How to do a Privileged Access Management Audit?

How to do a Privileged Access Management Audit? About us Investors Partners Careers Solutions SOLUTIONS Zero Trust Suite Quantum-Safe Cryptography (QSC) SalaX Secure Collaboration Security Risk Assessment, Quantification & Mitigation By Topic Just-in-Time Access Secure vendor access Credentials & Secrets Management Hybrid & multi-cloud access management Interactive tour: Privileged Access in the Cloud M2M connections IT Audits & Compliance Secure file transfer By Industry Managed Service Providers (MSP) Operational Technology (OT) Federal Government Security Products SECURE ACCESS & SECRETS MANAGEMENT SECURE FILE TRANSFER & ENCRYPTION NQX™ quantum-ready encryption Tectia™ SSH Client/Server Tectia™ z/OS SalaX Secure Collaboration Secure Mail 2024 Secure Messaging 2024 SalaX Secure Collaboration Solutions SOLUTIONS PrivX Zero Trust Suite SalaX Secure Collaboration Strong ID-based access with Entra ID & Zero Trust Suite Quantum-Safe Cryptography (QSC) Security Risk Assessment, Quantification & Mitigation Device trust & access and identity verification Identity-based authentication & converged IAM and PAM TOPICS Just-in-Time Access Secure vendor access Credentials & Secrets Management Hybrid & Multi-Cloud Access Management Interactive tour: Privileged Access in the Cloud M2M Connections Management IT Audits & Compliance Secure File Transfer INDUSTRIES Managed Service Providers (MSP) Operational Technology (OT) Federal Government Security Healthcare Data Security OT Security IT/OT convergence of data & systems Zero Trust Access and ZSP Workflow approvals Secure remote access  Secure patch management  OT Compliance Discovery and threat intelligence Phishing-resistant MFA & device trust Products SalaX SECURE COLLABORATION Secure Mail Secure Messaging Secure Sign SalaX Secure Collaboration FQX File Encryptor SECURE ACCESS & SECRETS MANAGEMENT PrivX™ PAM PrivX™ OT Edition PrivX Key Manager SECURE FILE TRANSFER & ENCRYPTION Tectia™ SSH Server Tectia™ SSH Server for IBM z/OS PrivX Desktop NQX™ quantum-safe encryption Services SSH Risk Assessment™ Professional Services Support Contact us Customer cases PrivX Zero Trust PAM Enterprise Key Management UKM Tectia SFTP for servers & mainframes SSH Secure Collaboration Resources SSH Academy Content library Blog References Press releases Downloads Manuals Events & Webinars Media Legal Report a vulnerability Solutions SOLUTIONS PrivX Zero Trust Suite SalaX Secure Collaboration Strong ID-based access with Entra ID & Zero Trust Suite Quantum-Safe Cryptography (QSC) Security Risk Assessment, Quantification & Mitigation Device trust & access and identity verification Identity-based authentication & converged IAM and PAM TOPICS Just-in-Time Access Secure vendor access Credentials & Secrets Management Hybrid & Multi-Cloud Access Management Interactive tour: Privileged Access in the Cloud M2M Connections Management IT Audits & Compliance Secure File Transfer INDUSTRIES Managed Service Providers (MSP) Operational Technology (OT) Federal Government Security Healthcare Data Security OT Security IT/OT convergence of data & systems Zero Trust Access and ZSP Workflow approvals Secure remote access  Secure patch management  OT Compliance Discovery and threat intelligence Phishing-resistant MFA & device trust Products SalaX SECURE COLLABORATION Secure Mail Secure Messaging Secure Sign SalaX Secure Collaboration FQX File Encryptor SECURE ACCESS & SECRETS MANAGEMENT PrivX™ PAM PrivX™ OT Edition PrivX Key Manager SECURE FILE TRANSFER & ENCRYPTION Tectia™ SSH Server Tectia™ SSH Server for IBM z/OS PrivX Desktop NQX™ quantum-safe encryption Services SSH Risk Assessment™ Professional Services Support Contact us Customer cases PrivX Zero Trust PAM Enterprise Key Management UKM Tectia SFTP for servers & mainframes SSH Secure Collaboration Resources SSH Academy Content library Blog References Press releases Downloads Manuals Events & Webinars Media Legal Report a vulnerability About us Investors Partners Careers May 17, 2024 How to do a Privileged Access Management Audit? Written by: Esa Tornikoski

Privileged access management is similar to having a secret key to your company's most sensitive information. It's crucial to ensure it's secure and only accessible to the right people.

