How limiting access with pam can prevent ransomware ?
Privileged Access Management (PAM) helps prevent ransomware by applying the principle of least privilege and the Zero Trust model, which limit an attacker's ability to gain broad access, move through the network, and encrypt critical data.
Here is how limiting access with PAM achieves this:
1. Minimizing the Attack Surface
• Enforcing Least Privilege: PAM ensures users, applications, and processes have only the minimum access levels and permissions required to perform their specific tasks (just enough access). This prevents an attacker who compromises a standard user account from accessing or encrypting critical systems, as that account would not have the necessary privileges.
• Removing Excessive Privileges: PAM helps discover and remove unnecessary or "standing" administrative privileges that are often over-provisioned or forgotten. This closes potential entry points and reduces the number of high-value targets for attackers.
2. Containing Lateral Movement
• Just-in-Time (JIT) Access: Instead of having permanent administrative access, users are granted temporary privileges only when they need them and for a limited duration. Once the task is complete, the privileges are automatically revoked. This significantly reduces the window of opportunity for an attacker to exploit elevated access for moving laterally across the network and spreading ransomware.
• Credential Vaulting and Rotation: Privileged credentials (passwords, SSH keys, etc.) are stored in a secure, encrypted vault and are automatically rotated after use or at regular intervals. This prevents attackers from stealing static credentials and using them to access other systems, a common tactic in ransomware attacks.
• Segmented Access: PAM isolates privileged accounts from standard user endpoints, so even if a user's workstation is infected with malware, the privileged credentials are not exposed on that machine.
3. Enhancing Detection and Response
• Session Monitoring and Recording: PAM solutions monitor and record all activities within privileged sessions in real time. This provides a detailed audit trail that helps security teams detect unusual or suspicious behavior (e.g., attempts to access unauthorized files or change system configurations) and quickly respond, potentially by terminating the session to stop an attack in progress.
• Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): PAM enforces strong authentication, such as MFA, for all privileged access requests. This adds a critical layer of security, making it much harder for an attacker to gain unauthorized access even if they have stolen credentials.
• Automated Threat Response: PAM can integrate with other security tools (like SIEM) to trigger automated actions, such as locking an account or isolating an endpoint, when anomalous behavior indicative of a ransomware attack is detected.
By implementing these controls, PAM acts as a crucial defensive layer, making it significantly more difficult (but not impossible) for ransomware to gain the access necessary to cause widespread damage.