The hidden complexity of privileged access management

Implementing Privileged Access Management (PAM) in hybrid IT environments is rarely straightforward. Identity sources are fragmented, infrastructure is distributed across cloud and on-premises systems, and privileged access is no longer limited to domain administrators. Modern PAM implementations must account for dynamic access patterns, non-human identities, and inconsistent enforcement mechanisms across platforms.

The challenge is therefore to ensure visibility, traceability, and real-time control across disparate infrastructures. Without this, the risk of exposure from over-privileged accounts, uncontrolled third-party access, and inadequate auditing of high-risk operations is high. Without a comprehensive PAM framework, organizations expose themselves to vulnerabilities that can lead to unauthorized access, data breaches, and compliance failures.

But what is relevant about PAM?

Overprivileged identities protection

Privilege creep is common in both user and system accounts. RBAC implementations often rely on coarse-grained roles that grant excessive access across systems. Service accounts can accumulate privileges over time or inherit privileges from other roles or templates. Without regular review, permissions can become disconnected from actual usage patterns, increasing the attack surface.

Third-party and non-human access control

Service accounts, APIs, CI/CD pipelines, and third-party support teams often require elevated permissions. However, these identities rarely follow standard lifecycle management. Tokens and keys are often hard-coded or persist beyond the intended scope. Temporary access has no expiration date, and ownership is often unclear, making it difficult to enforce revocation or trace changes back to a responsible party.

In conclusion

The key questions to consider are: 1. How do you ensure continuous visibility and control of privileged access as environments become more fragmented? 2. Are your current controls sufficient to manage non-human identities and temporary access? 3. Are are operational processes keeping pace with the increasing complexity of your environment?