How to Conduct a Successful Privileged Access Management Audit

As we’ve already established in our previous article, the ‘privilege overreach’ phenomenon can pose a serious security risk, which could lead to data breaches, operational downtime, and financial losses.

This threat demands more than just awareness; it requires a strategic and thorough response. But how exactly can you identify how privileged access is handled within your organization? Does your IT team manage to apply best practices in privileged access management?

One way to go about it is by conducting an audit, which will provide you with a bird’s-eye view of your PAM infrastructure.

To help you achieve this, I’ve put together a step-by-step guide on How to Run a Successful Privileged Access Management Audit:

1. Define the scope and objectives

Begin by determining the audit’s primary goals. For instance, if your primary concern is:

• Security, the goal could be to identify and mitigate any vulnerabilities associated with privileged accounts that could lead to data breaches.
• Compliance, the audit could aim to comply with specific regulations like GDPR, (ISO) 27001 or HIPAA, which require stringent control over access to sensitive data.
• Operational efficiency, the goal might be to streamline the management of privileged accounts, reducing administrative overhead and enhancing system performance.

Next, clearly outline the audit’s scope. This involves identifying specific:

• Systems
• Networks
• and privileged accounts that will be scrutinized.

Select those that are integral to your organization’s core functions and data security, such as critical data servers, key network infrastructure, and high-level administrator accounts.

2. Establish a PAM audit team

Assemble a cross-functional audit team with expertise in cybersecurity, IT operations, compliance, and risk management. Depending on the size of the organization, one such team could include:

A Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) to oversee the audit, aligning it with the company’s overall cybersecurity strategy and ensuring effective team coordination.

A Cybersecurity Specialist to evaluate technical security aspects of PAM and identify potential vulnerabilities.

An IT Operations Manager to provide practical insights into the day-to-day management of privileged accounts.

A Compliance Officer to ensure PAM practices comply with relevant regulations like GDPR or (ISO) 27001.

A Risk Manager to assess and advise on risks associated with privileged access.

An HR Representative to manage the human element of PAM, focusing on access rights related to employment changes.

3. Inventory privileged accounts

Create a complete inventory of all privileged accounts in the organization, including administrator, root, service, and application accounts. This inventory should not only cover technical accounts but also include those held by key personnel in the organization:

Administrator Accounts: These are essential for managing systems and often have wide-ranging control.

Root Accounts: Especially in Unix/Linux environments, these accounts offer complete system control.

Service Accounts: Used for applications for system interactions, often with significant access rights.

Application Accounts: These accounts allow applications to access databases and other services and can have extensive privileges.

CEOs, project and team leaders, and other management staff: These accounts may have elevated privileges for project management tools, financial data, or sensitive internal information.

The primary aim of this inventory is to gain full visibility over all privileged accounts. Many regulatory frameworks require a detailed inventory of privileged accounts as part of access control and management practices.

To effectively create and maintain this inventory, organizations can use a combination of automated tools, which efficiently scan and identify privileged accounts, and manual auditing for detailed reviews, particularly in specific systems or smaller environments.

It’s important to keep this inventory up to date, reflecting any changes such as the creation of new accounts or modifications to existing ones, ensuring it remains an accurate resource for ongoing security management.

4. Assess PAM policies and procedures

Evaluate if your current PAM policies reflect industry standards and regulatory compliance, such as GDPR, (ISO) 27001 or HIPAA. This ensures that policies are not only effective but also legally sound.

Pinpoint areas where policies may fall short, whether in addressing emerging threats or accommodating new technologies or business processes.

For instance, with the increasing adoption of cloud-based services, a PAM policy that was effective for on-premises infrastructure might need updating to address the specific challenges of cloud environments.

5. Review access controls

Focus on how access to privileged accounts is managed. To do this, you need to carefully check who has access to these accounts and what amount of access each person has.

The key is to ensure that each user’s access level aligns appropriately with their job role and responsibilities.

For example, a network administrator might require extensive system access, while a department manager may only need limited access to specific data.

This review helps in identifying any instances of overprivileged users, which can pose a significant security risk, and ensures that access privileges are granted strictly on a need-to-use basis, adhering to the principle of least privilege.

6. Evaluate authentication mechanisms

Focus on how users with special access privileges are verified before granting them entry into sensitive systems, such as multi-factor authentication (MFA).

MFA is an extra layer of security on top of passwords. It typically combines something the user knows (like a password), something the user has (like a security token), and something the user is (like a fingerprint or facial recognition).

Ensure that the methods used for authenticating privileged users are strong and comply with the best security practices, minimizing the risk of unauthorized access. For instance, check if password policies enforce complexity and regular changes, and whether biometric authentication, if used, is reliable and secure.

Example: In a financial institution, where access to financial data is highly sensitive, the audit might reveal that while basic MFA is in place, it relies on less secure methods like SMS-based authentication.

The recommendation could be to upgrade to more secure MFA methods, such as app-based one-time passwords (OTPs) or hardware tokens.

7. Review password management

Evaluate policies for password complexity and rotation. For example, ensure that passwords for system administrators are a mix of characters, numbers, and symbols, and are changed every 60 days.

Also, check how passwords are stored and transmitted. For instance, ensure they are encrypted in storage and during transmission, using technologies like SSL/TLS.

You can read more about credential management in this article: What Is Credential Management? Definition and Best Practices.

8. Review Just-in-Time access

Identify if Just-in-Time Access (JIT) is in place, which grants access only when needed. For example, a database administrator might receive temporary access to a server for a specific task, which automatically expires after a set period.

JIT makes it easier to apply the principle of least privilege, as well as the zero-trust model, in which nothing is trusted, and everything is examined before allowing it privileged access.

If you want to learn more about the just-in-time access approach, check out this article: Just-in-Time Access Explained. What It Means, Benefits and Best Practices of JIT.

