Organizations face growing pressure to safeguard privileged accounts as cybersecurity threats escalate.
Gartner predicts that by 2026, half of C-suite executives will have cybersecurity risk metrics tied to their performance contracts—a clear sign of the cruciality of enforcing cybersecurity frameworks.
Using regular workstations for privileged tasks exposes critical systems to malware, phishing attacks, and compromised applications.
The failure to isolate admin access effectively can lead to catastrophic consequences.
Privileged Access Workstations (PAWs) address this by creating isolated, secure environments exclusively for privileged operations, ensuring robust protection against attackers.
Throughout this guide, you will understand how PAWs strengthen security, their essential features, and practical implementation steps to help organizations build secure admin environments.
A Privileged Access Workstation (PAW) is a purpose-built device or virtual environment designed to securely handle privileged tasks, such as managing identity systems, servers, databases, and other critical resources.
These specialized workstations operate in complete isolation from regular business activities, creating a secure platform for managing sensitive systems and data.
PAWs follow a zero-trust architecture where security controls are built into every layer. They block common attack vectors by separating privileged operations from routine computing tasks. When administrators need to configure domain controllers or access critical databases, they use their PAW—a specialized device that never handles emails, facilitates web browsing, or runs unauthorized applications.
The strict separation creates multiple security barriers. Regular workstations handle daily tasks, while PAWs maintain a safer, more secure environment for privileged operations, significantly reducing the risk of credential theft and system compromise.
For example, managing Active Directory or cloud service environments often requires elevated privileges, making PAWs an essential part of a cybersecurity strategy.
5 Key Features of a Privileged Access Workstation (PAW)
A well-designed PAW comes packed with security features that set it apart from standard workstations. Here are the five key features a PAW must have to help you secure your system.
Strict Access Controls: PAWs limit software installation and system changes to authorized personnel only. Through rigorous enforcement, these controls prevent unauthorized tools and malicious threats from compromising the secure environment.
Security Hardening: Every component of a PAW undergoes rigorous security configuration to reduce potential attack vectors. Configurations include disabling external USB devices, restricting external Wi-Fi networks, and limiting access to specific networks, each setting aims to minimize potential attack surfaces.
Network Isolation: PAWs connect only to specific networks, such as data center management systems or active directory servers, through virtual private networks or other secure means. By separating PAWs from general web browsing and regular corporate environments, organizations ensure attacks cannot spread to critical infrastructure.
Multi-factor Authentication (MFA): To gain elevated access, PAW users must pass through multiple layers of authentication, including conditional access policies. Requiring strong, multi-factor authentication ensures that only authorized users can gain access to perform administrative tasks involving sensitive data and systems.
Activity Monitoring and Session Recording: Every action on a PAW gets logged and monitored. All users' detailed audit trails and reports help track administrative activities and spot potential security issues early.
While these core features create a strong foundation, organizations should also consider additional security measures based on their specific needs and risk profile. PAWs can incorporate various other safeguards, from behavioral analytics to advanced threat detection.
When paired with a comprehensive PAM solution, such as Securden’s Unified PAM, PAWs deliver increased security for sensitive accounts. They offer automated patching, ensure secure connections, and help organizations meet stringent compliance policies while reducing the risk of security incidents.
Looking for a Smarter Way to Manage Admin Access?
Unified PAM strengthens PAW network isolation, streamlines authentication, and secures every operating system for admin tasks.
With the key features out of the way, let’s find out how these features translate to concrete security improvements for your organization. Here are the five key benefits of using a PAW for privileged access management:
Isolation for Admin Security
PAWs create a secure bubble around admin tasks by separating them from everyday computing activities. The isolation from the rest of the system prevents malware from regular workstations from reaching privileged credentials.
Strengthen Compliance with Clear Controls
PAWs assisted with the right PAM solutions can help you meet requirements for compliance frameworks like HIPAA, and SOC 2 by providing a clear separation of duties, detailed activity logs, and controlled access to sensitive systems.
Minimal Attack Surface
By limiting PAWs to specific administrative tasks, organizations remove countless potential entry points for attackers. Standard applications, email clients, and web browsers—common sources of malware infections—stay confined to regular workstations.
Detailed Logs for Full Visibility
PAWs record detailed logs of every privileged operation. Security teams can track who accessed what systems when changes were made, and which actions were performed.
Simplified Security Management
Despite their extensive security features, PAWs simplify your privileged access system. With clear boundaries between administrative and regular tasks, security teams can implement stronger controls without disrupting daily operations.
PAWs offer substantial security benefits, but you might have encountered their alternatives—jump servers and bastion hosts. Each solution serves specific security needs. Let's compare them to help you make an informed choice for your environment.
Organizations looking to secure privileged access often find themselves weighing different security solutions.
To keep things simple, we will compare the three most commonly discussed security solutions for improving privileged access that one might consider—PAWs, jump servers, and bastion hosts.
All three can help you secure privileged access but each serves distinct purposes and offers unique advantages.
| Feature |
PAW |
Jump Server |
Bastion Host |
| Purpose |
Dedicated workstation for admins |
Manages access to other servers |
Provides external access to private networks |
| Accessibility |
Can be used remotely based on policy |
Typically limited to internal networks |
Exposed to the public internet. |
| Security Level |
High security with strict controls |
Hardened but less isolated |
Considered a weak point needing extra protection |
| Usage |
For privileged tasks only |
For managing multiple systems |
For connecting external traffic |
| Configuration Complexity |
More complex due to security measures |
Simpler setup |
Varies based on network architecture |
Key Insight: While all tools enhance security, PAWs are purpose-built for isolated administrative tasks, whereas jump servers and bastion hosts focus on secure connectivity.
