Organizations are turning to Remote Privileged Access Management (RPAM) primarily to secure and control access for remote users and third-party vendors in modern, distributed IT environments that traditional security solutions, like VPNs, struggle to protect effectively.
Key reasons for the shift to RPAM include:
- Securing Hybrid and Remote Work: With the widespread adoption of hybrid and remote work, employees, contractors, and vendors require access to critical systems from various locations and devices. RPAM extends security controls beyond the traditional network perimeter to accommodate this shift securely.
- Mitigating Evolving Cyber Threats: Traditional remote access methods, such as VPNs and RDP sessions, are common targets for cybercriminals. RPAM reduces the attack surface by enforcing Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), monitoring every session in real-time, and eliminating the use of shared credentials.
- Adhering to Zero-Trust Principles: RPAM is built on a zero-trust security model, which operates on the principle of "never trust, always verify". This means every access request is authenticated and continuously validated, rather than granting broad access based on network location.
- Enforcing Least Privilege and Just-in-Time (JIT) Access: Unlike VPNs, which often provide broad network access, RPAM enforces the principle of least privilege, ensuring users only have the minimum access necessary for their specific tasks. JIT access further limits risk by granting temporary permissions only when needed, automatically revoking them after the session ends.
- Centralized Control and Full Visibility: RPAM provides centralized management and comprehensive visibility over all privileged remote activities, a challenge in complex multi-cloud environments. It records detailed audit trails and logs every action, which is essential for security teams to detect suspicious behavior and respond to incidents promptly.
- Meeting Compliance and Auditing Requirements: Many regulatory frameworks (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA, PCI-DSS, ISO 27001) require strict control and detailed auditing of privileged access. RPAM helps organizations meet these mandates with automated reporting, session logging, and audit-ready documentation.
- Improved Operational Efficiency: RPAM streamlines administrative tasks for IT teams by automating password management, facilitating easy onboarding/offboarding of vendors, and reducing the operational complexity associated with managing disparate security tools.