9. Review Monitoring and Auditing Mechanisms

Evaluate the effectiveness of real-time monitoring for privileged accounts. For instance, if a privileged user performs an unusual batch of deletions, the system should flag this activity immediately for review.

PAM and Application Control tools, in combination with security information and event management (SIEM) platforms, can help you achieve that.

You should also ensure audit logs are secure from tampering. For example, logs can be stored in a write-once, read-many (WORM) formats, making unauthorized alterations impossible.

10. Evaluate Access Request and Approval Workflow

Scrutinize how access to privileged accounts is managed. For instance, any request for elevated access might require approval from two senior managers, followed by an automated system check.

With privilege elevation and delegation management tools such as Heimdal’s PEDM, you can both escalate and de-escalate user rights, remove permanent rights when they are needed, block untrusted applications in one click, and more.

Regularly review and update access permissions. Depending on the needs of your organization, conduct quarterly audits to ensure all current privileged users still require their level of access and adjust accordingly.

11. Conduct a risk assessment

Perform a risk assessment and identify scenarios that could lead to security breaches. Assess the potential impact of these breaches on the organization.

For example, in the case of compromised administrator credentials, estimate the potential data loss and impact on business operations.

This step helps identify potential threats and vulnerabilities associated with privileged access, enabling the organization to take proactive measures.

12. Check compliance alignment

Compliance with industry standards and regulations like GDPR, HIPAA, SOX, (ISO) 27001 or PCI DSS is necessary to avoid legal repercussions and maintain trust.

Review your PAM system and practices against the regulations that your organization needs. Ensure that policies, procedures, and tools are in line with these regulatory requirements.

13. Test the newly established procedures

Conduct simulated attack scenarios, such as a mock data breach involving a privileged account. Observe how quickly and effectively your team identifies, contains, and addresses the issue.

This way, you can evaluate how your organization will react in a real crisis.

Example: The report could highlight an observed lapse in password management practices and recommend adopting stronger password policies and regular password audits.

14. Prepare a report

Compile a comprehensive report detailing all aspects of the PAM audit – from how privileges are assigned to how access is monitored and logged, to any weaknesses or areas of non-compliance.

Include potential risks identified and actionable recommendations for improvement.

Example: The audit report might find issues with how privileged accounts are monitored, particularly in tracking their access to different applications. To fix this, the report could suggest using an application control tool.

Or it could reveal an excessive privilege problem, with some users being granted more access rights than necessary for their job functions, increasing the risk of internal threats or accidental misuse.

A PAM solution could help with this by automating the process of escalating and de-escalating user access rights, ensuring they align with current job responsibilities and adhere to the principle of least privilege.

15. Present findings to stakeholders & apply recommendations

Organize a meeting or presentation to discuss the audit report, emphasizing critical findings and recommended actions.

Sharing the audit findings with key stakeholders like management and the IT team ensures that everyone is aware of the risks and understands the necessary actions to improve PAM practices.

Develop a plan to address the audit’s recommendations, which might include tightening policies, upgrading monitoring tools, or conducting regular training sessions for employees.

Several high-profile breaches have been linked to compromised privileged account credentials. Coupled with this, the accelerated migration to cloud, blurring enterprise security perimeters and the overall increase in the number of cyberattacks all contribute to the growth of PAM adoption.

Gartner, 2021

Wrap Up

Wrapping up our expedition through the 15-step guide to a Privileged Access Management audit, remember that this process is much more than a checklist; it’s a continuous commitment.

By carefully following these steps, you’re not only improving security but also fostering a culture of awareness and vigilance.

So, take these tips, apply them carefully, and observe how a well-conducted PAM audit can transform your cyber defense. Remember, in cybersecurity, remaining aware and proactive is your best strategy!

FAQs

What is a PAM audit?

A PAM audit is a process of overseeing and examining Privileged Access Management accounts. It helps organizations identify suspicious activities, track access to sensitive systems, and ensure that privileged access is used only for authorized purposes, enhancing security and risk management.

How do you audit privileged access?

To audit privileged access effectively, begin by defining the audit’s scope and objectives, establish a cross-functional audit team, inventory all privileged accounts, assess PAM policies and procedures, review access controls, evaluate authentication mechanisms, and scrutinize password management.

Additionally, assess Just-in-Time access, monitoring and auditing mechanisms, access request and approval workflows, and conduct a risk assessment.

Ensure compliance alignment with relevant regulations and test the established procedures through simulated attack scenarios.

Finally, compile a comprehensive report and present findings to stakeholders while implementing recommended improvements for enhanced security and compliance.

What is privileged access risk?

Privileged access risk refers to the potential security threats and vulnerabilities associated with individuals or accounts having elevated privileges, such as system administrators or superusers.

These users have extensive access rights, and if their credentials are compromised or misused, it can lead to unauthorized access, data breaches, and significant security breaches.

What is an example of a privileged account?

An example of a privileged account is a system administrator’s account, often referred to as “root” in Unix/Linux or “Administrator” in Windows environments.

These accounts have extensive control over computer systems, allowing users to configure, manage, and modify critical system settings and access sensitive data, making them high-value targets for security.

What is privilege overreach?

Privilege overreach refers to a situation where a user or account with elevated privileges or access rights goes beyond their necessary or authorized actions.

This can involve accessing, modifying, or controlling resources or data beyond what is required for their job or responsibilities. Privilege overreach can result in security risks, data breaches, and misuse of privileged access.

Madalina Popovici

Digital PR Specialist

Madalina, a seasoned digital content creator at Heimdal®, blends her passion for cybersecurity with an 8-year background in PR & CSR consultancy. Skilled in making complex cyber topics accessible, she bridges the gap between cyber experts and the wider audience with finesse.