A PAM audit ensures that only authorized users have access to critical assets, thereby reducing the risk of data breaches and compliance violations. Through this audit, businesses can evaluate the effectiveness of their PAM practices, identify potential security risks, and improve their overall cybersecurity posture.

This article will guide you through the process of conducting a PAM audit, from understanding its importance to reporting the findings.

Brief Guide to Privileged Access Management (PAM) Audit Role of PAM in Cybersecurity Privileged Access Management (PAM) is a security strategy that controls and monitors the elevated access and permissions granted to users, accounts, and processes within an IT environment. PAM plays a pivotal role in cybersecurity by safeguarding against the exploitation of high-level access rights, which could lead to significant security incidents if misused.

Risks of Poor PAM Practices Without stringent PAM practices, organizations expose themselves to a higher risk of security breaches. Privileged accounts, when not properly managed, can become gateways for attackers to access and manipulate critical systems and confidential data. The repercussions of such breaches can be severe, ranging from financial losses to damage to an organization's reputation.

Importance of Auditing PAM A Privileged Access Management audit is a systematic evaluation of how an organization manages and secures its privileged accounts. Conducting a PAM audit is crucial for verifying that access rights are appropriately assigned and that policies for managing these rights are effective. Audits provide insights into the adherence to PAM best practices and compliance with regulatory standards, helping to prevent unauthorized access and potential data breaches.

Pre-audit Preparation for Auditing Privileged Access Management Audit Scope and Objectives Determination The first step in conducting a PAM audit is to define the scope and objectives clearly. This includes identifying which systems, applications, and data are considered critical assets and thus require privileged access control. It's crucial to understand what needs to be protected and why, to ensure that the audit covers all relevant areas.

Objectives should be specific and measurable, such as ensuring that all privileged accounts are authorized and that password management policies are being followed. It's also important to set objectives that align with compliance requirements and the organization's overall risk management strategy. This ensures that the audit provides value and supports the organization's business goals.

Selected Frameworks and Standards for Compliance Selecting the appropriate frameworks and standards is also critical for guiding the PAM audit process. These frameworks provide a structured approach to assessing and improving privileged access management within an organization. Popular frameworks include the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) guidelines, the ISO/IEC 27001 standard, and the Control Objectives for Information and Related Technologies (COBIT).

Each framework has its own set of best practices and requirements for managing and auditing privileged access. Aligning the audit with these standards ensures that the organization meets industry regulations and adopts a widely recognized approach to cybersecurity. Hence, it is important to choose a framework that aligns with the organization's specific needs and compliance obligations.

Staffing and Resource Allocation For a PAM audit to be successful, it is necessary to allocate the right personnel and resources. This involves forming a cross-functional audit team that includes members from IT operations, cybersecurity, compliance, and risk management. The diversity of this team ensures a comprehensive understanding of the technical, administrative, and regulatory aspects of privileged access management.

The audit team should have the authority to access all necessary information and systems to conduct a thorough review. Additionally, allocating the appropriate tools, such as SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) tools for monitoring and auditing, is essential for an effective audit. These resources will help the team to conduct a detailed analysis and provide accurate findings.

Conducting the PAM Audit Program Make an Audit Checklist 1. Review User Access Levels The audit should begin with a review of user access levels to ensure that only authorized users have privileged rights. This involves verifying that each privileged account is tied to an individual with appropriate job duties and that there is a legitimate business need for such access. The review process should also ensure that all privileged accounts are subject to access control policies and that there are mechanisms in place to revoke access when it is no longer required or when an employee's role changes.

It is critical to regularly review and update the list of privileged accounts, known as the PAC inventory, to reflect any organizational changes. This step helps prevent unauthorized access and reduces the risk of a security breach due to outdated access privileges.

2. Assess Password & Key Policy Management and Security Password management is a key component of privileged access management. The audit should assess the organization's password policies to ensure they align with industry standards and best practices. This includes evaluating the complexity and uniqueness of passwords, the frequency of mandatory changes, and the use of multi-factor authentication for additional security.

