The Power of PAM: Protecting Privileged Accounts
Like the name implies, privileged accounts are only designed to be used by those who have been granted permission to use these privileges. Since they have more permissions than standard accounts, they can grant access to critical systems and sensitive data, allow users to bypass security controls, and more. It’s no surprise, then, that they’re prime targets for cyber criminals. If they gain access to privileged accounts, malicious actors would be able to move across networks, and effectively wreak havoc.
With the rise of AI and machine learning in recent years, attackers are now able to automate their efforts, which can make these threats more difficult to detect. Traditional security measures alone are no longer enough, which is why businesses are turning to more modern Privileged Access Management (PAM) solutions.
The Growing Threat to Privileged Accounts
While privileged accounts are useful, it can be dangerous if they fall into the wrong hands. Attackers target them because they can grant access to all of an organisation’s most sensitive systems, from databases of customer information to critical infrastructure. If compromised, these accounts would allow criminals to bypass security controls and move laterally across networks, completely undetected. Without a strong PAM solution in place, businesses could lose money and have their reputation damaged – and in the case of OT networks, an attack could have physical consequences including injuries and death.
Over the past few years, AI has become far more accessible, and cyber criminals have been quick to adopt it. Last month, 87% of security professionals reported that their organisation has encountered an AI-driven cyber attack in the last year. Criminals are increasingly weaponising AI, and using it to make their attacks more efficient and harder to detect. By using AI-driven bots, criminals can quickly test stolen credentials in huge credential-stuffing attacks. AI-generated phishing emails, meanwhile, have become more and more convincing, and can be used to trick employees into sharing their passwords.
Deepfake technology is also being used to impersonate CEOs or other executives, and manipulate other employees into sharing information or granting them unauthorised access. Just last year, the CEO of WPP was targeted by a deepfake scam that used videos and voice recordings. With these attacks becoming more sophisticated, traditional security measures like passwords are no longer enough to keep privileged accounts secure.
How AI-Powered PAM Enhances Security
If they want to stay ahead of cyber criminals using AI, businesses should, essentially, play them at their own game. We recommend adopting modern PAM solutions that use AI and real-time analytics to detect, and respond to attacks. Unlike traditional cyber security systems, AI-powered PAM solutions – like those offered by our partner, CyberArk – can learn from user behaviour, identifying anomalies that could be signs of malicious activity. They can flag unusual login patterns, detect users accessing sensitive systems without authorisation, and even trigger automated responses – dealing with a threat before it can escalate. Since they’re able to analyse huge amounts of data far faster than a human can, AI-driven security tools can help businesses to proactively deal with threats instead of being left to deal with the repercussions of an attack.
AI-powered PAM solutions can improve your security with Just-in-Time (JIT) access control. This gives you the ability to grant users privileged access for a limited time – and only when it’s actually needed. AI can also adjust users’ access levels based on factors such as their behaviour, and their permissions can be automatically revoked. This makes it more difficult for criminals to exploit the credentials of privileged accounts. Organisations can also use adaptive multi-factor authentication (MFA), which requires additional verification from a user, depending on factors such as their location or the file they’re trying to access.
PAM isn’t only useful for controlling who can access your network. They also provide continuous monitoring of your network and automated threat response, helping you stop threats in real time. With these, you can spot suspicious behaviour and revoke users’ access to compromised accounts – even changing their credentials if you need to. AI tools can respond to these threats instantly, helping you to protect your business’ most valuable assets and prevent privilege-related breaches.
Implementing a Strong PAM Strategy
A strong PAM strategy is essential for businesses looking to reduce cyber security risks and protect their critical systems. Here at Infosec K2K, we recommend enforcing least privilege access – in other words, ensuring all of your users only have the permissions they need for their specific tasks. Role-based access control (RBAC) can also help reduce the amount of users with unnecessary access – something often exploited by attackers. Integrating your PAM solution with IAM can also give you a more unified and streamlined approach to your organisations’ identity security.
Automatic password rotation for all privileged accounts helps to reduce the risk of attackers stealing your credentials and gaining unauthorized access. Continuous monitoring and auditing of privileged activity also adds another layer of defense, while AI-driven analytics can detect suspicious behavior in real time. With our managed services, we offer our clients round-the-clock support, so you can rest easy. We also recommend regularly reviewing users’ access, in order to remove any unnecessary privileges.
Adopting a Zero Trust security model can improve your security even more, as this requires continuous verification for all users accessing privileged accounts. Every access request to these accounts is carefully considered and validated before being granted. This approach significantly reduces the likelihood of unauthorised access, and helps to prevent privilege-related breaches.
How We Can Help Protect Your Privileged Accounts
Here at Infosec K2K, we provide expert guidance to firms looking to improve their identity security, and our tailored PAM solutions help businesses stay ahead of cyber threats. With AI making cyber criminals’ lives easier, it’s never been more important for businesses to protect their privileged accounts. Unfortunately, traditional security measures are no longer enough. By using modern PAM solutions – like those we offer – organisations can minimise the risk of being hit by AI-driven threats, reduce their attack surfaces, and prevent privilege-related breaches.
Whatever solution you’re looking for, we can help. The experts at Infosec K2K can offer you specialist guidance, and help you find the product that’s the best fit for you.
Get in touch with us to find out more about how we can help you.