Securing Remote Access with Privileged Access Management

/November 18, 2025/inBLOGPOST, PRIVILEGED ACCESS MANAGEMENT, REMOTE ACCESS

The rise of hybrid work and cloud transformation has permanently changed how organizations manage access. Remote connectivity is no longer an emergency measure — it’s the new business standard. With employees, contractors, and partners connecting from anywhere, remote access security has become a critical pillar of modern cybersecurity strategy.

As attack surfaces expand across SaaS platforms, cloud consoles, and unmanaged devices, organizations face a growing need for Privileged Access Management (PAM) to secure connections, identities, and privileged operations.

Remote Access Risks

Remote access delivers undeniable productivity and cost benefits — but it also introduces unique risks. Users often connect via personal or unmanaged devices, run shadow IT, or store credentials insecurely. In a 2024 global survey, over 60% of organizations reported at least one data breach involving a remote user account.

Common weak points include:

  • Poor password hygiene and credential reuse

  • Unvetted SaaS tools and browser extensions

  • Data sharing across unsecured collaboration platforms

  • Overprivileged accounts with persistent access

Every remote endpoint represents a potential entry point for attackers. Without strong identity and access controls, one compromised credential can expose entire systems.

Securing VPN Access

VPNs once served as the go-to method for remote connectivity. While they still provide encrypted “tunnels,” VPNs struggle to address identity-aware security and granular access control in modern hybrid infrastructures.
In environments where third-party vendors or contractors require temporary or restricted access, VPNs quickly become risky and difficult to manage.

Identity and Access Management (IAM) adds a layer of authentication — such as multi-factor authentication (MFA) — but IAM alone can’t control what users do once inside the network.
That’s where PAM comes in.

Privileged Access Management

While IAM verifies who a user is, PAM governs what they can do.
PAM secures the most powerful accounts — administrators, IT operators, and service accounts — that attackers target to move laterally and gain control of high-value assets.

WALLIX PAM enforces the Principle of Least Privilege, granting access only to the systems, applications, or sessions required to perform a task — and for only as long as necessary.

Key capabilities include:

  • Granular access control for employees, partners, and vendors

  • Real-time monitoring and recording of privileged sessions

  • Centralized credential vaulting and rotation to eliminate password reuse

  • Automatic termination of suspicious or non-compliant sessions

  • Audit-ready reporting to simplify compliance with PCI DSS 4.0, DORA, and NIS2

WALLIX PAM also integrates Web Session Manager, extending privileged access control to browser-based and SaaS environments. This ensures full visibility and traceability across cloud consoles, web admin panels, and remote management tools, all without requiring a VPN.

Privilege Elevation and Delegation Management (PEDM)

To further strengthen security, PAM can be complemented with Privilege Elevation and Delegation Management (PEDM). PEDM enforces least privilege at the user and process level, allowing temporary or just-in-time elevation of rights only when specific actions are required — and automatically revoking them afterward.

This fine-grained control:

  • Reduces the number of standing administrative privileges

  • Prevents unauthorized software execution or configuration changes

  • Helps contain lateral movement in case of credential compromise

Together, PAM + PEDM create a comprehensive privilege control framework that protects access, minimizes exposure, and supports a Zero Trust model across on-premises and cloud environments.

Conclusion

Remote access has become the foundation of modern work — but it must be secured intelligently.
By combining WALLIX PAM with Privilege Elevation and Delegation Management, organizations can guarantee that every session, every privilege, and every action is controlled, monitored, and auditable.

As hybrid work, third-party access, and cloud operations continue to expand, privileged access security remains the cornerstone of operational resilience and compliance.

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