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To ensure that organizations select the ideal PAM solution for them, it is important to identify which features give them the best possible security posture without compromising on efficiency.
Every organization consists of countless endpoints, credentials, and accounts. A good PAM solution offers a central point of access from which all these resources can be secured and governed. With organizations expanding rapidly, and the use of non-human identities (NHIs) becoming commonplace, it is important that there are regular discovery cycles and that databases are updated promptly.
The first step in privileged access management is to secure privileged credentials. A good PAM solution offers a central vault for privileged credentials and enables automated password rotation periodically or at the end of every privileged session.
Privileged accounts are the easiest entry points for threat actors, making their security crucial. By implementing role-based access controls and enforcing least privileges, threats like privilege abuse and privilege escalation are minimized.
Privilege elevation is a practice that is helpful when users need access to applications or files that are beyond their assigned access levels. Users can request administrators to give them time-bound elevated access, so that they can run the applications necessary for their task as an administrator. By using a PAM solution, the entire workflow, starting from access requests, up until access provisioning and revoking, is streamlined, making the administrator's role easier and privilege elevation more secure.
When privileged sessions are live, PAM solutions enable administrators to monitor user action in real time and terminate the session if they identify any suspicious or malicious activity.
Another important aspect of privileged session management is to ensure that all privileged sessions are recorded, and that these recordings are stored for security and audit purposes. This helps both incident response as well as compliance with security standards that mandate organizations to maintain detailed audit logs on privileged sessions.
The aspect of security solutions that most often makes organizations question their choices is when it slows down their workflows. A good PAM solution doesn't just lock down credentials and manage privileged access, it does so while improving efficiency and providing structure.
Investing in a PAM solution is more than just a security upgrade—it's a strategic move to streamline operations, secure workflows, and control who has access to what. PAM360 brings together all these capabilities and more to provide organizations with a comprehensive solution that helps with their privileged access management strategies.
ManageEngine PAM360 is a privileged access management platform that brings together all the essentials for securing privileged access. From credential vaulting and just-in-time privileges to session monitoring and compliance reports, everything is available in one place.This way, IT teams get complete visibility into who has access, when they use it, and what actions are taken; all without juggling multiple tools or adding unnecessary complexity.
Core PAM features include credential vaulting for secure storage of privileged passwords, session management and recording to monitor administrative activities, access control policies that enforce least privilege, privileged account discovery to identify all administrative accounts, and password rotation to reset credentials automatically. Additional capabilities include just-in-time access provisioning, multi-factor authentication enforcement, and comprehensive audit logging. Modern PAM solutions also offer workflow automation, analytics for threat detection, and integration with SIEM and ticketing systems.
Session recording captures all privileged user activities during administrative sessions, creating a complete audit trail for compliance and forensic investigation. It enables security teams to detect malicious insider behavior, identify policy violations, and understand the root cause of security incidents or system changes. Recordings support compliance requirements by providing evidence of who accessed what systems and what actions they performed. The visibility also deters risky behavior when users know their privileged sessions are monitored and recorded.
Automation eliminates manual overhead in managing privileged credentials by automatically rotating passwords, provisioning temporary access, and deprovisioning accounts when access periods expire. It reduces human error by enforcing consistent security policies across all privileged accounts and streamlining access request workflows with approval routing. Automation enables scalability by managing thousands of credentials across diverse systems without manual intervention. It also accelerates incident response by automatically triggering password changes when suspicious activity is detected or compliance violations occur.
Credential vaulting securely stores privileged passwords, SSH keys, API tokens, and certificates in an encrypted, centralized repository with access controls. When users need privileged access, they authenticate to the vault which either provides temporary credentials or brokers connections without revealing the actual password. The vault automatically rotates credentials on a scheduled basis or after each use, ensuring passwords are never static or shared. All credential retrievals and usage are logged for audit purposes, creating accountability while eliminating password sprawl across spreadsheets, scripts, or sticky notes.
Granular access control allows organizations to define precisely who can access which privileged accounts, on which systems, at what times, and for what purposes. It goes beyond simple allow/deny by implementing conditions based on user role, department, risk level, time of day, location, and approval requirements. Administrators can restrict specific commands or actions within privileged sessions, preventing high-risk operations while allowing necessary administrative tasks. This fine-grained control enforces least privilege principles by ensuring users receive only the minimum access needed to perform their specific job functions.
Just-in-Time (JIT) access eliminates standing privileges by granting elevated permissions only when needed and automatically revoking them after a defined time period. Users request temporary privileged access through a workflow that may require approval, and the PAM solution provisions credentials that expire after task completion or a set duration. This approach dramatically reduces the attack surface by ensuring privileged accounts remain disabled or non-existent until legitimately required. JIT access also provides context for each privileged session through ticketing integration, making it clear why access was granted and improving audit trails.
PAM operationalizes Zero Trust by enforcing "never trust, always verify" for all privileged access regardless of user location or network zone. It validates user identity through MFA, assesses device posture and risk context before granting access, and continuously monitors session behavior for anomalies. PAM implements least privilege and Just-in-Time access, core Zero Trust principles that minimize implicit trust and standing permissions. By assuming breach and treating all privileged access as high-risk, PAM creates segmentation boundaries and prevents lateral movement even if initial credentials are compromised.