Privilege elevation and delegation management (PEDM) is all about granting higher access only when necessary and revoking it once the task is done. To do this securely and efficiently, a solution must support on-demand elevation, approval workflows, logging, and real-time controls.
Just-in-time (JIT) privilege elevation ensures users get elevated privileges only when and for however long they need it. But the real security value comes from how this access is requested, granted, used, and revoked. Incorporating JIT privilege elevation into an organization's workflow can help improve its security standing without having to compromise on efficiency.
Most security breaches stem from the misuse of privileged accounts. While JIT privilege elevation is designed to combat privilege abuse directly, the extent to which it is effective depends on how well organizations leverage some of its key capabilities.
JIT privilege elevation also applies to how organizations share privileged credentials with users. Password request-release workflows bring structure and control to this process by requiring users to submit access requests for privileged credentials. Administrators, who are typically the owners of these resources, review and approve the request if they deem it valid. Once approved, the password is released to the user, usually for a period of time specified beforehand.
Most PAM tools with JIT support come with password request-release features. These workflows allow admins to configure the solution to best fit their organization by allowing them to:
Specify the number of administrators whose approval is required for a user to be granted access.
Require users to provide the reason they require access while submitting an access request.
Specify a time limit for which the password is released to the user.
Automate password rotation once the password has been checked in (either manually by the user or because the time limit has expired).
A strong JIT privilege elevation setup allows for user privileges to be elevated to the level of a domain admin for a limited time following their request being approved. This process, which can be automated using predefined access policies, allows domain users to access resources across endpoints as administrators, enabling them to perform privileged tasks using their own credentials across systems.
Local users should also be eligible to have their privileges elevated, enabling admin-level access to the endpoints that their accounts were created in. This privilege elevation should also adhere to the time-bound, request-based ideology of JIT privilege elevation.
Sometimes security goes beyond controlling when users have access to include what users have access to. On Windows systems, JIT privilege elevation can be used to give users access to the specific applications that they require to perform their tasks. By giving users access only to the applications they need, the risks associated with the exposure of privileged resources and privilege abuse are minimized.
When it comes to Linux systems, JIT privilege elevation naturally shifts focus to the command line. Instead of giving users complete administrative control for a limited time, users are only allowed to run a specific set of approved commands with elevated privileges. This makes user activity easier to control and monitor, without getting in the way of the task.
While there is no one-size-fits-all model of JIT privilege elevation, these features ensure that privileged access granted to a user is always intentional and temporary. The adaptability of the JIT ideology ensures security never comes at the cost of efficiency. By providing access only when it is needed and for how long it is needed, JIT privilege elevation secures privileged resources while also providing structure to privileged access management.
ManageEngine PAM360 is a comprehensive privileged access management platform designed to secure, manage, and monitor privileged accounts across the enterprise. It extends its capabilities to implement the principles of privilege elevation and delegation management (PEDM) by enabling organizations to enforce just-in-time elevation, apply granular policies, and monitor elevated activity without granting standing admin rights.
It gives organizations the essential building blocks to enforce PEDM securely, streamline operations, and scale privileged access management without adding complexity.
An ideal privilege elevation strategy should offer policy-based access, time limits, approval workflows, session control, and audit logs. These features help ensure secure, controlled, and well-documented access management.
Session monitoring enhances security by capturing all activity during elevated access. This provides valuable data for compliance and forensic investigations, when needed.
Elevation can adapt based on the context, taking into account factors like the risk score, device being used, or the time of access. This way, access is granted more intelligently and securely depending on the situation.