What is privileged access management?

Organizations face mounting pressure to secure privileged accounts that hold the keys to their most critical systems and data. As infrastructure becomes more complex across cloud, on-premises, and hybrid environments, the challenge of managing privileged access grows exponentially.

IT, DevOps, Linux, and Unix teams struggle with the expansion of service accounts, administrative credentials, and machine identities that adversaries actively target. The consequences of compromised privileged accounts extend beyond data breaches to include operational disruption, regulatory penalties, and erosion of customer trust.

Organizations need robust, scalable solutions that leverage AI-driven capabilities to detect anomalous privileged behavior while maintaining operational efficiency.

Privileged Access Management (PAM) is a comprehensive cybersecurity discipline focused on controlling, monitoring, and auditing access to critical organizational resources through elevated permissions.

Unlike standard user accounts, which operate with limited permissions, privileged accounts have administrative capabilities that enable them to modify system configurations, access sensitive data, and execute critical operations across the infrastructure. These accounts include:

• Domain administrators
• Root users in Linux and Unix systems
• Service accounts
• Database administrators
• Emergency break-glass accounts

PAM solutions establish a security perimeter around these high-risk identities through centralized vaulting, dynamic password rotation, and granular access controls. The technology addresses the fundamental security gap between identity management systems that handle standard users and the specialized requirements of privileged access.

Privileged accounts are a primary target for adversaries who want to establish persistence, escalate privileges, and move laterally through networks. According to Verizon's 2024 Data Breach Investigation Report, about 40% of data breaches involved misuse of privileged access, highlighting the critical importance of securing privileged accounts.

Organizations without comprehensive PAM security face multiple risks, including:

• Insider threats from employees and contractors who misuse legitimate access through negligence or deliberate action
• External attacks targeting privileged credentials through phishing, supply chain compromises, and exploitation of unpatched vulnerabilities
• Compliance failures resulting in regulatory penalties under frameworks including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX), the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS)
• Shadow IT proliferation as DevOps teams create untracked service accounts for automation tools
• Credential sprawl across Linux and Unix systems without centralized management or rotation policies

Without proper PAM controls, organizations cannot verify whether privileged activities are for legitimate business purposes. The benefits of implementing robust PAM include:

• Enhanced security through continuous credential rotation and elimination of static passwords that adversaries can exploit over extended periods
• Regulatory compliance via automated audit trails and access certification workflows
• Increased operational efficiency when IT teams spend less time manually managing passwords and investigating security incidents related to privileged account misuse
• Reduced attack surface by implementing just-in-time access and least-privilege principles
• Improved forensic capabilities through comprehensive session recording and activity monitoring

Modern PAM solutions orchestrate multiple security capabilities through an integrated platform that addresses the complete privileged access life cycle. These platforms combine credential vaulting, session management, and behavioral analytics to protect against both external threats and insider risks.

Credential management

Secure storage and rotation of passwords and keys form the foundation of effective PAM. Encrypted vaults protect credentials at rest using hardware security modules and advanced encryption algorithms. Automated password rotation occurs based on configurable policies, ensuring credentials change frequently enough to limit exposure windows. API tokens, SSH keys, and certificates receive similar protection, with dynamic retrieval through secure APIs enabling programmatic access without exposing actual credentials.

Session management

Real-time monitoring and recording of privileged sessions provides visibility into administrative activities. Proxy architectures intercept and monitor all commands executed during privileged sessions, capturing keystrokes, screen recordings, and metadata for comprehensive audit trails. When anomalous behavior occurs, such as unusual command sequences in Unix environments or unauthorized database queries, systems can terminate sessions automatically or require additional authentication.

Access controls

Granular permissions, just-in-time access, and approval workflows implement least-privilege principles across the organization. Access requests route through designated approvers who evaluate business justification before granting elevated permissions. Multi-factor authentication adds verification layers for sensitive operations, while time-based controls revoke access after predetermined periods. Integration with identity governance platforms ensures privileged access aligns with role changes and employment status.

Audit and compliance

Reporting, alerting, and forensic analysis capabilities generate detailed documentation of privileged activities. Comprehensive logs capture who accessed which systems, when access occurred, and what actions were performed. Advanced analytics correlate privileged activity across multiple systems to identify patterns indicating compromise or policy violations. These reports satisfy regulatory requirements while providing security teams with actionable intelligence about potential threats.

Organizations selecting PAM tools must evaluate deployment models and architectural approaches based on their specific requirements and existing infrastructure to identify optimal solutions. The main deployment models include:

• On-premises: Installed and managed within the organization’s own infrastructure, providing complete control over data residency and meeting strict regulatory requirements.
• Cloud-based: Delivered as a service with scalable architectures for hybrid and remote environments, offering predictable operational expenses and automatic updates.
• Hybrid: Combines on-premises credential vaults with cloud-based management consoles, balancing security requirements with operational flexibility.

PAM solution approaches include the following:

• Agent-based vs. agentless: Agent-based solutions deploy software on managed endpoints for granular control, while agentless architectures leverage native protocols without endpoint modifications.
• Integrated or stand-alone: PAM capabilities within broader identity and access management (IAM) suites provide unified administration, while stand-alone solutions offer dedicated functionality for mature requirements.
• Specialized solutions: Tailored offerings for IT, DevOps, Linux, Unix, and cloud-native architectures address unique environmental needs.

Zero trust principles eliminate implicit trust, requiring continuous verification for every access request regardless of network location or account type. Effective zero trust PAM implementations enforce adaptive authentication that adjusts requirements based on user behavior, device health, and access context.

The best zero trust PAM system depends on organizational maturity, existing infrastructure, and risk tolerance. Organizations should evaluate PAM solutions based on several criteria, including:

• Integration: The best PAM solution will integrate seamlessly with existing zero trust components, including identity providers, device trust platforms, and network segmentation tools.
• Scalability: The optimal solution must accommodate growth across hybrid environments without architectural limitations while maintaining performance.
• AI capabilities: The ultimate solution features multi-layered AI that identifies anomalous privileged behavior without predefined rules, detecting sophisticated attacks that bypass traditional policy-based controls.

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Managing privileged access in complex IT landscapes requires sophisticated solutions that adapt to evolving threats while maintaining operational efficiency and security. Organizations must implement comprehensive platforms leveraging AI-powered behavioral analysis and zero trust principles.

Darktrace's multi-layered AI technology enhances PAM deployments through continuous learning, establishing normal patterns for every privileged account. Our platform integrates seamlessly with existing PAM solutions through technology partnerships, including Xage's universal Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) and agentless PAM. This integrated approach combines specialized PAM functionality with Darktrace's advanced threat detection to identify privileged account compromises that other solutions may miss.

To learn more about PAM and Darktrace's ActiveAI security platform, explore our blog or review our white papers.