Privileged Access Management (PAM) is a cybersecurity solution designed to secure, manage, and monitor access to critical systems by users with elevated privileges—such as administrators, developers, or third-party vendors. Since privileged accounts have extensive access across IT environments, they are prime targets for cyber attackers. A PAM solution enforces least-privilege access principles, ensuring users only access what they need, when they need it, with full visibility and control over all privileged activities.
PAM solutions help businesses secure sensitive data and infrastructure by isolating and protecting credentials, implementing session recording, managing password vaults, and automating access approvals. They drastically reduce the attack surface by eliminating hard-coded or shared credentials and by providing real-time alerts on suspicious privileged behavior. Additionally, PAM supports regulatory compliance (e.g., HIPAA, PCI-DSS, GDPR) by generating audit trails and enforcing strong authentication policies. For organizations, PAM is not just about preventing insider threats—it’s a foundational layer of defense against breaches originating from compromised admin accounts or supply chain vulnerabilities.
