9 Best Practices for Privileged Access Management

Providing employees access to IT systems, data, and essential business resources is vital for them to carry out important tasks and maintain operational efficiency. However, with this access comes the risk of unauthorized use, whether by external hackers or insiders with malicious intent. To prevent security breaches and misuse, privileged access management has emerged as a crucial cybersecurity strategy for businesses today.

Privileged access management consists of methods and technologies that manage the permissions of users, devices, accounts, and systems across an organization's IT environment. When implemented effectively, this process helps organizations prevent unauthorized access, bolster security defenses, and mitigate potential breaches.

In the sections below, we'll go over 9 best practices organizations can utilize for effective privileged access management. By adopting these practices, businesses can not only enhance security but also promote operational efficiency and compliance with industry regulations.

Analyze Your Privileged Access Setup

The first step in effective privileged access management should be understanding your existing setup. Not understanding your privileged accounts and settings could lead to unauthorized access, mistakes, and unnoticed suspicious activities. Unaddressed, these problems can result in data breaches, theft, and violations of rules and laws.

To avoid these risks, businesses should conduct a thorough analysis of their current privileged accounts, access policies, and security protocols to identify gaps, vulnerabilities, and potential areas for improvement. This enables organizations to gain a clear understanding of who has access to critical systems and resources, what level of access they possess, and whether these permissions align with their roles. 

Implement Least Privilege 

Least privilege is a cybersecurity model that only gives people or programs the minimum access and permissions they need to do their jobs. For instance, if you work in the finance department, you shouldn't have access to HR records or patient health information, as those are unrelated to your job.

To implement least privilege, businesses should first identify the specific roles and responsibilities within their organization. They should then assess and define what level of access is essential for each role. Access policies should be established based on this assessment, ensuring that employees are granted the minimum access required to perform their duties. 

Practice Secure Password Management

Passwords are the first line of defense against unauthorized access and security breaches. Therefore, businesses must prioritize secure password management in their privileged access management strategy. 

This should include the use of strong and complex passwords that use a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Businesses should also require regular password changes and enable multi-factor authentication whenever possible to add an extra layer of security. Finally, privileged account credentials should be securely stored in password vaults or management solutions to limit exposure and control access.

Monitor Sessions

Session monitoring is another practice that can help organizations strengthen their security posture. This method uses tools to monitor and record the activity and interactions of privileged users when accessing critical systems and sensitive data. Monitoring these sessions can help spot unusual or harmful actions, allowing them to be addressed promptly.

Before implementing session monitoring, businesses should create an incident response plan that outlines the actions they will take when suspicious activity is detected. Session monitoring tools should also capture and store session data securely, and organizations should review logs regularly to identify security trends, patterns, and anomalies that require attention.

Implement Zero Trust Security Policies 

Zero trust is a cybersecurity approach that views every user or system as a potential attacker. Under zero trust policies, organizations implement strict access controls and require users and devices to prove their identity every time they request access. This approach not only protects sensitive data and critical assets from external threats but also mitigates insider attacks.

To implement zero trust policies, start by assessing the users, devices, and applications accessing your network. Next, create strong authentication and access controls, including multi-factor authentication, passwordless authentication, and least privilege access. Finally, implement micro-segmentation for network security and set up detection systems for suspicious activities. Make sure you prioritize the most vulnerable areas of your organization and break down the implementation into manageable phases.

Eliminate Orphaned Accounts

Orphaned accounts are user or computer accounts that are still active and accessible in a computer system or network but are no longer associated with an active user or device. These accounts typically occur when users or devices are removed, retired, or no longer in use, but their corresponding accounts are not properly deactivated or deleted.

Orphaned accounts can create major vulnerabilities and can potentially be exploited by cybercriminals. If not addressed, these accounts can provide unauthorized access to sensitive data or resources. Therefore, organizations need to regularly evaluate and manage their accounts to identify and address any orphaned accounts. This ensures that only authorized devices and staff have access to their systems and data.

Update Your Systems

Not updating your software regularly can lead to various vulnerabilities that pose significant risks to an organization. For example, outdated software often contains security flaws that can be exploited by hackers. These weaknesses can result in unauthorized access to sensitive systems, data breaches, and even full-scale cyberattacks. In addition, outdated software hinders an organization's ability to adopt advanced security measures and access critical security patches, increasing vulnerability.

Implementing regular software updates is imperative for effective privileged access management. To make sure that updates are performed regularly, businesses should set up update notifications, enable automatic updates, and regularly check for new updates. Finally, it's important to stay informed about the latest security fixes and enhancements to keep your devices and data secure. 

Provide Employee Training 

Many security incidents are caused by a lack of awareness and human error. Employees who are well-trained in privileged access management best practices are more likely to recognize and report suspicious activities or security threats. Training also helps employees understand and follow privileged access management policies and procedures. This includes the proper handling of privileged accounts, password management, and access controls. Adherence to these policies is essential for maintaining a secure environment.

When training employees, make sure you provide comprehensive training materials and resources that cover privileged access management policies, procedures, and best practices. Offer simulated training sessions that allow employees to practice your procedures and best practices. Make sure you emphasize the importance of reporting any suspicious activities promptly and who to contact. Finally, consider certification programs or assessments to ensure that employees understand best practices and are capable of implementing them at work. 

Conduct Regular Security Audits

Security threats are constantly evolving, meaning businesses need to continuously adapt. One way to stay ahead of these threats and keep your privileged access management strategy effective is through regular security audits. These audits should assess the implementation of privileged access management policies and controls, reviewing privileged account usage, access rights, and compliance with security protocols. By regularly evaluating the state of your privileged access infrastructure, you can identify vulnerabilities, gaps, or areas that may require improvement. 

Auditing should begin with defining clear objectives, such as evaluating the privileged account management, access controls, or compliance with policies. Businesses should use auditing tools and technologies to collect and analyze data efficiently. It's also important to make sure that policies and procedures are compliant with industry regulations and standards. Finally, create a plan to remedy any weaknesses, document your actions, and schedule your next audit to adapt to evolving threats. 

Conclusion

From deceptive phishing emails and weak passwords to employees intentionally leaking sensitive data, many of today's security incidents begin with hackers or insiders exploiting privileged accounts. Unaddressed, these security breaches can result in substantial financial losses and harm an organization's reputation. However, by following the best practices outlined in this blog, businesses can proactively mitigate these risks and enhance their overall security posture.

At Prescient Solutions, we specialize in privileged access management services. Our dedicated team can help your organization implement robust privileged access controls, multi-factor authentication, and continuous security monitoring. We work diligently to keep your IT systems and sensitive data secure, allowing you to focus on your core business objectives with confidence. 

Contact us today to learn how we can help safeguard your organization from today's online threats!