Decoding PAM: Core concepts and application

Being handed the keys to our first car, first home, or first job site often comes with a profound sense of responsibility. We take every precaution to ensure those keys are never lost. For IT professionals, receiving the proverbial "keys to the kingdom" — access to privileged accounts — is a comparable experience. Because these accounts provide high-level access to an organization’s most critical systems and sensitive data, they require vigilant management and stringent security measures to discourage and thwart breaches — without interfering with an organization’s operational efficiency.

This is where privileged access management (PAM), and specifically Devolutions PAM, becomes relevant. Although PAM has existed in the IT security sphere for some time, its scope and functionalities can differ from one organization to the next. We’ve compiled this list of core concepts to help you better navigate the PAM dialogue.

Understanding PAM

Privileged access management (PAM) is a cybersecurity strategy that concerns controlling and monitoring access to critical systems and sensitive data within an organization.

Privileged access refers to the ability to perform an action or access data that is restricted to a high level of permission within an organization's IT environment. This typically involves access to critical systems, sensitive data, or administrative functionalities that, if misused or compromised, could cause significant harm or security breaches. Having a PAM system in place ensures that access is securely managed and audited to prevent such damages.

Not all PAM systems will look identical, but here at Devolutions we’ve determined that a PAM system should include key components such as:

• a secured vault for storing privileged credentials,
• granular access controls to enforce least-privilege access principles, and
• comprehensive monitoring and reporting tools for audit and compliance purposes.

Flexibility of Devolutions PAM

Our PAM solution is available as a module that can be added to either our self-hosted credential manager, Devolutions Server, or our cloud-hosted password manager, Devolutions Hub, to enhance your security posture.

Our flagship solution, Remote Desktop Manager, is also compatible with PAM solutions from other providers like CyberArk, BeyondTrust Password Safe, and Delinea Secret Server, providing an excellent alternative for clients who want to enhance their existing setup.

Key features of Devolutions PAM

Devolutions PAM stands out with its robust feature set for managing and securing privileged accounts:

• Versatile account management: Integrate Active Directory, Entra ID (formerly Azure AD), local SSH users, and databases (MySQL, Oracle, Microsoft SQL).
• Password rotation and propagation: Rotate passwords and propagate changes across systems automatically.
• Granular role-based access controls: Enforce the principle of least privilege effectively by defining roles and associating them with specific access rights and permissions.
• Just-in-time (JIT) elevation: Grant users temporary elevated permissions within Active Directory or Azure groups for a specific task or time frame.
• Customizable approval processes: Regulate access with customizable approval requirements and recipients.

PAM and RDM integrated

• Comprehensive RDM integration: Use PAM features such as approvals and just-in-time (JIT) elevation in Remote Desktop Manager.
• Secured session launching: Enable credential injection (passing credentials without user access) for secure remote sessions (RDP, SSH) via Remote Desktop Manager.

Designed for SMBs

Our promise to provide SMBs with scalable and affordable solutions stays true. We’ve specifically designed our PAM features to meet the needs and constraints of SMBs: Devolutions PAM is easy to implement, user-friendly, and cost-effective. What’s more, our solutions are customizable over time, accompanying organizations as they scale and mature.

Grow with Devolutions

A small business may only need Remote Desktop Manager at the onset of its journey with us, but as the organization matures and its needs evolve, it will eventually require a tool for managing credentials while enabling users to be productive. That organization may choose to add Devolutions Server or Devolutions Hub to its IT management strategy. Then, as the need for better governance becomes a top security priority, the organization can complete its strategy with our PAM solution.

Conclusion

We hope this article has clarified how PAM can help safeguard your critical systems and sensitive data while ensuring operational efficiency. With Devolutions' PAM solution, you won’t have to worry about your keys getting into the wrong hands. If you are already using Devolutions Server, you are just a few clicks away from easily deploying our PAM solution. We invite you to book a demonstration with one of our experts to see Devolutions PAM in action!