# Key Differences Between PIM and PAM in Cybersecurity

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2025-02-12

In the realm of cybersecurity, Privileged Identity Management (PIM) and Privileged Access Management (PAM) play crucial roles in securing sensitive systems. Although they are related, they focus on different aspects of managing privileged accounts. Here’s a detailed comparison:

1. What They Mean:

  • PIM (Privileged Identity Management):
    PIM is designed to manage and control privileged user identities. It focuses on assigning, monitoring, and governing privileged roles within an organization, ensuring that only authorized individuals have elevated permissions.
  • PAM (Privileged Access Management):
    PAM focuses on securing and controlling access to critical systems and sensitive data. It manages how privileged accounts interact with systems, enforces security policies, and tracks user activities to prevent unauthorized access.

2. Area of Focus:

  • PIM:
    Primarily deals with managing who holds privileged roles and governs the lifecycle of these identities, including role assignment and removal.
  • PAM:
    Concentrates on how privileged users access systems, controlling and monitoring their activities within IT environments.

3. Main Features:

  • PIM:
  • Manages role-based access permissions
  • Handles the creation and revocation of privileged identities
  • Provides temporary (Just-in-Time) access for elevated roles
  • Incorporates approval workflows for granting privileged access
  • PAM:
  • Secure credential storage (password vaults)
  • Monitors and records privileged sessions
  • Manages privileged sessions in real time
  • Enforces the principle of least privilege to minimize security risks

4. Popular Tools:

  • PIM Solutions:
  • Microsoft Azure AD Privileged Identity Management
  • Oracle Identity Governance
  • PAM Solutions:
  • CyberArk
  • Delinea (formerly Thycotic) Secret Server
  • BeyondTrust
  • One Identity

5. Practical Applications:

  • PIM:
  • Assigning temporary administrative privileges
  • Managing privileged roles in cloud platforms
  • PAM:
  • Protecting sensitive credentials with secure vaults
  • Tracking administrative sessions for security auditing
  • Applying least privilege policies to limit unnecessary access

6. The Key Distinction:

  • PIM = Manages WHO has privileged identities.
  • PAM = Controls HOW privileged access is used.

Practical Commands and Codes

PIM-Related Commands:

  • Azure AD PIM Activation:
    Open-AzureADPrivilegedRoleAssignmentRequest -ProviderId aadRoles -ResourceId <ResourceId> -RoleDefinitionId <RoleDefinitionId> -SubjectId <SubjectId> -Type <ActivationType>
  • Oracle Identity Governance Role Assignment:
    UPDATE OIM_USER_ROLES SET ROLE_STATUS = 'ACTIVE' WHERE USER_ID = <UserID> AND ROLE_ID = <RoleID>;

PAM-Related Commands:

  • CyberArk Password Retrieval:
    ./GetPassword.sh -p AppID -o SafeName -n ObjectName -a <AccountName>
  • Delinea Secret Server API Access:
    curl -X GET "https://secretserver.domain.com/api/v1/secrets" -H "Authorization: Bearer <Token>"
  • BeyondTrust Session Monitoring:
    ./btsessionmonitor.sh -s <SessionID> -u <Username> -d <Duration>

What Undercode Say

In the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity, understanding the nuances between PIM and PAM is essential for robust security postures. PIM focuses on the governance of privileged identities, ensuring that only the right individuals have elevated access. On the other hand, PAM emphasizes the secure management of how these privileged accounts interact with critical systems. Both are integral to a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy, and their combined use can significantly mitigate risks associated with privileged access.

To further enhance your cybersecurity practices, consider implementing the following Linux commands and tools:

  • Auditd for Session Monitoring:
    sudo auditctl -a always,exit -F arch=b64 -S execve -k privileged-session
  • SELinux for Access Control:
    sudo setenforce 1
  • SSH Key Management:
    ssh-keygen -t rsa -b 4096 -C "[email protected]"
  • Firewall Configuration with UFW:
    sudo ufw allow from 192.168.1.0/24 to any port 22

For more detailed information on PIM and PAM, you can refer to the following resources:
– Microsoft Azure AD PIM Documentation
– CyberArk PAM Solutions
– Delinea Secret Server API Guide

By integrating these tools and commands into your cybersecurity framework, you can ensure a more secure and controlled environment for privileged access management.

References:

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