Managing privileged access involves more than just securing systems. It requires ensuring that authorized individuals access the appropriate source at the right time.
According to HIPAA Journal, in 2023, the average cost of a data breach in the U.S. was $9.48 million, highlighting the urgent need for robust access management strategies.
In fact, as per Educause, to mitigate these risks, organizations often rely on cybersecurity frameworks like NIST and CMMC to strengthen their security posture and achieve compliance.
With so many tools like identity management systems and cloud security tools available for managing access, a major challenge lies in choosing the right tool that fits your business needs.
Two such tools are Privileged Identity Management (PIM) and Privileged Access Management (PAM), each serving a unique purpose. Picking the wrong one leads to an increase in security risks and operational inefficiencies.
Let’s help you in this situation by providing a complete comparison of PIM vs PAM based on factors like:
Keep reading to know which solution aligns more with your unique security needs and how to make an informed decision.
Privileged Identity Management (PIM) is identity-centric, focusing on handling and controlling the lifecycle of privileged user identities. PIM ensures that only authorized individuals can access sensitive resources based on the roles assigned to those identities.
PIM solutions integrate easily with used Identity and Access Management (IAM) platforms like Okta and Microsoft Azure Active Directory (Azure AD). Integrating PIM helps businesses to execute just-in-time (JIT) access which also ensures that privileged credentials are active only when required.
Privileged identity management solutions also provide automated identity workflows like approval processes for access requests and temporary elevation of privileges. Such an approach reduces the attack surfaces by limiting excessive or permanent access. Here are the key features of PIM:
Identity security is strengthened with the help of PIM which also makes it easier to manage, monitor, and secure privileged users while maintaining compliance with industry regulations.
Privileged Access Management (PAM) is access-centric, all about securing and managing access to critical systems and sensitive information used by privileged users. Unlike PIM focuses on managing identities, PAM zeroes in on controlling the pathways users take to access critical resources.
PAM solutions help businesses apply the principle of least privilege (PoLP) by granting only the necessary access per users' roles. These solutions also prevent lateral movement in cyberattacks, a risk highlighted in incidents like the Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack in the U.S. PAM ensures that attackers cannot exploit elevated access to move across systems. Check out the important features that PAM includes:
Integrating reliable PAM solutions like Securden helps effectively mitigate security risks and prevents data breaches. The platform offers advanced functionalities like credential management and integration with existing IT infrastructure, which makes it a scalable solution to adapt to your security requirements.
Whether you're aiming to boost your compliance efforts or enhance operational security, Securden's privileged access management (PAM) solution makes sure that privileged access stays secure and well-regulated.
Use Securden’s advanced PAM solution for automated workflows, multi-factor authentication, and secure credential management.
Here is a complete table highlighting the difference between privileged identity management and privileged access management based on several factors.
Factor | Privileged Identity Management (PIM) | Privileged Access Management (PAM) |
---|---|---|
Focus | Identity-centric It manages privileged identities and their lifecycles |
Access-centric It secures and controls privileged access to critical systems |
Purpose | Ensures only authorized users receive privileged roles for a limited time | Prevents unauthorized access to privileged accounts and systems |
Scope |
Covers:
|
Covers:
|
Access Duration | Grants time-bound privileged identity assignments that expire automatically | Provides continuous or time-restricted access to critical resources based on policies |
Control Mechanism | Implements strict approval processes before assigning privileged roles | Implements just-in-time (JIT) access, session recording, and automated password rotation |
Security Approach |
Uses:
|
Uses:
|
Threat Mitigation | Prevents privilege creep, identity theft, and unauthorized role escalation | Reduces insider threats, credential abuse, and external cyberattacks targeting privileged accounts |
Visibility & Auditing | Logs privileged identity assignments, role changes, and approval workflows | Provides detailed audit logs, session recordings, and real-time monitoring of privileged sessions |
Primary Use Case |
Manages:
|
Controls and monitors:
|
Integration |
Works with:
|
Integrates with:
|
User Access Management |
|
|
Compliance Support |
Helps meet identity governance regulations such as:
|
Assists in meeting access security and audit compliance such as:
|
Examples |
|
|
Privileged identity management ensures that only authorized users are granted privileged roles. Using role-based access control (RBAC), PIM focuses on handling the entire lifecycle of these identities by assigning roles for a specific time. It assists in preventing privilege creep and unauthorized role escalation. Not only this, but it improves security and compliance by automatically revoking roles when not required.
Privileged access management secures critical system access by managing and controlling who accesses privileged accounts. PAM focuses mostly on monitoring and protecting these privileged accounts through session reduction, multi-factor authentication, credential vaulting, and many more. It prevents unauthorized use and limits the chances of insider threats. Also, its real-time access control and auditing ensures privileged access stays secure and compliant.
PIM and PAM cater to slightly different cybersecurity challenges, though they exhibit a lot of similarities. On one side, PIM manages identities & controls their lifecycle, and on the other side, PAM secures and monitors privileged access. To get a complete approach to securing a privileged environment, businesses must implement both solutions or choose a platform that provides both solutions. Such a combination offers strong identity governance and least privilege enforcement.
Whether you need cost-effective identity security or a complete access control solution, Securden offers scalable options.
The choice between PIM and PAM as a security solution depends on your business’s unique needs. PIM is ideal when you want to manage privileged identities and ensure proper access based on roles. On the other side, PAM is ideal when you want to control, monitor, and audit access to sensitive systems or data.
Try Securden if you are looking for a reliable solution for identity or access management. With capabilities like discovering and managing highly privileged accounts, Securden ensures full control over your critical IT assets. Easy integration with Active Directory and SIEM also offers scalability and ease of use for enterprises of any size.
If you are looking for a leading solution in identity and access management, including privileged account management, reach out to Securden. Book a demo to learn how Securden streamlines your access management process and protects your assets.
The cost of PAM and PIM depends on the features, scale, and deployment model you choose. PAM solutions include higher costs due to advanced access controls and compliance features. However, the pricing varies based on the provider and the specific needs of your business.
PAM and PIM solutions are important in a zero-trust model. Both ensure that only authorized users have access to systems and data. PIM includes identity verification and access controls, while PAM handles and monitors privileged user access to prevent unauthorized use of privileged accounts.
PIM helps companies designate specific access for third-party vendors, making sure that access to privileged identities comes with strict controls. In contrast, PAM provides real-time oversight and auditing of how these external parties access sensitive systems, ensuring they don't create any security risks.
Both PAM and PIM solutions help secure remote access by implementing strong authentication protocols and access controls. Privileged identity management ensures that identity are securely managed, while PAM controls access to systems and constantly monitors user activity. This approach ensures secure remote connections without compromising sensitive data.