Enhancing Business Security with Privileged Identity and Access Management  

Safeguarding sensitive business data and resources against unauthorised access is of utmost importance when facing cyber threats. In a recent article, we covered the importance of the Principle of Least Privilege Access in ensuring that businesses enhance their data and access security. However, we also understand that for many businesses and their users may occasionally require enhanced privileges to access certain data or perform certain tasks. Rather than leave these employees with permanently enhanced privileges, which does not follow the Principle of Least Privilege Access, it is better to temporarily assign these privileges as and when they are required. One tool that stands out as part of this type of solution is Microsoft Azure's Privileged Identity Management (PIM), a robust solution which can form a critical part of a business’ security and access management infrastructure, ensuring that access privileges are extended only to the right individuals at the right time and only for the amount of time they require. 

What is Azure Privileged Identity Management?
Azure Privileged Identity Management (PIM) is a service offered within the Microsoft Azure cloud platform as part of their Azure Active Directory user management platform. It is designed to manage, control, and monitor access within an Azure AD organisation, particularly focusing on privileged access. Privileged access refers to the elevation of privileges to allow employees to access data they would otherwise not be able to or perform tasks (such as those that may require administration privileges) that would normally not comply with the permissions for their role under the Principle of Least Privilege Access. 

What Does Azure Privileged Identity Management (PIM) Do?
The core function of Azure PIM is to provide “just-in-time" access to Azure Active Directory and Azure resources, thus reducing the risk associated with excessive or longstanding elevated privileges. It meticulously monitors and records all privileged activities, ensuring that they are carried out in accordance with established security policies. 

Just-In-Time Access: Azure PIM facilitates “just-in-time access,” where users are granted only the necessary permissions to accomplish tasks, only when required, and for a defined period. 

Role-Based Access Control (RBAC): Azure PIM employs Role-Based Access Control, allowing for the assignment of permissions, as well as automated approvals of specific permissions, to users based on their role within the business. 

Access Reviews: Regular access reviews ensure that only necessary individuals retain their privileged access under the Principle of Least Privilege Access, while others are relegated to lower access levels, or removed altogether. 

Benefits for Business Security and Access Management
By its nature, Azure PIM provides a multitude of benefits that significantly bolster business data security and streamline access management. 

• Minimised Risk of Breach: By limiting the scope of access, and duration of access privileges, Azure PIM minimises the risk that malicious threat actors may be able to access your business’ sensitive data. 
• Compliance and Reporting: The extensive logging and reporting capabilities of Azure PIM ensure compliance with regulatory standards such as GDPR, and certifications such as Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus, providing insights into access patterns and permission requirements of users in specific roles within your business. 
• Operational Efficiency: Streamlining the process of granting and revoking access privileges enhances operational efficiency, ensuring that your employees can access the resources they require, when they need it, increasing efficiency and improving security. 
• Cost Effectiveness: While safeguarding critical business resources, Azure PIM also provides a cost-effective solution to managing employee data and permission access, thereby reducing the administrative overhead associated with managing access privileges. 

How can TwentyFour help your business with Privileged Identity and Access Management?
Azure Privileged Identity Management is an essential tool for businesses that are keen on fortifying their access and data security. By adhering to the Principle of Least Privilege Access and Managing Access Privileges, it can prevent significant security and data breaches. 

However, Azure Privileged Identity Management is not the only way to manage access security. As part of our Managed IT Support and Cyber Security solutions TwentyFour can provide tools such as remote Privileged Access Management which can provide one-time temporary privilege elevation, our tools can also see the software, addon or plugin that is being installed, check to see if it may be malicious, provide a detailed report on what the software can access, and much more. Providing a comprehensive overview of how your software operates, ensuring that it does not access more than it needs to. Additionally, we can whitelist software that your users require, from trusted sources. 

To find out more about our Privileged Identity and Access Management solutions, reach out to us today.

Additionally, if your business would like a Free Cyber Security Health Check, fill out the form below.