What is Privilege Elevation and Delegation Management?

Privilege Elevation and Delegation Management (PEDM) means, granting users temporary access to higher-level privileges or delegating specific tasks while maintaining security and adhering to the principle of least privilege (PoLP).

Elevated privilege is the key feature of PEDM. Unlike permanent privileges, this elevation management approach allows access only to authorized areas for a designated time, enhancing security by limiting unnecessary control. PEDM, part of the broader Privileged Access Management (PAM) framework, provides more granular control compared to traditional Privilege Account and Session Management (PASM) technologies, thus preventing excessive permissions and bolstering IT security.

How PEDM Works?
Key Components
Relation with PASM
Threats Mitigated by PEDM
Importance of PEDM

How Does PEDM Works?

PEDM (Privilege Elevation and Delegation Management) operates by providing time-limited access to sensitive data or systems based on validated needs, effectively ending the risk associated with permanent standing privileges.

When users require elevated privileges to access critical systems, they submit a request to administrators. This request is carefully reviewed, and if considered necessary, elevation privileges are granted temporarily. This process is part of what is known as just-in-time privileged access management (JIT PAM), ensuring that privileges are granted just when needed and are closely monitored.

PEDM integrates seamlessly into a broader Privileged Access Management (PAM) framework and involves several key components

How do Privilege Elevation and Delegation Management works

Authorization: Post-authentication, an authorization mechanism verifies user identities and determines the appropriate level of access and resources available to them.
Privilege Elevation: For tasks requiring higher privileges, such as software installation or system maintenance, PEDM allows for temporary, controlled access ensuring operations are monitored and auditable.
Delegation: PEDM enables specific individuals, like vendors or third parties, to perform certain administrative tasks without full administrative rights, thus minimizing risk and maintaining tighter security control.
Access Reviews and Auditing: Regular reviews ensure that privileges are necessary and appropriate, with auditing providing a detailed account of access patterns, helping to prevent and identify potential security breaches.

What Are the Key Components of PEDM ?

Technologies for privilege elevation and delegation management fall into two main categories:

Endpoint Least Privilege Management: Focuses on enforcing the least privilege principle on devices such as desktops and laptops, particularly within Windows and Mac environments. This includes managing privilege elevation and delegation.
Server and Infrastructure Privilege Management: Allows companies to control access to Unix, Linux, and Windows servers, defining not only who can access these systems but also their specific permissions and activities.

What’s the Relation with PASM?

The relationship between PEDM (Privilege Elevation and Delegation Management) and PASM (Privileged Account and Session Management) can be understood by recognizing how they each address different aspects of Privileged Access Management (PAM). As defined by Gartner in 2017, the PAM market is bifurcated into these two categories, each serving unique but complementary functions in managing privileged accounts.

How does privileged access management work

PASM Overview: PASM operates on an "all or nothing" basis through ephemeral accounts, granting temporary admin access that includes full capabilities on the target server. These sessions are closely monitored and recorded, emphasizing broad access control.
Password Vaulting: PASM uses password vaulting to securely distribute privileged credentials, allowing for a secure, session-specific admin access that is centrally controlled
PEDM's Granular Control: Unlike PASM, PEDM provides fine-grained access security. It elevates privileges on a need-to-do basis, allowing access only to specific areas necessary for task performance, thereby enhancing security.
Role-Based Access: PEDM distributes access privileges based on work roles, using normal accounts that are elevated to privileged status as needed, minimizing the risk of overexposure.
Complementary Nature: While PASM provides the fundamental structure of privileged access, PEDM refines this by tightening security through more detailed control. Implementing both PASM first for foundational access, followed by PEDM for detailed management, is often recommended for a comprehensive PAM strategy.

This structured approach delineates how each component of the PAM strategy plays a crucial role, working together to provide robust and secure privileged access management.

