In an era where billions of devices are interconnected through the Internet of Things (IoT), Privileged Access Management (PAM) has become a cornerstone of cybersecurity. PAM for IoT secures access to critical systems and data by controlling and monitoring privileged accounts, those with elevated access rights beyond those of typical users.

Managing privileged access within IoT environments presents unique challenges, as protecting privileged accounts in these contexts is crucial for implementing effective protection strategies. As IoT ecosystems expand across industries like healthcare, manufacturing, energy, and smart cities, the risks of cyberattacks scale proportionally. Implementing PAM is no longer optional, it’s essential.

This article dives deep into how PAM works in IoT contexts, why it’s critical, and how organizations can strategically implement PAM to secure their infrastructure.

Introduction to Privileged Access Management

Privileged Access Management (PAM) is a critical cybersecurity strategy designed to safeguard identities with elevated access rights to sensitive systems and data. It involves managing and controlling access to critical resources, such as privileged accounts, sensitive data, and critical infrastructure.

PAM solutions utilize robust authentication, authorization, and auditing mechanisms to monitor and control privileged activities. The primary goal of PAM is to ensure that only authorized users have access to sensitive resources, thereby reducing the risk of security breaches and credential theft. By implementing PAM, organizations can effectively control access to sensitive systems, ensuring that privileged accounts are used responsibly and securely.

Understanding Privileged Access in the IoT Landscape

Privileged access refers to elevated permissions granted to users, devices, or applications that perform administrative tasks, such as configuring systems, updating firmware, accessing sensitive data, or remotely controlling critical functions. In traditional IT environments, these are often system administrators or service accounts. In IoT, privileged access extends beyond people to include devices, machine identities, and automated processes, all of which must be managed and monitored.

IoT devices often run unattended, reside in physically insecure environments, and use hardcoded credentials or outdated authentication protocols. These factors make them attractive targets for attackers seeking entry points into broader networks. Securing access in such a complex environment is crucial, as Privileged Access Management (PAM) for IoT ensures that only authorized entities can interact with sensitive systems, thereby protecting data and reducing cyber risks.

PAM helps address these vulnerabilities by applying granular access controls, session monitoring, automated credential rotation, and least-privilege enforcement across a vast, distributed infrastructure.

Why Privileged Access Management is Critical for IoT Security

Expanded Attack Surface

The average enterprise IoT deployment includes thousands, or even millions, of connected devices. Each represents a potential ingress point for an attacker. Unsecured privileged access to a single sensor, camera, or actuator can lead to lateral movement, data exfiltration, or complete system compromise. Therefore, it is crucial to restrict access by enforcing least privilege access controls to limit user permissions to only those necessary for their roles, thereby preventing unauthorized access to sensitive systems and data.

Machine-to-Machine (M2M) Trust

Many IoT systems rely on autonomous machine communication. Devices may initiate software updates, request services, or communicate with cloud platforms. Without secure identity and credential management, these interactions are vulnerable to spoofing or hijacking, and secure remote access is crucial to address potential security threats to IT systems.

Compliance and Governance

Industries governed by regulations such as HIPAA, NIST, ISO 27001, and GDPR require strong controls over who accesses what and when. PAM offers detailed auditing, logging, and role-based access, providing the visibility and control needed to meet these standards. By ensuring that users have only the access necessary for their roles, PAM systems help minimize potential damage in the event of a security breach.

Core PAM Functions in an IoT Ecosystem

1. Centralized Access Governance

PAM solutions provide a centralized platform to control privileged access and manage privileged identities across diverse device ecosystems. This ensures consistent policy enforcement, regardless of whether a device is on-premises, in the cloud, or in remote locations.

Example: A smart city infrastructure might involve thousands of traffic sensors, surveillance systems, and communication hubs. A centralized PAM platform enables security teams to manage access to all of these devices from a single control point.

2. Automated Credential and Certificate Management

IoT devices often use shared or hardcoded credentials. PAM automates credential rotation, digital certificate lifecycle management, and secure storage, including the management of privileged passwords. Integrating with PKI systems or identity providers, PAM ensures credentials are issued, rotated, and revoked automatically.

Insight: Automation reduces reliance on manual updates, which are error-prone and infeasible at IoT scale. Tools like KeyScaler simplify this process by delivering just-in-time credentials during device provisioning.

3. Enforcing Least Privilege and Role Segregation

The principle of least privilege (PoLP) ensures users and devices only receive the access they strictly need, no more. By limiting the scope of permissions, PAM minimizes damage from compromised accounts and misconfigurations.

Best Practice: Use dynamic, just-in-time (JIT) access provisioning for administrative tasks, combined with session recording to track and audit every privileged action. This approach helps mitigate risks associated with unauthorized access and reduces the likelihood of privilege abuse during the time-sensitive completion of specific tasks.

Challenges in Implementing PAM Solution

Implementing a PAM solution can be challenging, especially in complex IT environments with multiple operating systems, control systems, and connected devices. One of the main challenges is managing privileged identities and access, as well as securing privileged credentials and secrets. Monitoring and auditing privileged access can also be difficult, particularly in environments with many privileged users and accounts.

