As efforts to control the COVID-19 pandemic intensify, many companies migrate to remote work. Although this is a great step towards social distancing, it does raise serious cybersecurity concerns. Granted that BeyondTrust Privileged Remote Access and Centrify Zero Trust Privilege are two tools that can help you strengthen your cybersecurity, but we’ll talk about them later. With this in mind, let’s look at the facts: 
Last month, the National Institute of Standards and Technology released a note on cybersecurity risks. Specifically, the note focuses on vulnerabilities that increase with remote access networks. Also, the notes conclude that agencies and companies must expect an increase in cyberattacks. These attacks will be directed at accessing systems, taking advantage of teleworking devices, to obtain sensitive data.
One way to secure your company’s networks during this new era is by implementing Privileged Access Management (PAM). This is particularly effective in companies that handle essential and sensitive information. Also, a PAM tool can help protect your most valuable information assets, infrastructure and applications safe. Therefore, we will evaluate two tools focused on Privileged Access Management: BeyondTrust Privileged Remote Access and Centrify Zero Trust Privilege.
Let’s start with a simple question. What is a PAM tool?
Privileged Access Management (PAM)
Privileged Access Management are cybersecurity strategies and technologies focused on privileges, access control, and user permissions. Besides, these permissions span multiple accounts, processes, and systems in an IT environment. Also, by handling the appropriate level of access, the tool allows you to reduce the attack area to your organization. In addition, it mitigates the damage that arises from external attacks by internal misconduct.
Privileged Access Management encompasses many strategies, yet its central goal is minimal application. Specifically, the “restriction” of rights and permissions for users, accounts, apps, systems and computer processes. Thus, they keep access to the absolute minimum to go about routine activities. Moreover, some analysts consider it the most important security project against cybersecurity risk.
BeyondTrust Privileged Remote Access
BeyondTrust is a privileged access management platform. Thus, it’s an integrated solution that provides control over privileged users and accounts. Besides bringing together the broadest set of security capabilities, BeyondTrust simplifies deployments; reduces costs, improves usability and reduces risks.
BeyondTrust eliminates the need for privileged users to remember or share credentials. Above all, this applies to all systems configurations that require particular access. The system also has a password protector, to store them in a secure vault of a device.
BeyondTrust’s program offers solutions ranging from:
- Password Management
- Management of Privileged Sessions
- Endpoint Privileged Access Management
- Privileged Remote Access
- Remote support.
Centrify Zero Trust Privilege
Centrify Zero Trust Privilege combines password storage with identity brokerage. Specifically, the multi-factor authentication app allows only a small amount of permissions. So that the service claims to be able to do this while reinforcing remote access and sessions. Also, Zero Trust has the “Never trust, always verify, impose the least privileges” approach. Therefore, businesses can also use this tool to put in place password vaults, avoiding security gaps.
As a tool, Zero Trust Privilege offers:
- Shared Account and Password Vault
- Credential Management
- Secure Remote Access
- Required Access & Workflow Approval
What defines BeyondTrust Privileged Remote Access as a PAM tool?
The work that BeyondTrust has done to strengthen security has earned them different recognitions. In December 2019, BeyondTrust claimed first place at the 2019 ASTORS Platinum Awards. Craig McCullough, Vice President of Public Sector, explained: “As the IT world changes and evolves, understanding how to ensure the explosion of privileges within your environment. Our unified solutions offer the broadest set of capabilities; administration, privileged access, etc.”
Another detail that stands out is its compatibility with “Password Safe” sessions. It is a control system over remote access that focuses on privileges for new providers. Password Safe is in charge of satisfying internal and external compliance requirements. Also, the tool works with comprehensive audits and analysis of privileged sessions. It also prevents further abuse of the “privilege accumulator”. These are users who accumulate various access rights. An employee with excessive privileges may try to use them inappropriately. Also, if an attacker gains access to such an account, it will have access to these privileges.
What defines Centrify Zero Trust Privilege as a PAM tool?
This tool allows you to register all your accounts and privileged resources. It also allows you to save those privileged credentials so that they are properly managed. One of its options provides remote administrators and external providers with secure access. Additionally, you can configure clean and locked server gateways to prevent vulnerabilities. This serves as a local distribution box to prevent infection during remote connections.
Zero Trust Privilege is cloud-ready and designed to handle machines, services, and APIs. Although it still allows the existence of shared accounts, each user obtains individual, short-lived tokens.
BeyondTrust Privileged Remote Access testimonials
Solid product
“We have been using this product for over 6 years and the work has been solid and incredible. It assures our customers that we are using a quality product to access their data. Also, it provides us with an easy to navigate tool to get started in Support sessions. “
– IT in the financial industry (Infrastructure and operations)
Fantastic tool for remote connections between devices
“It works great for remote client connections. File transfer is fast, the connection is solid and stable, and it’s a great tool. It’s great for IT to support other users. It also has many tools to help technicians with the job. “
– Technical support analyst in the service industry
Centrify Zero Trust Privilege testimonials
Great product, easy implementation
“Our implementation of Zero Trust has been a great experience. Adopting a user base has been a smooth transition, with only a minimal setback. We look forward to continuing to deploy Centrify in our other environments for the next 12 to 18 months.”
– IAM / PAM engineer in the financial industry
Perfect implementation
“It was a perfect implementation. We chose the SAAS installation, which saved us a lot of time and effort in its setup. The support teams have been exceptional and always ready to help.”
– IT security leader in the transportation industry
Conclusions
Both tools offer a higher level of control over remote access to your assets. However, BeyondTrust Privileged Remote Access proves to offer a more varied choice of solutions at your service. Besides, it has superior recognition in the market, which adds credibility to their product.
If you want to know more about PAM tools, BeyondTrust or your IT environment, contact us. We have a team of experts dedicated to offering you the best tips and tools on the market. Our main priority is the security of your remote assets during the current contingency.
