The whole purpose of GDPR compliance is to ensure protection of privacy data. The laws and requirements of GDPR aren’t entirely new – there were rules & laws on data protection previously too, but businesses can be now held liable for noncompliance, with penalties including hefty fines. While external threats are always a concern, businesses need to find ways to minimize insider threats. A considerable number of security breaches & data thefts in recent years can be traced to insider sources, and yet, organizations haven’t been taking access management as seriously as they should.
In that context, the term ‘privileged’ is particularly important. Privileged access management (PAM) concerns these super users, admins, and executives, who have access to various critical applications, systems and resources. Privileged users and their access rights have to be checked and monitored, because a lapse on their part can have a domino effect on the entire security perimeter of the organization.
Keeping a watch on privileged accounts
Internal policies for access management, at least the generic ones, are of no use when it comes to privileged accounts. These accounts must be checked, monitored and logged, so that all kinds of security breaches can be prevented. In many cases, privileged access must be granted to regular users under extraordinary circumstances, or when they need to do a specific job, and such requests have to be handled with great care, and PAM is designed to help with that. PAM tools & suites are meant to simplify the way businesses look at privileged accounts and users.
Dealing with the common challenges with PAM
PAM can be of great use in reducing audit remarks on how privileged accounts are being used. It can also reduce the way these accounts are misused, which is a fact for many users. At the same time, if someone needs privileged access, the same must be done flexibly but without delay, so that work and businesses processes are not affected. Accounts that have extended and long-term access rights must be checked, and rights may have to be modified, based on user roles. Privileged Access Management (PAM) is meant to simplify all of that and more.
Final word
PAM brings in transparency within the organization, and helps the management stay a step forward in preventing security concerns. While reducing insider threats is the biggest advantage, it also helps a company stay compliant with GDPR requirements and avoid the consequences that may follow in case of a data breach.
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