The differences between these solutions highlight their unique roles in securing privileged access.
Here’s a detailed breakdown of how each solution functions and what it’s meant for.
Privileged Access Workstations
PAWs focus on creating secure, dedicated environments for administrative tasks.
They serve as personal fortresses for administrators, offering the highest level of security through isolation and strict controls.
Jump Servers
Jump servers act as intermediary systems, helping administrators manage multiple target servers efficiently.
While they provide centralized access control, they don't offer the same level of isolation as PAWs.
Many organizations use jump servers alongside PAWs to create layered security.
Bastion Hosts
Bastion hosts primarily secure external access to private networks. They sit at network boundaries, managing incoming connections from outside the organization. This exposure to external networks makes them potential targets, requiring additional security measures.
Whether you wish to secure your administration activities or build a comprehensive privileged access strategy, you can opt for one of these solutions or a combination of the three based on your security requirements.
For example, administrators might use PAWs to connect to jump servers, providing access to internal systems. Adopting a layered approach you can create multiple security checkpoints without hindering your organization’s operational capabilities.
Secure Privileged Access with Unified PAM
Harden your security posture by combining PAWs, jump servers, and bastion hosts with Unified PAM’s advanced credential management and monitoring.
With all the information regarding the PAWs out of the way, all that’s left is how you can configure a dedicated workstation for your organization.
Here's a systematic, five-phase approach to help you implement PAWs in your organization:
Phase 1: Planning
Plan out your PAW deployment. You must consider the following points if you wish to set up a PAW at your organization without any friction:
- Identify Stakeholders: Find your key stakeholders and get them on board, including IT security, compliance, and end-users. You must also put together all the requirements for access control and security measures.
- Define Objectives: Clearly outline your goals for setting up a PAW, whether it’s boosting security for critical operations or protecting sensitive resources, your goals must be crystal clear.
- Assess Current Infrastructure: Evaluate existing systems and identify any gaps that the PAW will need to address, including device types and network locations.
Phase 2: Environment Preparation
Now that we have a solid foundational plan in place, the next phase is covering your bases with the hardware and the solutions required for setting up a PAW:
- Select Hardware and Software: Choose trusted hardware that meets security requirements and install a dedicated operating system designed for high security. Once the system is set up, perform system hardening to close all the gaps.
- Network Configuration: Set up network isolation for the PAW to limit its access to only necessary management networks, ensuring that it can accept connections from trusted IP addresses.
- Access Controls: Define strict access controls with the help of a PAM solution like Unified PAM based on least privilege access principles to ensure that only authorized personnel can use the PAW.
Phase 3: Configuration
With the hardware, the software, and all other solutions and prerequisites in place, it’s time to configure your PAW:
- Integrate PAM Solutions: Leverage PAM solutions to manage privileged accounts effectively. These solutions provide advanced features such as automated password management, just-in-time access, and session monitoring that help you secure your privileged accounts.
- Implement Security Features: Enable features such as full-disk encryption, endpoint detection, and application execution control to protect against cyber threats and malicious behavior.
- Set Up Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Ensure that all access points require MFA for an extra layer of security.
- Install Necessary Tools: Deploy any required applications while ensuring they are securely configured and monitored.
Phase 4: Testing
Testing is critical before deployment to ensure everything works as intended:
- Conduct Security Assessments: Perform vulnerability scans and penetration testing on the PAW to identify potential weaknesses in system security.
- User Acceptance Testing (UAT): Have a small group of users test the PAW environment to provide feedback on usability and functionality.
- Review Logs and Monitoring: Ensure logging is correctly configured for full visibility into user activities and that monitoring tools are in place to track any suspicious behavior.
Phase 5: Deployment
Finally, it’s time to deploy your PAW:
- Roll Out Gradually: Start with a pilot group of users before expanding access to the entire organization.
- Provide Training: Offer training sessions for users on how to effectively use the PAW while adhering to best practices for security.
- Establish Ongoing Support: Set up a support system for users to report issues or seek assistance as they adapt to the new environment.
Each phase builds upon the previous one, creating a solid foundation for your PAW implementation.
Regular reviews and updates ensure your PAW environment stays secure and effective.
Lastly, integrating PAM solutions like Unified PAM throughout this process can help you further strengthen your security posture by managing privileged accounts effectively and safeguarding sensitive resources.
PAWs + Unified PAM = Complete Security
Pairing a well-configured PAW with Securden’s Unified PAM protects your sensitive data against unauthorized access.
Privileged accounts are a top target for attackers, making the need to secure administrative environments an absolute priority for organizations. Privileged Access Workstations (PAWs) provide an effective solution by isolating critical administrative tasks and minimizing exposure to potential threats. Their capabilities make them an indispensable part of any modern cybersecurity strategy.
Nevertheless, even the most secure systems need the right tools to manage them effectively. And, that’s exactly where Securden’s Unified PAM steps in to make your life easier. Excelling in privileged access governance, Securden’s solutions come loaded with advanced features like automated credential management, real-time monitoring, and detailed audit trails. When paired with a well-configured PAW, Unified PAM provides unparalleled security while adapting to evolving organizational needs.
Take the next step toward a fortified cybersecurity posture—sign up for a personalized demo. Find out how Securden can help you deploy a PAW environment and create a highly secure system for your organization.
