strong integration and a cloud-first approach.
8. **ManageEngine PAM360**
– **Overview:** ManageEngine PAM360 is a unified solution for privileged access management that integrates with other ManageEngine IT management tools.
– **Key Features:** Password management, session recording, privileged user monitoring, and access analytics.
– **Strengths:** Cost-effective, user-friendly, and suitable for small to medium-sized enterprises.
Each solution offers unique strengths, so the choice often depends on specific organizational needs, the existing tech stack, and scalability requirements.
by Lamaris Davis | Oct 29, 2024 | Privileged Access management
Privileged Access Management (PAM) is a powerful tool for meeting various regulatory requirements by helping to secure access to critical systems and sensitive data. Here are some key regulatory policies PAM can assist with:
1.General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
-Requirement: Ensuring data privacy and secure processing of EU citizen data.
– PAM’s Role: Control and monitor access to personal data, enforce least privilege, and provide audit trails to demonstrate compliance in case of an investigation.
2.Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
– Requirement: Protecting electronic Protected Health Information (ePHI) against unauthorized access.
– PAM’s Role: Enforce strict access controls on ePHI, enable multifactor authentication for privileged users, and maintain logs to monitor who accessed what and when.
3. Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS)
– Requirement: Protecting cardholder data.
– PAM’s Role: Securely store and manage credentials for accessing payment systems, enforce least privilege, and monitor privileged access to cardholder data environments.
4.Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA)
– Requirement: Ensuring federal data security.
– PAM’s Role: Restrict privileged access within federal agencies, provide accountability through auditing, and enforce password policies to comply with NIST standards.
5.Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX)
-Requirement: Protecting financial data integrity.
-PAM’s Role: Monitor and control privileged access to financial systems, provide transparency in access activities, and support audits to ensure data accuracy and integrity.
6.Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA)
-Requirement: Securing consumer financial information.
– PAM’s Role: Limit access to consumer financial data to authorized individuals, enforce policies on least privilege, and provide audit logs to demonstrate compliance.
7.NERC-CIP (North American Electric Reliability Corporation Critical Infrastructure Protection)
– Requirement: Protecting critical energy infrastructure.
– PAM’s Role: Restrict and monitor access to critical infrastructure systems, enforce multifactor authentication, and record access logs to comply with cybersecurity standards for critical energy infrastructure.
8. ISO/IEC 27001
– Requirement: Implementing information security management systems (ISMS) best practices.
-PAM’s Role: Enforce role-based access controls, provide centralized access management, and generate audit logs that align with ISO 27001’s security requirements.
PAM solutions such as CyberArk, BeyondTrust, and Thycotic can help organizations meet these regulatory requirements by providing secure, controlled, and auditable privileged access, which is a core element of compliance for these policies.
by Lamaris Davis | Oct 25, 2024 | Privileged Access management
Privileged access attack vectors are methods attackers use to compromise accounts with elevated permissions, giving them control over critical systems or data. Here are some common vectors:
1. Phishing and Social Engineering
• Attackers trick users with privileged access into revealing their credentials. This can include spear phishing (targeted) attacks, pretexting, or baiting.
2. Credential Theft
• Password spraying: Using a few common passwords across many accounts to find a weak link.
• Brute force attacks: Automated attempts to guess passwords.
• Keylogging or credential dumping: Malicious software records credentials as they are entered.
3. Privilege Escalation
• Attackers gain low-level access and then exploit vulnerabilities to elevate their permissions, potentially becoming administrators.
• Vertical escalation: Gaining higher access than initially granted.
• Horizontal escalation: Moving from one user account to another with similar privileges.
4. Insider Threats
• Malicious insiders with privileged access (e.g., disgruntled employees) abuse their permissions to exfiltrate data, disrupt systems, or create backdoors.
5. Weak or Misconfigured Privileged Accounts
• Default credentials: Some systems are left with factory-default usernames and passwords.
• Over-provisioning: Users or systems have more access than needed, increasing the attack surface.
• Shared credentials: Multiple users share the same privileged account, making tracking access difficult.
