Lean IT Teams Turn to Automated Privilege Controls Amid the Cybersecurity Skills Shortage
No matter the organization’s size, the IT department is likely one of the most understaffed. Budget constraints, higher burnout rates, and surging tech demands are all reasons for this shortage. And in today’s ever-evolving tech-focused world, many IT departments feel they lack the necessary skills to protect an organization from advanced cybersecurity threats. With advances in artificial intelligence and rapidly growing demand for tech support, traditional IT teams often lack the infrastructure and training to protect, manage, and prevent attacks.
Even an organization that can financially support a larger IT department may decide that it’s not the best investment. Why? Because there is a solution that can instantly stop human errors, black hackers, and save time for IT employees, meaning they can focus on higher-priority tasks that require their individualized skills and attention. This solution is called automated privilege controls.
What Are Automated Privilege Controls?
Automated privilege controls are software-based security mechanisms, typically deployed by a cybersecurity vendor. Their role is to manage, monitor, and revoke or block elevated user permissions and administrative access. They work independently, which means they don’t require an IT employee’s attention. When automated privilege controls are implemented, hackers have a more limited window of time to steal and change permanent admin rights. Also, this software eliminates human error; shared accounts managed by multiple employees will no longer be forgotten, and passwords won’t need to be disclosed via sticky notes around the office.
This technology relies on a mix of software and AI to deploy temporary, just-in-time access only when a verified task requires it. The platform will verify policies and context before approving access, providing an additional level of security. Access is revoked immediately after the task is complete, which leaves no doors open for luring attackers. During the session, the system records the behaviors taking place and flags any abnormal user activity. This enhanced monitoring policy will create a baseline of what is considered “normal” and flag any actions that fall outside of standard operations.
The Benefits of Automated Privilege Controls for Lean IT Departments
IT teams are overworked. They face constant pressure from organization leaders and executives demanding faster, more immediate results. They troubleshoot device and software issues daily, resolving these matters quickly so employees can continue to be productive. They test new software platforms, track licenses, and install necessary updates to keep a company’s data safe. On top of this, they are also responsible for guarding company information against cybersecurity threats.
This list of tasks is enough to send any IT employee into a spiral, which is why onboarding automated privilege controls can be a huge advantage to lean IT teams. The main benefit of this software is that it will save time. IT leads are used to routinely granting access to employees for various tasks and projects. Granting, tracking, and revoking employee system access is tedious work.
Not to mention, it also poses the risk of human error. Any overworked IT team member can accidentally grant access or leave a system open to someone for too long because they are bogged down in other work. But it only takes a one-time mistake for a security attack to happen.
With this, some IT members may feel pressured to give someone access even though it’s technically outside of their job permissions. Machines, on the other hand, don’t skip security steps or make errors. The rules for one person being granted access apply to all.
Lastly, automated privilege controls will also have a better tracking system than what an individual IT lead can do on their own. The platform will track access changes, monitor usage, and remove granted access automatically. It can quickly audit to see who has access in real-time, flagging any strange user behavior immediately.
What to Consider Before Implementing Automated Privilege Controls
While there are numerous advantages to implementing automated privilege controls, it isn’t a decision that should be taken lightly. While they are designed to enforce security measures and assist with monitoring behavior, they cannot (and shouldn’t) replace an IT department. Think of them as another security tool, not a silver bullet. They still require human oversight, regular updates, and management from an IT staff to handle complex security measures.
That said, before implementing automated privilege controls, an organization must map all human and machine identities. This means every user, service account, and device must be listed alongside which systems or platforms they should have access to. Remember, this list needs to be comprehensive, so full-time staff, contractors, vendors, and temporary workers must be included. With this process, it’s important to delete any accounts that are no longer active or no longer needed. While this mapping and cleanup project is a huge undertaking, it will ensure the organization is moving forward in a more secure way and is better prepared for onboarding automated privilege controls.
The next step is prioritizing targets, or anything that hackers could do significant damage with if they were to hack into the system. Targets will typically include high-risk infrastructure, production databases, and cloud control planes. Of course, every organization is different, so there may be other additional targets that an IT team will need to safeguard.
IT teams can then work to establish criteria for just-in-time and zero-standing privilege models. This will help eliminate permanent high-risk administrative accounts and allow the automated privilege controls to work optimally.
Again, working with a cybersecurity vendor in these efforts can be extremely helpful — especially for IT teams already facing burnout. But once the system is put in place, automated privilege controls can significantly reduce an IT department’s workload, while reducing errors and protecting important data.
Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute professional cybersecurity, IT, or legal advice. Organizations should assess their specific security needs and consult qualified cybersecurity professionals before implementing automated privilege controls or making technology-related decisions.