What is an Example of Privileged Management?
Discover examples of privileged access management and the benefits they provide to your organization.
In today’s digital environment, where cyber threats evolve faster than we can say “data breach,” managing privileged access isn’t just a checkbox—it’s a survival strategy. Privileged Access Management (PAM) goes beyond basic access control to secure the keys to your kingdom: sensitive accounts, high-level permissions, and critical assets. But what does privileged management look like in action? In this article, we’ll dive into a practical example that showcases how effective PAM keeps your organization’s most sensitive data safe, reduces insider threats, and ensures compliance—all while making sure IT and Security teams can actually sleep at night.
What is an Example of Privileged Management?
One of the most compelling privileged accounts examples is in the healthcare sector where compliance with HIPAA, HITECH and GDPR is expected. Type 1 Violations of these regulations (the most serious) can cost an organization up to $50,000 per instance (up to 1.5 million dollars a year).
By using privileged access management solutions, healthcare organizations can limit access to privileged users only. This allows them to ensure compliance by both protecting patient information from breaches and misuse, as well as protecting themselves from the stiff penalties enforced for violations.
What is a Privileged Access Management Tool?
A privilege access management tool is an instrument of digital control that allows you to easily and simply limit who has access to privileged accounts/info in your organization.
It is important to remember that when using a PAM tool there are specific privileged access management best practices that should be adhered to including:
- Automating your security
- Ensure baselines are established and monitor for any changes in these
- Removal of end-point users
- Using multi-factor authentication
- Grant privileges to a user based on past usage and activity
- Providing just-in-time access
- Utilize temporary access
What is an Example of a Privileged User?
There are a range of users that are counted as privileged in PAM solutions. For example, super users as they have free access to all assets and they can change and install software.
Domain administrators, local administrators, and application administrators would also count as privileged users as they all have different levels of privilege that allow them to access and change specific things.
A specific example of a privileged user within the healthcare instance used above could be a doctor who is directly involved in caring for a patient. However, a doctor working in the same hospital who is not involved in directly caring for a patient would not necessarily count as a privileged user unless they are an active part of that care, and so would not automatically be granted access to a patient's detailed health records.
What are Privileged User Activities?
Privilege user activities are all the things that privileged users are permitted to do. For example, a privileged user of an organization's IT system may be allowed to :
- Modify system configurations
- Upgrade the operating system
- Remove software
- Install software
What is the Difference Between Standard Access and Privileged Access?
When implementing a PAM solution there will be different types of privileged accounts such as standard users, privileged users, and guest users.
The difference between standard access ( and guest users) and privileged access is that the latter provides a greater level of access and ability to perform activities. To use the health care example, a standard access user could be someone with a role like an administrator who can record basic information on a patient's file. Whereas a doctor who has privileged access would be able to change or update a diagnosis or provide a treatment plan.
What is the Concept of Privileged Identity Management?
Privileged identity management (PIM) solutions differ from PAM solutions in that they give users the ability to control, manage, and monitor the access privileges that people have to crucial resources within an organization.
Which PAM Tool is Best?
Lumos is tops among privileged access management tools because it offers four major benefits in one. Lumos uses the Principle of Least Privilege (PoLP), to boost the security of your organization and will save time by automating access requests and approval. Our PAM solution will save your organization money by automating renewals and making viewing and analyzing usage simple. Finally, Lumos PAM solutions make compliance easier than it's ever been with logs of every request and change, making audits a breeze.
Choose Lumos for all your PAM needs
When it comes to PAM vendors, Lumos’ PAM solution shines. It's because we offer a Unified Access Platform for IT and Security teams with PAM functionality that is designed to be easy and effective to use.
Our PAM approach is part SaaS management solution and part identity governance tool. It's this combination that ensures not only better security for your organization, but lower operating costs, and improved compliance and visibility too.
Find out how your organization can benefit from using Lumos and schedule a demo today!
