Protecting your company’s most sensitive systems and data is no longer optional. With the cybercriminals relentlessly trying to get in, your mistake of not offering enough security could become a reason for theft and data breaches.

Privileged access management has become a critical component of cybersecurity. PAM provides a strong security framework that allows organizations to control and monitor sensitive data and systems.

You can mitigate risks, such as insider attacks or data breaches on critical digital infrastructure. However, for the privileged access management solution to be effective, you must invest in a strategic approach. Any mistake while implementing the framework can undermine your security efforts.

Here, we will look at the common pitfalls you should avoid while implementing PAM solutions in your organization.

8 Most Common Mistakes Businesses Make When Implementing PAM

By implementing privileged access management, you can strengthen your organization’s security. However, even the most well-intentioned efforts can fail with avoidable mistakes you make. Here are 8 mistakes that we believe businesses encounter while deploying PAM solutions.

1. Underestimating the Scope of Privileged Access

In many organizations, the scope of privileged access goes beyond the in-house teams. However, they tend to provide access to their IT teams, leaving out critical members. This can lead to security gaps, leaving the data unprotected.

You must create a detailed inventory of all the people and solutions who will need access. With the scope defined, you can avoid the exploitation of accounts and compliance violations.

You can overcome the mistake with a thorough audit and necessary action if you have already committed it.

2. Failing to Define Clear Policies and Procedures

Imagine having a framework that doesn’t provide distinct policies or procedures. It can lead to inconsistencies while using the access or enforcing them. Cybercriminals can easily find loopholes in this case.

To avoid this, you must define who gets access when they can access, and the session length. You must also mention exception cases, and how the PAM framework should account for that.

If you have a well-defined foundation for the implementation, your PAM tools are less likely to fail in maintaining security and compliance. Make sure to review the structured approach and keep delivering value with the framework

3. Neglecting Privileged Session Monitoring

Monitoring the privileged session can help detect suspicious activity in real-time. However, many of you ignore this feature while implementing the framework. While the initial access control is good to get started, monitoring is essential to ensure there are no insider attacks.

There are features like session recording and activity alerts that can help gain more visibility into the sessions and offer required accountability. By knowing what has transpired in a session, your security team can respond promptly against the threats.

4. Overlooking User Behavior and Context

When you have static rules for access control, you don’t take into consideration the evolving user behavior and contextual risks. Say, if there is an alert that mentions a different location or unusual login hour, it can indicate the credentials have been compromised.

By not including dynamic rules like behavior analytics and context-driven access, your system is vulnerable. To avoid these security concerns, you should use tools that help identify the dynamic elements and help address the threats proactively.

5. Inadequate Integration with Existing Security Tools

If you haven’t integrated your privileged access management solution with Identity and Access Management (IAM) tools, it works in silo. As a result, there is no data transfer or movement, which can hinder your organization’s ability to prevent a security mishap.

You need an integrated PAM framework comprising smooth workflows. This will help your organization stay vigilant, respond to all security threats, and offer strong security.

6. Ignoring the Principle of Least Privilege (PoLP)

The principle of least privilege is important when integrating PAM solutions. In case of its absence, you would offer more access to the people or systems than deemed necessary. This leads to more vulnerabilities in the system and the risk of unauthorized access.

By adopting PoLP, you can grant users access that is defined by their roles. It also helps review and restrict access to prevent attacks due to privilege escalation. It will also help you adhere to the compliance requirements.

7. Failing to Regularly Update and Maintain PAM Systems

Having an outdated PAM system means your security will pose threats and may not be able to face them. you should regularly update the system and ensure they are relevant to modern security needs. it should be compatible with the latest securities and patched for newer vulnerabilities.

Maintenance also includes reviewing your system’s configuration, removing unused accounts, and adapting to newer workflow needs. By avoiding the upgrade, you might cause security gaps in the current system.

8. Lack of Employee Training and Awareness

If your employees are not trained or aware of how the PAM solution works, the framework will fail. Human errors can cost you more data breaches, as they may fall to phishing scams.

It is crucial to train every single person on the need for privileged access, its usage, and the potential threats. As a result, you can establish a culture of accountability. Having detailed workshops and communicating the policies can help establish the framework’s effectiveness.

Building a Secure Future with Privileged Access Management

Implementing a privileged access management solution takes more than just the right tools and budget. You need to plan an effective strategy that can help overcome the vulnerabilities.

Avoiding the common implementation mistakes should also top your list of dos for the framework. From avoiding integration to underestimating the importance of training, several missteps can compromise the solution.

You must proactively address these mistakes or issues to build a strong framework that safeguards all your critical assets, ensuring adherence to compliance. The technology alone doesn’t make your security stronger; it takes thoughtful execution to mitigate the risks and enjoy the solution.

So, if you aim to power your critical digital assets with an effective PAM solution, you must use the right tools and refine the implementation approach.