Examples of threats mitigated by PEDM

PEDM (Privilege Elevation and Delegation Management) plays a crucial role in mitigating a variety of cybersecurity threats by controlling access to resources on a need-to-know basis and minimizing unnecessary privileges. Here are some examples of threats that PEDM helps mitigate:

Spyware/Adware Installation: Prevents unauthorized installations, keeping harmful software like spyware and adware off the system.
Unauthorized Access: Blocks access to data belonging to other users, reducing the risk of data breaches and leakage.
Malware Installation: Stops the replacement of critical system files with Trojan applications, thereby protecting the integrity of operating systems and applications.
Security Software Tampering: Ensures anti-virus software cannot be disabled or uninstalled, maintaining continuous protection against viruses and malware.
Network Exposure: Reduces the risk of exposing entire networks to malware, viruses, and denial-of-service attacks by controlling system-wide configuration changes and securing network settings.

Through the granular control of user privileges and access rights, PEDM effectively limits the potential for these and other security threats, enhancing the overall security posture of an organization.

Why Is Privilege Elevation and Delegation Management Important?

Privilege Elevation and Delegation Management (PEDM) plays a critical role in safeguarding an organization's IT environment, let us understand how

PEDM enforces detailed access control at the device, application, and process levels, regulating privileges based on specific conditions.
Supports temporary permissions, required for efficient access management to critical systems.
By revoking privileges post-session, PEDM contains potential breaches, preventing hackers from exploiting compromised accounts.
helps minimize administrative accounts, reducing both external and internal cybersecurity risks and supporting the least privilege principle.
PEDM's robust monitoring and reporting features help maintain regulatory compliance, which is crucial for maintaining operational integrity.
Allows users to independently request specific access roles that are tailored to their immediate needs. Once a request is made, the system evaluates it based on predefined security protocols and, if appropriate, grants the requested access quickly enhancing operational efficiency and user autonomy.

Benefits of Privilege Elevation and Delegation Management (PEDM)

Enhanced Security Posture

The enhanced security posture utilizes PEDM to boost system security, It ensures tight control by separating privileges. Temporary admins get only necessary system access, reducing risks of overexposure and preventing unauthorized access to critical data. Privileges adjust dynamically based on specific conditions, maintaining essential access securely.

Minimized Attack Surface

Minimizing the need for fully privileged administrative accounts helps to minimize the attack surface. Hackers have fewer potential entry points to exploit, such as access to the organization's entire IT infrastructure. This reduction in the attack surface strengthens the overall security posture.

Flexible Privilege Adaptation

The solution offers flexible privilege adaptation allowing users to customize their roles through self-service elevation requests. The requests are automatically approved based on predefined criteria, through just-in-time access. It also aids in compliance with regulatory standards through detailed session monitoring, auditing, & reporting capabilities.

Efficient Approval Processes

Self-service elevation requests are facilitated by validating them against predefined criteria. This enables automatic, just-in-time approval for privilege elevation, streamlining the approval process & reducing administrative overhead ensuring access is granted promptly & efficiently, without compromising security.

Frequently Asked Questions

Best Practices on How to Implement PEDM in Your Company?

Implementing a Privilege Elevation and Delegation Management (PEDM) strategy involves:

Start with a Privilege Audit: Assess the number of users with standing privileges and clean up.
Enforce Control Policies: Implement access control policies at the application, service, and device levels, separating regular and admin accounts.
Remove Local Admin Privileges: Mitigate threats by assigning default privileges and use miniOrange Privileged and Access Management for easy administration.
Grant limited Access: Allow time-bound limited access leveraging the ticketing and approval system
Track Privileged Sessions: Monitor and log privileged sessions, proofing against unauthorized actions to analyze user behavior trends and make informed decisions.

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Privilege Elevation & Delegation
Management (PEDM)

What is Privilege Elevation and Delegation Management?

How Does PEDM Works?

What Are the Key Components of PEDM ?

What’s the Relation with PASM?

Examples of threats mitigated by PEDM

Why Is Privilege Elevation and Delegation Management Important?

Core PEDM Features and Capabilities

Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)

Privilege Control and Management:

Time-Based and Request-Based Access:

Granular Privilege Management:

Temporary Privilege Elevation

Integration with Identity and Access Management (IAM)

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