TL;DR
Privileged accounts grant elevated access to critical systems, making them high-value targets for attackers. An effective Privileged Access Management (PAM) solution addresses this risk by combining strong security controls, flexible permission management, and centralized visibility. Okta Privileged Access delivers all three — offering passwordless, zero-trust infrastructure access, a cloud vault for shared credentials, and time-bound approval workflows — all from a single unified platform.
Understanding Privileged Access Management and security risks
First things first: what is privileged access management (PAM)? Privileged access management is a way of authorizing and monitoring privileged users for all relevant systems within an organization. Whether these are apps, Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), or in-house and third-party solutions, users across the breadth of an organization's infrastructure may need access to restricted systems, functions, and confidential data. These privileged users are prime targets for attackers due to their raised authority levels. As such, implementing a comprehensive identity and access management (IAM) solution to protect these accounts is key.
Privileged accounts exist when access to backend admin services is exclusive to certain roles. For example, IT leads often have privileged access in order to authorize user access to the organization's various systems and solutions. And while privileged accounts are a necessity within any organization, they're also a huge liability. If attackers gain access to privileged accounts (such as those belonging to system administrators or the Chief Information Officer (CIO)), they could gain access to your entire enterprise. PAM helps to ensure that organizations can successfully mitigate these risks.
What makes an ideal PAM solution?
In order to stay secure, companies need to steer away from manual, siloed processes. Instead, they must invest in solutions that allow them to control access and implement heightened security to protect their privileged users.
Some important features of an effective PAM solution include:
- Security: Privileged accounts should be stored and accessed in a secure environment. Organizations shouldn't rely on a single password to grant access to these accounts; rather, they should be secured with additional security factors, using solutions such as multi-factor authentication (MFA).
- Adaptability: Administrators should be able to modify access permissions when needed. If an employee leaves the company or changes roles, it should be seamless to revoke their privileged access.
- Visibility: Administrators should be able to view all access levels in through one central platform. They should establish solutions that give them a clear view of events in real time, so that they can easily track access in the case of any security incidents.
Monitoring Privileged Access with Okta
Okta Privileged Access, part of the Workforce Identity Cloud, is Okta's new Privileged Access Management offering. From one platform, administrators can enforce zero standing privileges across their environment – whether on-prem or cloud – and increase their visibility of Identity, meet compliance objectives, and boost overall security posture.
How does Okta Privileged Access enforce zero-trust security?
Okta Privileged Access provides passwordless, zero trust access to infrastructure to ensure critical roles can access what they need when they need it with proper security controls in place that meet compliance. The solution also provides protection for an organization's most privileged credentials, including those for shared administrative accounts, with a cloud vault.
How does Okta manage time-bound access approvals?
With this solution you can define who has access and when. An integration with Okta Access Request allows business controls like multi-step approvals, business justification, and time-bound approval durations.
Okta's Identity unification strategy allows our products to work together seamlessly to help customers achieve security goals efficiently and effectively. Try Okta Privileged Access today to see how this PAM solution can protect your business's most critical assets.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between privileged access management and identity and access management?
Identity and Access Management (IAM) governs access for all users across an organization's systems. Privileged Access Management (PAM) is a specialized subset focused specifically on users with elevated permissions — such as system administrators — who have access to critical backend services and sensitive data.
Why are privileged accounts considered a security liability?
Because privileged accounts grant elevated authority over an organization's systems, they are prime targets for attackers. If compromised — for example, an account belonging to a system administrator or Chief Information Officer (CIO) — an attacker could potentially gain access to the entire enterprise infrastructure.
What security controls should protect privileged accounts?
Privileged accounts should never rely on a single password alone. They should be secured with additional authentication factors, such as multi-factor authentication (MFA), and stored in a secure environment like a cloud vault to protect shared administrative credentials.
How should organizations handle privileged access when an employee leaves or changes roles?
An effective PAM solution should make it seamless for administrators to revoke or modify privileged access permissions. Adaptability is a core feature requirement — access changes should be manageable without manual, siloed processes.
What is zero standing privileges and how does Okta Privileged Access enforce it?
Zero standing privileges means users do not hold persistent elevated access; instead, access is granted only when needed and for a defined period. Okta Privileged Access enforces this across on-premises and cloud environments through time-bound approvals, multi-step business justification workflows, and integration with Okta Access Request.
How does a cloud vault help protect privileged credentials?
A cloud vault securely stores an organization's most sensitive credentials, including those for shared administrative accounts. This prevents credentials from being exposed or misused, and ensures that access to critical systems is controlled and auditable.