The audit should also review the processes for issuing, storing, and revoking passwords. It's important to ensure that there are secure methods in place for managing passwords, such as encrypted password vaults, and that there is strict control over who can access these management tools.

Advanced PAMs offer passwordless authentication, eliminating the need to vault passwords entirely. Moreover, the management of authentication keys, like SSH keys, is an often overlooked feature in PAMs but an important part of an audit.

Effective password and key management is a critical defense against unauthorized access and can significantly reduce the risk of a data breach.

3. Evaluate Role-Based Access Control Implementation Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) is a method of restricting system access to authorized users based on their role within an organization. The evaluation should include a review of how roles are defined, assigned, and managed, as well as how permissions are granted and reviewed.

The audit team should verify that roles are aligned with job duties and that there is a process for updating roles when necessary. This helps to ensure that users have access only to the resources that are necessary for their roles, reducing the risk of unauthorized access and potential security breaches.

4. Inspect Audit Trails for Adequacy and Compliance Audit trails are an essential component of privileged access management, as they provide a record of all activities performed with privileged accounts. During the audit, it's important to inspect these trails to ensure they are comprehensive, can effectively track and attribute actions to individual users, and are protected against unauthorized modification or deletion.

It should also assess whether the organization has the capability to conduct session monitoring and recording, which can be invaluable for investigating and responding to incidents. Ensuring that audit trails meet compliance requirements and industry standards is crucial for demonstrating due diligence and for maintaining the integrity of PAMs.

Work Through the Checklist The execution phase of the PAM audit involves putting the audit plan into action. The audit team must methodically work through the checklist, reviewing each item for compliance with the established scope and objectives. This phase typically includes conducting interviews with stakeholders, inspecting system configurations, and analyzing documentation and logs.

Maintain Open Communication The execution phase is where the audit team gathers the evidence needed to assess the effectiveness of the organization's PAM and identify any gaps that may exist.

During execution, it's important to maintain open communication with the IT team and other relevant departments to ensure a smooth audit process. The team should use the selected frameworks and standards as a guide to evaluating the organization's PAM practices against best practices and regulatory requirements.

Post-Audit Actions: Ensuring Continuous Improvement Issue Identification and Risk Assessment After executing the audit, the next step is to identify any issues or gaps in the organization's PAM practices. This involves analyzing the findings to determine the root cause of each issue and assessing the associated security risk. Common issues may include excessive user privileges, inadequate password policies, or insufficient monitoring and auditing capabilities.

Each identified issue should be categorized based on its potential impact on the organization, such as the likelihood of a data breach or compliance violation. This risk assessment is critical for prioritizing remediation efforts and for making informed decisions about where to allocate resources to improve the organization's cybersecurity posture.

Improvement Recommendations and Plan Development Upon identifying and assessing risks, the next step is to develop recommendations for improvement. These recommendations should be actionable, prioritized based on the level of risk, and designed to address the specific issues uncovered during the audit.

The plan should outline steps to address any deficiencies in the PAM practices, such as enhancing password policies, implementing stricter access controls, or improving monitoring and auditing capabilities. It should also include timelines and responsibilities for implementing these improvements to ensure accountability and progress tracking.

Reporting Results The final phase of the PAM audit is to compile and report the results. The audit report should provide a clear and concise overview of the audit findings, including identified issues, risk assessments, and recommended improvements. It should be presented in a format that is accessible to stakeholders with varying levels of technical expertise.

The report should also highlight any areas where the organization excels in its PAM practices, along with areas needing attention. It serves as a record of the audit process and as a benchmark for future audits.

Reporting the results is not just an endpoint; it's a critical step that informs decision-makers and drives the necessary changes to strengthen privileged access management within the organization.

Pass Audits with Flying Colours with PrivX SSH Communications Security offers PrivX PAM which is a great fit for on-premises environments as well as the hybrid cloud, manages both passwords and keys, allows the migration to effective passwordless and keyless authentication, and has advanced auditing, tracking, session monitoring, and recording capabilities.

The PAM solution integrates with identity and access management solutions, discovers accounts and servers, provides the right level of access to the right person at the right time, and integrates with external solutions like ticketing systems and Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) solutions. PrivX is ready for rigorous audits for your organization.

