Revolutionising Cybersecurity: Native Zero Trust Remote PAM

Hybrid working and access are increasingly common across organisations of all sizes, for general workers and for System Admins who need to access IT systems that require high levels of security. This is true internally within organisations and for IT teams remotely managing an organisation’s infrastructure.

Providing what’s needed to enable remote working and top-notch security is a job well suited to cyberelements’ Zero Trust Privileged Access Management solution. It delivers a least-privilege remote access solution that works within the confines of zero-trust networking.

What is Least Privilege Access Management?

Least privilege access management (PAM) is a cornerstone of modern cybersecurity strategies. PAM implements a simple yet powerful principle — users should have only the minimum levels of access they need to do their job functions. This approach significantly reduces the potential damage from both external attacks and insider threats.

Remote PAM (RPAM) extends this principle to remote access connections. An increasingly common requirement. To quote Gartner, “By the year 2026, organisations embracing least privilege approaches to RPAM use cases are projected to significantly reduce their risk exposure by more than 50%.” This significant reduction in risk highlights why deploying a robust RPAM solution is now a critical part of an organisation’s overall cybersecurity strategy.

What is Zero Trust?

Zero Trust is a security model that operates on the principle of “never trust, always verify.” Unlike traditional security models that assume you can trust everything inside an organisation’s network, Zero Trust treats every access request as if it originates from an untrusted network.

Zero Trust is a simple concept at first glance. It treats every connection to a network as hostile. This means that an access request from the secure network in a corporate HQ gets treated the same way as an access request from an unknown IP address from an external location. Zero Trust means that all connection requests get the same high level of scrutiny, and all authentication needs to provide the correct details and responses before getting system access. No special status occurs on a connection based on its origin.

What is Native Zero Trust Remote PAM?

Native Zero Trust Remote PAM combines the principles of PAM and Zero Trust into a comprehensive security solution designed for remote access scenarios. RPAM works by applying strict access controls and continuous verification to privileged users connecting from outside an organisation’s network. It ensures that even if a user has the proper credentials, they must still pass multiple security checks before gaining access to sensitive systems or data.

Key benefits of RPAM include:

Enhanced security through continuous verification
Reduced attack surface by limiting privileged access
Improved compliance and audibility
Flexibility to support remote and hybrid work models

Typical use cases for Native Zero Trust Remote PAM include:

Organisation’s IT administrators accessing critical systems remotely
External IT service providers managing client systems
Operational technology (OT) maintenance teams and help desk users connecting to critical infrastructure

Traditional VPN versus Remote PAM

RPAM functionality may sound very similar to VPNs (Virtual Private Networks), which have been the go-to solution for remote access for years. However, RPAM is a superior solution as VPNs have significant limitations in today’s complex threat landscape. VPNs use a “castle-and-moat” security model, and once a user authenticates and is inside the network, they have broad access to IT resources.

In contrast, RPAM solutions like those offered by cyberelements take a different approach that delivers:

Granular access control to specific resources rather than the entire network
Continuous authentication and authorisation
Detailed auditing and monitoring capabilities
Attack surface reduction due to not exposing the whole network to remote users

Cyberelements RPAM Key Features

By adopting a cyberelements RPAM, organisations can significantly enhance their security posture while providing the flexibility needed for modern remote and hybrid working models.

cyberelements RPAM is built on a robust Zero Trust access infrastructure. This design ensures that no applications or resources are exposed to the network by default, significantly reducing the attack surface. The cyberelements RPAM solution uses random and volatile ports, protocol breaks, and dynamic posture checks to create a resilient security framework that adapts to evolving threats.

It also incorporates continuous and dynamic posture checks from the world of zero-trust frameworks, ensuring that access is granted based on the real-time security status of the user’s device. Plus, it conducts ongoing behaviour and context checks, allowing for instant adaptation of access privileges based on user activity and potential risks.

Key functionality delivered by the cyberelements solution includes:

Session recording and auditing capabilities
Advanced search for detailed forensic analysis
Double barrier architecture with a mediation controller and edge gateways
Just-in-time access provisioning
Robust local identity store and identity federation
Advanced session management
Password vaulting and credential injection
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) and Single Sign-On (SSO)

Cyberelements RPAM Webinar

Join Renaissance and cyberelements for a webinar taking place on the 17th of October, tailored specifically to the needs of Irish businesses. We will explore how Zero Trust Privileged Access Management (PAM) provides a secure framework for managing remote access.

During this session we will explore how Zero Trust Privileged Access Management (PAM) provides a secure framework for managing remote access. We will highlight the essentials and provide actionable strategies and best practices that will help you address cybersecurity and compliance challenges to ensure you stay ahead in a constantly evolving threat landscape.

Take control of your organisation’s remote access security. Join us to learn how to protect your systems from potential risks by ensuring only the right users, with the right devices, can access sensitive information. You can register here: https://renaissance.renaissance.ie/c/431644/

Find Out More

To learn more about how Native Zero Trust Remote PAM can boost your organisation’s remote access cybersecurity strategy, visit https://cyberelements.io/what-is-native-zero-trust-remote-pam/. You can sign up for a free 30-day trial via that page to experience the benefits firsthand.

Any MSPs or others in Ireland looking to deploy cyberelements RPAM for secure remote access should contact Renaissance.