Privileged Access Management: Protecting the Keys
Privileged accounts — administrators, service accounts, database credentials — are the highest-value targets for attackers. Compromising a single privileged account can provide access to an organisation's most sensitive systems and data.
Why PAM Matters
Verizon's DBIR consistently shows that privilege misuse and stolen credentials are involved in a significant proportion of breaches. Privileged accounts can bypass security controls, access sensitive data directly, and modify system configurations to maintain persistence.
Insider threats are particularly relevant — employees and contractors with privileged access can cause significant damage whether through malice or negligence. Ponemon's 2025 research estimates the average insider incident costs $715K.
What PAM Provides
- Credential vaulting: Privileged passwords are stored in an encrypted vault, eliminating shared credentials and password reuse
- Session monitoring: All privileged sessions are recorded, providing accountability and forensic capability
- Just-in-time access: Privileges are granted temporarily and revoked automatically, reducing the window of exposure
- Automated rotation: Credentials are rotated regularly without manual intervention
The ROI Case
PAM typically costs $80K-$200K annually for mid-size organisations. It delivers strong risk reduction across insider threats (40%), data breaches (35%), cloud security (30%), and regulatory compliance (25%). For organisations with significant privileged access requirements, PAM consistently delivers positive ROI.