FAQ How can companies ensure security compliance during a privileged account audit? Companies can ensure security compliance by implementing robust PAM policies, leveraging SIEM tools for real-time monitoring, and conducting regular credential management reviews. Additionally, conducting simulated attack scenarios helps test the effectiveness of these controls and prepares the organization for potential threats. Regular audits and updates to policies ensure continuous adherence to industry standards and regulatory requirements.

What security controls should an auditor check in a PAM audit? An auditor should check the effectiveness of PAM policies, including access controls, password management, and the use of SIEM tools for monitoring. They should also review credential management practices to ensure passwords and keys are securely stored and managed. Additionally, conducting simulated attack scenarios can help assess the robustness of the existing security controls.

Why do some companies fall short in managing privileged accounts? Companies often fall short in managing privileged accounts due to insufficient PAM policies and a lack of awareness among employees. Inadequate use of SIEM tools and poor credential management practices also contribute to this issue. Regular audits and continuous improvement of security controls are essential to address these shortcomings.

How does a security compliance audit for privileged accounts contribute to a company's strategic journey? A security compliance audit for privileged accounts ensures adherence to information security standards, enhancing the company's overall security posture. By implementing and reviewing PAM policies, using SIEM tools, and improving credential management, companies can mitigate risks. This proactive approach supports the strategic journey toward robust information security and regulatory compliance.

What are the key steps for an auditor to review privileged accounts effectively? An auditor should begin by reviewing PAM policies and ensuring they align with industry standards. Next, they should assess credential management practices and the effectiveness of SIEM tools in monitoring privileged account activities. Conducting simulated attack scenarios can help identify potential vulnerabilities. Regular updates and employee awareness programs are crucial for maintaining effective management of privileged accounts.

Tag(s): Privileged Access Management , PrivX Esa Tornikoski Esa Tornikoski is Product Manager for PrivX and Crypto Auditor products. Esa joined SSH late 2017. Prior SSH he has been working in Product management roles at Telecom and IT security companies (Elisa, F-Secure and Siemens). He has a Master of Science degree in Computer Science from Lappeenranta University of...

Other posts you might be interested in Privileged Access Management 10 min read | May 17, 2024 Overcoming Implementation Challenges in Privileged Access Management: A Step-by-Step Guide Read More Privileged Access Management 9 min read | December 18, 2021 Running privileged access management in containers with PrivX 20 Read More cloudification 8 min read | November 11, 2019 Three tips for managing admin access to your cloud-hosted servers Read More Subscribe to email updates SSH is a leading defensive cybersecurity company that secures communications between humans, systems, and networks. We specialize in Zero Trust Privileged Access Controls and Quantum Safe Network Security. Our customers include a diverse range of enterprises, from multiple Fortune 500 companies to SMBs across various sectors such as Finance, Retail, Technology, Industrial, Healthcare, and Government. 25% of Fortune 100 companies rely on SSH’s solutions. Recent strategic focus has expanded SSH business to Defence, Critical Infrastructure Operators, Manufacturing OT Security and Public Safety.

Leonardo S.p.A invests 20.0 million EUR in SSH, becoming the largest shareholder of the company. SSH solutions form a Center of Excellence for Zero Trust privileged access management and quantum-safe network encryption in Leonardo - a global industrial group that creates multi-domain technological capabilities in the Aerospace, Defence and Security sector with 17.8 billion EUR revenue in 2024. SSH company’s shares (SSH1V) are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki.

 

Solutions Zero Trust Suite Zero Trust Suite & Entra ID Integration Quantum-Safe Cryptography (QSC) SalaX Secure Collaboration Security Risk Mitigation OT security MSP Security Device Trust Monitoring & Threat Intelligence Credentials & Secrets Management IT Audits & Compliance Products PrivX™ Hybrid PAM PrivX Key Manager Tectia SSH Client/Server™ Tectia™ z/OS Secure Messaging Secure Mail Secure Sign NQX™ Quantum-Safe Services SSH Risk Assessment™ Professional Services Support Resources Careers References Downloads Manuals Events & Webinars Blog Company About us Contact Investors Partners Press Stay on top of the latest in cybersecurity Be the first to know about SSH’s new solutions, product updates, new features, and other SSH news!

Thanks for submitting the form. © Copyright SSH • 2025 • Legal