In the contemporary network infrastructure, the privileged account is an attractive attack objective for cybercriminals because it provides them with strong access.
Organizations need to protect these high-value accounts using effective Privileged Access Management (PAM) solutions.
PAM solutions provide strong security by handling, auditing, and protecting privileged IDs with restricted and authorized access to sensitive assets.
From protecting hybrid environments to improving compliance with industry rules, the correct PAM solution can help enhance an organization’s cyber defenses.
This blog reviews ten top PAM suites, discussing their capabilities and how they combat current security threats, which will help organizations decide on which solution is right for them.
Why Privileged Access Management (PAM) Solutions Are Important for Businesses?
- Enhanced Security Against Cyber Threats: PAM solutions help to secure unauthorized access to sensitive systems and data and greatly minimize cyber threats as well as attempts at gaining improper access to privileged accounts.
- Minimizes Insider Threats: This means that through monitoring the privileged users’ activities, PAM eschews insider threats as a type of risk and guarantees the misuse of the access granted is contained.
- Regulatory Compliance: Numerous sectors and businesses are under the influence of legal issues such as GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS. PAM also enforces compliance through proper management and strict audit of Amazon’s privileged access.
- Improved Operational Efficiency: One of the benefits of consolidating privileged account management is that the control of privileged accounts is centralized, minimizing administration expenses while improving IT operational effectiveness.
- Audit and Accountability: In terms of accountability and compliance, PAM offers logs and reports on the activities related to privileged access, allowing tracing them back to a specific user.
- Prevention of Credential Theft: PAM minimizes the attack surface by helping to protect the credential, enforce MFA, and change passwords frequently.
- Support for Zero Trust Models: PAM supports contemporary approaches such as Zero Trust since access is granted based on the principles of ‘need-to-know’ and ‘least privilege.’
- Reduced Risk of Downtime: Restricting access to business-critical systems can help mitigate those errors that might ease alterations, operations, and maintaining the system constant.
Factors to Consider While Choosing the PAM Solutions
1. Compatibility with Existing Structures
The solution should be readily scalable and fit in your current IT framework, both in the cloud, on-premises, and other security platforms.
2. Security Features
Some features you should consider include the setting up of multiple factors to authenticate a person (MFA), the storing of passwords, the monitoring of the sessions, real-time threat identification, and the ability to change the authentication risks based on the situation.
3. Compliance Requirements
Make sure that the PAM solution complies with your industry’s rules and regulations (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DSS) by providing audit trails, reportage, and access control mechanisms. For example, consider using HIPAA-Compliant Email Providers to ensure secure communication.
4. User Experience and Management
The solution should have a simple and efficient way of working, be easy to configure, and have centralized control where your team can manage privileged access.
5. Deployment Options
Think about whether the solution aligns with cloud, on-premises, or hybrid implementation based on your company’s infrastructure and security needs.
6. Customization and Flexibility
Make sure the solution supports the possibility of options for access policies, the number of workflow scenarios, and the kinds of reports that can be adjusted to the requirements of your business.
7. Vendor Reputation and Support
Select a proven vendor who provides good customer support with frequent training on how to use the solution and new updates about new threats in the market.
8. Cost and ROI
Determine the license, maintenance, and support costs and compare them with the potential value and amount of data protection that the solution offers.
10 Privileged Access Management (PAM) Solutions
1. JumpCloud
JumpCloud is a cloud-based PAM provider that aims at the modern, diverse IT landscape. They grant privileged access using central identity and access management with complex authorization methods, MFA, and efficient audit trails. The zero-trust approach makes it possible for the user to have access to only the required resources.
Ideally suited for small to mid-size organizations that do not wish to spend a lot of time configuring complicated software and that require a single application for unified privileged access management. It makes it a suitable tool for IT departments that are overseeing different ecosystems because of its integration features.
Features:
- Unified identity and access management
- Secure privileged access with role-based policies
- Multi-factor authentication (MFA)
- Centralized user directory with cross-platform support
2. Heimdal Privileged Access Management
Heimdal Privileged Access Management offers unique solutions in providing dynamic privilege escalation on the endpoint level. It confirms to users that they are given temporary administrator privileges only when necessary so as to minimize the risks.
It has a user-friendly console for monitoring and tracking evidence for work in compliance and audit checks
Heimdal’s solution is not intrusive and augments existing tools well, positioning it perfectly for companies needing endpoint-focused privilege management.
The emphasis on automation and immediate privilege increase reduces IT’s burden while improving general security.
Features:
- Real-time privilege escalation and de-escalation
- Granular access control
- Automated threat detection and response
- Easy integration with existing IT infrastructure
3. ARCON | Privileged Access Management
ARCON PAM focuses on the protection of privileged accounts by session monitoring, restricted access, and complete account reporting.
It provides a single solution for addressing access control in both cloud, on-premise, and hybrid environments. Enhancements such as the password vault, multi-factor authentication, and AI for motive detection improve its security features.
ARCON products find huge applications in industries like banking and health care, where compliance and the security of data are paramount.
It can be integrated with other systems and applications easily, and it could be a perfect solution for large-scale PAM.
Features:
- Session monitoring and recording
- Real-time risk assessment
- Multi-factor authentication and password vaulting
- Comprehensive audit and reporting capabilities
4. BeyondTrust Privileged Remote Access
The BeyondTrust Privileged Remote Access provides privileged remote access while leaving the demand for a VPN aside.
This has features like strong session monitoring and pattern checking, stringent permission and control, and 24/7 threat identification.
It is meant to help IT support teams, contractors, and third-party vendors get access to the system while not compromising their credentials.
