2024/04

Privileged Access Management (PAM) Strategy with Microsoft Entra ID and some Azure Services

Today, I'd like to share a brief of a recommended strategy for Privileged Access Management (PAM) of other vendors with Microsoft Entra ID and some Azure Services. This strategy is divided into seven phases:

graph LR;
    A[Phase 1: Set Policy] 
    C[Phase 2: The Process of Discovery]
    E[Phase 3: Protect Credentials]
    G[Phase 4: Secure Privileged Access]
    I[Phase 5: Least Privilege]
    K[Phase 6: Control All Applications]
    M[Phase 7: Detect and Respond]

    A-->C
    C-->E
    E-->G
    G-->I
    I-->K
    K-->M
    M-->A

    classDef phase fill:#f9f,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px;
    class A,C,E,G,I,K,M phase;

Phase 1: Set Policy

The first step in any PAM strategy is to establish a clear policy. This policy should define who has access to what, when they have access, and what they can do with that access. It should also include guidelines for password management and multi-factor authentication. For example:

• Define clear access control policies.
• Establish guidelines for password management and multi-factor authentication.
• Regularly review and update the policy to reflect changes in the organization.

How to implement this:

• Use Azure Policy to define and manage policies for your Azure environment.
• Use Microsoft Entra multifactor authentication for implementing multi-factor authentication.

Phase 2: The Process of Discovery

In this phase, we identify all the privileged accounts across the organization. This includes service accounts, local administrative accounts, domain administrative accounts, emergency accounts, and application accounts. For example:

• Use automated tools to identify all privileged accounts across the organization.
• Regularly update the inventory of privileged accounts.
• Identify any accounts that are no longer in use and deactivate them.

How to implement this:

• Use Microsoft Entra Privileged Identity Management to discover, restrict and monitor administrators and their access to resources and provide just-in-time access when needed.

Phase 3: Protect Credentials

Once we've identified all privileged accounts, we need to ensure that these credentials are stored securely. This could involve using a secure vault, regularly rotating passwords, and using unique passwords for each account. For example:

• Store credentials in a secure vault.
• Implement regular password rotation.
• Use unique passwords for each account.

How to implement this:

• Use Azure Key Vault to safeguard cryptographic keys and other secrets used by your apps and services and rotate secrets regularly.
• Implement Microsoft Entra ID Password Protection to protect against weak passwords that can be easily guessed or cracked.

Phase 4: Secure Privileged Access

Securing privileged access involves implementing controls to prevent unauthorized access. This could include limiting the number of privileged accounts, implementing least privilege, and using just-in-time access. For example:

• Limit the number of privileged accounts.
• Implement just-in-time access, where access is granted only for the duration of a task.
• Use session recording and monitoring for privileged access.

How to implement this:

• Use Microsoft Entra ID Conditional Access to enforce controls on the access to apps in your environment based on specific conditions.
• Implement Microsoft Entra Privileged Identity Management for just-in-time access.

Phase 5: Least Privilege

The principle of least privilege involves giving users the minimum levels of access — or permissions — they need to complete their job functions. By limiting the access rights of users, the risk of a security breach is reduced. For example:

• Implement role-based access control (RBAC) in Azure to grant the minimum necessary access to users.
• Regularly review user roles and access rights.
• Implement a process for revoking access when it's no longer needed.

How to implement this:

• Implement Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) in Azure to grant the minimum necessary access to users.
• Use Microsoft Entra ID Access Reviews to efficiently manage group memberships, access to enterprise applications, and role assignments.

Phase 6: Control All Applications

In this phase, we ensure that all applications, whether on-premises or in the cloud, are controlled and monitored. This includes implementing application control policies and monitoring application usage. For example:

• Implement application control policies that dictate what applications can be run on systems.
• Monitor application usage and block unauthorized applications.
• Regularly update and patch all applications to reduce vulnerabilities.

How to implement this:

• Use Microsoft Entra Application Proxy to control and secure access to on-premises and cloud apps.
• Enable Change Tracking and Inventory in Azure Automation to track changes to your Azure VMs. Use desired state configuration to ensure that your VMs are configured correctly.
• Implement Microsoft Intune to manage and secure your devices and applications.

Phase 7: Detect and Respond

The final phase involves setting up systems to detect and respond to any suspicious activity. This could involve setting up alerts for unusual activity, regularly auditing access logs, and having a response plan in place for when a breach occurs. For example:

• Set up alerts for unusual activity.
• Regularly audit access logs.
• Have a response plan in place for when a breach occurs, including steps for containment, eradication, and recovery.

How to implement this:

• Use Microsoft Defender for Cloud for increased visibility into your security state and to detect and respond to threats.
• Implement Azure Sentinel, Microsoft's cloud-native SIEM solution, for intelligent security analytics.

By following these seven phases, you can create a robust PAM strategy that protects your organization from security breaches and helps you maintain compliance with various regulations.

Remember, a good PAM strategy is not a one-time effort but an ongoing process that needs to be regularly reviewed and updated. Microsoft and Azure services provide a robust set of tools to help you implement and manage your PAM strategy effectively.