Proper privileged access management (PAM) prevent insider threat that could damage database and workflow. Did you know that data breaches can start with internal attackers? The majority of insider threats are focused on getting money and abusing their privileges to get more of it. This is the reason a lot of hackers sell data they stole on the dark web. But, insider threats can also be due to malice. Unlucky, a lot of insider threats start as disgruntled employees. These people may want to exploit the permissions they have to inflict harm to your business. Read on to know how to Use PAM for fighting these threats:
Know where your Privileged Accounts Exist
In terms of cybersecurity, visibility matters and you can only protect accounts you can see. Thus, to fight internal threats, you must know where your privileged accounts exist in your IT infrastructure. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to uncover all privileged accounts in your network. Users with the right permissions could make backdoor accounts to avoid being detected or monitored. Also, they can create new privileges for themselves when not properly monitored. You can fight these challenges by having the right PAM. Start by having a comprehensive inventory of your network’s privileged accounts to monitor all users, know who these people are, and what they can access. Also, this allows for regular auditing.
Limit Permissions
Ensure permissions of users remain limited to what they need to do their job functions. If a user requires more permission, make sure to have procedures for access requests. Proper identity security lets you assess the request’s legitimacy, grant temporary permissions, and disable them on time. Also, make sure to verify users without trusting them. Thus, do not depend only on one-time authentication.
Do Not Allow Shared Accounts
Users are expected to share passwords with others to facilitate their work processes. But, this will not let you have accountability or monitor the users through their credentials. In addition, you must take into account whether users write down their passwords on paper or on documents.
Password sharing lets insider threats access your database. Also, it leads to access control issues in general. Password sharing is not allowed in privileged access management. PAM enforces multifactor authentication, forcing hackers to jump through a lot of hoops before they can hack accounts. Also, PAM encourages employees to avoid writing down passwords as well as encourages the use of more complex passwords and regular password changes.