Some of BeyondTrust’s features include password protection and management, endpoint protection, and interoperability with other security products.
Due to its centrality in guarding remote teams, it remains highly valued among organizations with distributed staff.
Features:
- Secure remote access to critical systems
- Granular control over user permissions
- Session monitoring with detailed auditing
- MFA and endpoint security integrations
5. Broadcom Symantec Privileged Access Management (PAM)
Broadcom Symantec PAM aims at protecting privileged access through a single source of policy enforcement, dynamic credential handling, and recording privileged sessions.
It is suitable to manage hybrid cloud environments, enabling an organization to control access to both physical and cloud networks.
It complements other tools in Broadcom’s security portfolio and improves the overall protection strategy.
Symantec PAM is a comprehensive solution for enterprise customers requiring features such as just-in-time access, selective delegation of privileges, and compliance reports.
Features:
- High-performance session management
- Granular policy enforcement
- Real-time threat analytics and risk mitigation
- Scalable architecture for large enterprises
6. CyberArk Privileged Access Management
CyberArk provides the most sophisticated software stack for PAM and is a current market leader in that space. Its key enhancements are password storage, unique server sessions, and threat detection in real time.
Still, CyberArk is overly useful for big companies with intricate IT structures in terms of their IT infrastructure security
The company’s solution works in the cloud, on-premises, and in hybrid environments, making access secure for humans and applications.
The unmatched scalability, use of artificial intelligence, and, most importantly, inclusion of compliance make CyberArk one of the most sought-after solutions for most enterprises.
Features:
- Credential vaulting and secure password rotation
- Session recording and detailed logging
- Secure DevOps secrets management
- Risk-based adaptive authentication
7. Delinea Secret Server
Delinea Secret Server is a strong PAM tool that deals with privileged identities and secrets for employees.
It has an encrypted deposit bank, automatic changing of the password, and comprehensive reporting of the activities of the tool. The platform works well with other existing IT environments and improves security without interrupting operations
Secret Server is easy to use and built to grow your business; it is ideal for organizations of different sizes.
Due to its orientation on enforcing robust yet easy-to-use measures for privileged access management, it stands as the preferred solution for any company.
Features:
- Secure storage and rotation of credentials
- Privileged session management
- Real-time alerts and reporting
- Integration with cloud services and DevOps tools
8. ManageEngine PAM360
ManageEngine PAM360 is a single-console PAM solution for managing enterprises. It offers password managers, session monitoring, as well as risk-based privilege sessions.
Its dashboard gives an overview of all account activities with privileged status, which will help in taking a systematic approach to monitoring and compliance
The multi-tenancy helps PAM360, and scalable reporting makes it excellent for large organizations seeking enterprise-level solutions. It can be easily integrated with other members of the ManageEngine family to facilitate an integrated IT management solution.
This means that its primary concentration is to provide a full solution in the form of PAM, which provides effective and secure access control.
Features:
- Centralized privileged access governance
- Password and key management
- Comprehensive auditing and reporting tools
- Automated workflows and policy enforcement
9. Saviynt Cloud PAM
Saviynt Cloud PAM is a software dedicated to the provision of privileged access in the multi-cloud, hybrid environment.
It also ensures automatic subscription, risk management in real-time, and smart analytics for the estate. Saviynt has a prominent emphasis on the native components, which makes it a preferred tool for organizations that have maximum trust in the cloud framework.
Its use in identity governance and risk management solutions makes it conform to integrative procedures and increases organizational simplicity.
Saviynt Cloud PAM is perfect for those companies that want a modern cloud-oriented solution to a PAM problem.
Features:
- Cloud-native architecture for hybrid environments
- Dynamic access provisioning and de-provisioning
- Integration with identity governance platforms
- Real-time risk scoring and threat analytics
10. One Identity Safeguard
One Identity Safeguard is a single solution that provides safe storage for credentials as well as session management and real-time threat detection.
It provides a secure appliance-based deployment and is easy to implement with high data assurance. This also indicates that the organization of the platform has a clear user orientation and can be easily managed and expanded
The features such as auto password management, behavior analytics, and integration in IAM tools make One Identity Safeguard one of the most secure and convenient options for managing the passwords of businesses.
Features:
- Secure credential vault and password rotation
- Real-time session monitoring and recording
- Role-based access control
- Comprehensive compliance and audit capabilities
Ending Note
Selecting the appropriate Privileged Access Management (PAM) solution is a vital process if an organization wants to improve its security and compliance levels.
All of the ten highlighted solutions have their specific advantages targeted at different requirements, based on the focus on cloud, hybrid, or large-scale businesses
A well-designed solution can help to block insider threats, secure valuable assets, and maintain process integrity within a business.
Since cyber threats are dynamic, it becomes paramount to implement a comprehensive yet flexible PAM solution that will pay off in the long run.
FAQs
Can PAM solutions integrate with cloud environments?
Yes, many modern PAM tools, such as Saviynt Cloud PAM and CyberArk, are designed for hybrid and multi-cloud environments.
How does PAM prevent credential theft?
PAM solutions protect the credentials based on aspects such as password storage, frequent changes, MFA, and real-time threat alerts.
Are PAM solutions suitable for small businesses?
Yes, such tools as JumpCloud and Heimdal PAM provide companies with delicate solutions meant for small and mid-sized businesses.
What is session monitoring in PAM?
Keeping track of high-level sessions makes it easy to document the various activities that a user undertakes while logged in as a privileged user.
Do PAM solutions support zero-trust security models?
Yes, the vast majority of PAM tools can integrate with Zero Trust by limiting access according to the principle of least privilege and need to know.