6. Exploiting Vulnerabilities in PAM Systems
• Attackers target weaknesses in privileged access management (PAM) software, such as flaws in session management, API vulnerabilities, or insecure integration points with other systems.
7. Pass-the-Hash and Pass-the-Ticket
• Pass-the-Hash: Attackers use a hashed version of a password to authenticate without needing the plaintext password.
• Pass-the-Ticket: An attacker uses stolen Kerberos tickets (such as a TGT) to authenticate and move laterally within the network.
8. Weak Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) Implementation
• If MFA is not enforced properly or weak second factors (like SMS-based codes) are used, attackers can bypass it by intercepting or using brute force.
9. Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) Exploits
• Attackers leverage vulnerabilities in RDP or weak configurations to gain remote access to privileged accounts.
10. Third-Party Vendor Compromise
• Vendors with privileged access to internal systems can be targeted. If the vendor is compromised, attackers can use their access to infiltrate systems.
11. Abuse of Service Accounts
• Service accounts often have elevated permissions and are used for automated processes, which makes them an attractive target for attackers.
12. Unsecured Privileged Session Data
• Session data from privileged accounts may not be properly encrypted or protected, allowing attackers to intercept sensitive information or hijack sessions.
Proper PAM practices, including least-privilege access, strong authentication methods, and robust auditing, are essential in mitigating these attack vectors.
by Lamaris Davis | Oct 24, 2024 | Privileged Access management, Uncategorized
Zero Trust principles, when applied to Privileged Access Management (PAM), create a robust security framework to prevent unauthorized access and mitigate risks associated with privileged accounts. Here are the core Zero Trust principles for PAM:
1. Verify Every User and Device (Never Trust, Always Verify)
Every request to access privileged resources must be authenticated and verified, regardless of the user’s location (internal or external network). This involves strict identity verification, often incorporating:
• Multi-factor authentication (MFA)
• Context-based access (location, device health, time)
• Continuous reauthentication for ongoing access
2. Enforce Least Privilege Access
Users should only have the minimal privileges necessary to perform their job functions. Access is granted on a need-to-know basis, and permissions should be dynamically adjusted based on the current task or role, following the principle of least privilege.
3. Limit Lateral Movement
Implement micro-segmentation and network isolation to prevent attackers from moving laterally if they gain access to a privileged account. By limiting the scope of what privileged accounts can access, even if compromised, the attacker’s reach is constrained.
4. Just-in-Time (JIT) Access
Privileged access should be temporary, granted only for the duration of a specific task, and automatically revoked afterward. This reduces the risk of long-term standing privileged access that attackers can exploit.
5. Continuous Monitoring and Analytics
Implement real-time monitoring of all privileged access activities. Collect logs and analyze behavior to detect anomalies that may indicate malicious activity, such as unusual login patterns, command executions, or access to sensitive systems.
6. Assume Breach Mentality
Always assume that privileged credentials could be compromised. Implement additional security controls such as:
• Session recording and auditing of privileged activities
• Automated responses to suspicious behavior (e.g., session termination)
• Threat intelligence integration to detect potential breaches
7. Device and Network Integrity
Ensure that only authorized, secure devices can access privileged accounts. This includes:
• Device posture assessments (OS version, patch level, etc.)
• Enforcing network access control policies to only allow trusted devices onto privileged systems
8. Granular Auditing and Reporting
Every action performed under a privileged session should be logged and available for auditing. This helps in forensic investigations and compliance reporting by providing detailed insights into who accessed what and when.
By applying these Zero Trust principles to PAM, organizations can significantly strengthen their security posture, protect sensitive assets, and reduce the risk of privileged credential abuse.
by Lamaris Davis | Oct 23, 2024 | Privileged Access management
CyberArk and BeyondTrust are two leading vendors in the Privileged Access Management (PAM) space, each offering a suite of solutions designed to secure privileged accounts, manage credentials, and control access. Here’s a comparison between the two:
1. Core Focus and Offerings
• CyberArk: Known as a pioneer in PAM, CyberArk focuses heavily on securing privileged accounts with features like credential vaulting, session management, and threat analytics. CyberArk also offers solutions beyond PAM, including identity security and DevOps security.
