Service accounts are nonhuman privileged accounts used by systems or applications to perform certain tasks, access resources or run processes. These accounts are typically given only the permissions they need for a specific job. According to ReliaQuest, 85% of data breaches between January 2024 and July 2024 that organizations responded to involved compromised service accounts. To prevent the misuse of credentials, organizations should secure their service accounts.

When organizations adopt remote work, they face increased cybersecurity risks. Privileged Access Management (PAM) helps mitigate these risks by reducing the attack surface, minimizing insider threats, and providing enhanced visibility and monitoring capabilities. Continue reading to learn the cybersecurity risks unique to remote work environments and how PAM helps address them.

An audit trail, also known as an audit log, records actions and operations within an organization’s system in great chronological detail. Audit trails can be used in various ways; specifically, in cybersecurity, they identify security violations by detecting who accessed data, what changes were made and when an action occurred.

Some common cyber threats facing the retail industry include ransomware attacks, social engineering, system intrusions and insider threats. The retail sector is often targeted by cybercriminals because of the valuable customer data it processes, including credit card information, Personally Identifiable Information (PII) and shopping patterns. This data is often collected and sold on the dark web for financial fraud or identity theft.

In 2024, the public sector faced a number of data breaches, highlighting the vulnerability of government agencies and public institutions in the face of evolving cyber threats. From leaked sensitive data to ransomware attacks targeting critical infrastructure, these incidents exposed significant gaps in cybersecurity measures. As cybercriminals grow more sophisticated, the stakes for protecting personal and national data have never been higher.

Your organization can achieve zero-standing privilege by following best practices such as enforcing least privilege access, implementing Just-in-Time (JIT) access and continuously monitoring and auditing privileged access. Following these best practices ensures that privileged access is granted only when necessary, and for the shortest duration possible, significantly reducing your organization’s attack surface and enhancing overall security.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) recently issued a warning that iPhone and Android users should begin using encrypted messaging apps to protect the privacy of their communications from foreign hackers. The FBI issued this warning after Salt Typhoon – a Chinese hacking group – infiltrated American networks and began collecting data from phone calls and text messages.

The main difference between Just-in-Time (JIT) access and Just Enough Privilege (JEP) is that JIT access focuses on how long access is granted, which is only on an as-needed basis. On the other hand, JEP focuses on what access is granted. Although both strategies minimize the risk of standing privileges, JIT access and JEP function in different ways with different priorities. Continue reading to learn more about JIT access, JEP, their key differences and how they work together in access management.

The best way to handle increasing privileged access needs as your organization expands is to choose a Privileged Access Management (PAM) solution that grows with you. PAM refers to managing and securing accounts with access to privileged information, including sensitive systems and data. IT administrators, HR staff and other employees with access to sensitive information should be managed with a PAM solution to protect your data and reduce the risk of cyber attacks.

The best way to adjust your Privileged Access Management (PAM) strategy for growth is to choose a cloud-based PAM solution that scales with your organization. You may face many challenges when adjusting your PAM strategy as your organization grows, including more complex infrastructure, a higher number of login credentials to manage and increased security risks, so you need to have a flexible PAM solution.