Enforcing the principle of least privilege, which requires granting users only the necessary levels of access to perform their jobs, adds another layer of complexity. Effective access management is crucial to overcoming these challenges and ensuring the security of sensitive resources. Organizations must adopt comprehensive PAM solutions that can handle the diverse and dynamic nature of modern IT environments.

Implementing PAM in IoT: Practical Considerations

Effective PAM deployment requires more than just installing a tool. It involves aligning processes, people, and technology. Here’s how organizations can do it:

1. Asset Discovery and Risk Classification

Before implementing PAM, organizations must map out their IoT landscape. This involves:

• Inventorying all connected devices
• Identifying devices with privileged access, including administrator accounts
• Classifying assets based on risk

Tip: Tools like KeyScaler’s Discovery module can automatically detect and classify devices, offering visibility into hidden vulnerabilities.

2. Identity-Centric Security Architecture

Move away from IP- or location-based trust models. Instead, use identity-based access controls, where each device or user has a verifiable digital identity (X.509 certificates, TPMs, or secure elements). Incorporating privileged identity management (PIM) within this framework is crucial for safeguarding superuser credentials and preventing credential theft and misuse.

3. Integrate PAM with Existing Security Tools

For a layered defense, integrate PAM with:

• SIEM systems (for log correlation and anomaly detection)
• IAM platforms (for centralized identity control)
• Endpoint detection and response (EDR) systems

Insight: Integration allows security operations to correlate privileged access with behavioral patterns and monitor access, enabling proactive threat hunting.

4. Continuous Monitoring and Threat Detection

Deploy real-time privileged session monitoring to track and log activities. PAM solutions with AI/ML capabilities can detect suspicious behavior, like a device requesting access at odd hours or attempting to escalate privileges, thereby mitigating security risks and reducing the potential for cyber attacks.

PAM in OT Systems

PAM is essential for securing Operational Technology (OT) systems, which are used to monitor and control industrial processes. OT systems represent critical infrastructure that requires secure access to prevent cyber threats and ensure operational continuity. PAM solutions can help OT security teams control access to sensitive systems and data, as well as monitor and record privileged sessions.

By implementing PAM, organizations can reduce the risk of security breaches and credential theft, and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. PAM systems also assist in managing access to OT systems, including device access, monitoring access, and controlling access to sensitive resources. This comprehensive approach to securing OT environments is vital for maintaining the integrity and reliability of critical infrastructure.

Best Practices for PAM

Best practices for PAM include implementing a PAM solution that features automated password management, multi-factor authentication, and continuous monitoring of privileged activity. Organizations should enforce the principle of least privilege, granting users only the necessary levels of access to perform their jobs. Strict access controls should be implemented to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive resources. Additionally, organizations should regularly review and update their PAM policies and procedures to ensure they align with changing business needs and regulatory requirements. By following these best practices, organizations can effectively manage privileged access and reduce the risk of security breaches and credential theft. This proactive approach to PAM ensures that sensitive resources are protected and that access is tightly controlled.

Benefits of PAM Implementation in IoT Systems

Real-World Example: KeyScaler in Action

Device Authority’s KeyScaler stands out for its ability to deliver identity-first PAM for IoT using privileged access management tools. Its features include:

• Automated Credential Lifecycle Management: Ensures secure authentication across a device’s lifecycle.
• Real-Time Threat Detection: Uses behavioral analytics to spot anomalies and unauthorized access attempts.
• Seamless Integration: Supports interoperability with CyberArk, Microsoft Azure, AWS IoT, and more.

Scenario: In a healthcare setting, KeyScaler ensures that only authorized personnel or applications can access patient-monitoring devices, while logging all activity for compliance and auditing.

Future of PAM

The future of PAM is closely tied to the evolving threat landscape and the increasing demand for secure access to sensitive resources. As organizations continue to adopt cloud and hybrid environments, the need for PAM solutions that can manage and secure privileged access across multiple environments will become more critical.

The use of artificial intelligence and machine learning will become more prevalent in PAM solutions, enabling organizations to detect and respond to security threats in real-time. Furthermore, the integration of PAM with other security solutions, such as IAM and security information and event management (SIEM) systems, will become more common, enabling organizations to achieve a more comprehensive security posture. By staying ahead of these trends and evolving their PAM strategies, organizations can ensure the security of their sensitive resources and maintain regulatory compliance.

Final Thoughts: The Strategic Value of PAM in IoT

IoT presents a new frontier of opportunity, and risk. As devices proliferate and ecosystems become more complex, Privileged Access Management is not a “nice to have”, it’s a strategic necessity.

By adopting PAM, organizations can:

• Harden their IoT infrastructure against internal and external threats, which enables organizations to enhance security and operational efficiency
• Enforce zero-trust principles at scale
• Comply with increasingly stringent security regulations

Whether you’re managing smart grids, autonomous vehicles, or industrial control systems, PAM ensures visibility, accountability, and control, the core pillars of modern cybersecurity.

Take the Next Step

Implementing PAM for IoT begins with understanding your risk exposure. Device Authority offers a comprehensive demo of KeyScaler, allowing security leaders to see how privileged access, including third party access, can be secured, monitored, and automated across IoT environments.

Book a demo today at www.deviceauthority.com to protect your organization’s most critical IoT assets.