• BeyondTrust: Offers broader privileged access security solutions with an emphasis on both PAM and endpoint privilege management. Their platform covers everything from privilege elevation on endpoints to session management for remote access.
2. Credential Management
• CyberArk: Focuses on enterprise-level password vaulting, credential rotation, and enforcement of strong password policies. CyberArk’s Enterprise Password Vault (EPV) is highly regarded for its scalability and secure vaulting capabilities.
• BeyondTrust: Provides robust password vaulting capabilities but also emphasizes least privilege access and privilege elevation at the endpoint level, ensuring users only access what they need, when they need it.
3. Session Monitoring and Management
• CyberArk: Has comprehensive session recording and monitoring features, capturing detailed logs and video of privileged user sessions. CyberArk’s Privileged Session Manager (PSM) allows for remote session management with strong auditing features.
• BeyondTrust: Also offers session recording and auditing capabilities. It excels in securing remote access and third-party vendor access with real-time session monitoring.
4. Endpoint Privilege Management
• CyberArk: While CyberArk has endpoint management capabilities, its primary focus remains on centralized privileged account management and vaulting.
• BeyondTrust: Excels in endpoint privilege management (EPM). It provides tools to enforce least privilege on endpoints, allowing users to run with standard permissions but elevating access only when needed. This is critical in reducing attack surfaces on individual devices.
5. Deployment Flexibility
• CyberArk: Offers both on-premise and cloud-based deployment options. CyberArk has evolved to provide SaaS-based PAM solutions, which are more flexible for organizations adopting cloud-first strategies.
• BeyondTrust: Also provides both on-premise and cloud solutions but emphasizes a smooth hybrid environment transition, with specific products tailored for remote support and endpoint management in the cloud.
6. Ease of Use
• CyberArk: Known for its robustness but can be complex to deploy and manage, especially in large, complex environments. Organizations often need specialized knowledge for configuration and management.
• BeyondTrust: Generally regarded as more user-friendly and easier to deploy, especially for smaller to mid-sized enterprises. It has strong automation and intuitive interfaces, which make implementation smoother.
7. Third-Party Vendor Access
• CyberArk: Provides advanced capabilities for securing and monitoring third-party access, including vendor remote access management with secure connection auditing.
• BeyondTrust: Stands out in this area with dedicated tools for securing third-party vendor access, offering features like remote session recording, approval workflows, and integration with other security tools for real-time auditing.
8. Analytics and Threat Detection
• CyberArk: Offers advanced threat detection features through CyberArk Privileged Threat Analytics (PTA), which helps identify anomalous activities and potential insider threats using behavioral analytics.
• BeyondTrust: Also provides analytics for identifying anomalies and risky behaviors, but it is more focused on managing privileges dynamically to mitigate risk rather than the in-depth behavioral analytics CyberArk offers.
9. Scalability
• CyberArk: Designed for large enterprises with highly complex environments. It is considered a gold standard in sectors like finance, healthcare, and government.
• BeyondTrust: Suitable for both mid-sized enterprises and large organizations, but its flexibility makes it appealing to smaller companies needing comprehensive PAM without as much overhead.
10. Integration Capabilities
• CyberArk: Integrates with a wide variety of tools, including SIEM, ITSM, and other IAM tools. CyberArk is known for its strong API support and third-party integrations, especially in complex ecosystems.
• BeyondTrust: Also offers strong integration options with SIEMs, ITSMs, and cloud platforms, but BeyondTrust tends to simplify the integration process, focusing on ease of deployment and management.
Conclusion:
• CyberArk is often seen as the leader for large, enterprise-level PAM solutions with complex needs and a high focus on vaulting, session management, and advanced threat analytics.
• BeyondTrust excels in ease of use, endpoint privilege management, and remote/third-party access, making it a strong contender for mid-sized businesses or enterprises looking for both PAM and endpoint management in a more streamlined solution.
Your choice between the two might depend on your organization’s specific needs, complexity, and whether you’re more focused on privileged account vaulting (CyberArk) or privileged access and endpoint management (BeyondTrust).
