What is Privileged Access?

Privileged access refers to the level of access granted to users or applications that allows them to perform actions that are not available to regular users, such as accessing sensitive data or modifying system settings. Cybercriminals often target privileged accounts as they provide a pathway to sensitive data and critical systems. Once they gain access to privileged accounts, they can carry out a range of malicious activities, including stealing data, installing malware, or disrupting operations.

Here are a few real-time examples from India from across industries on how privileged access is targeted to be exploited. This helps in getting a better understanding on how privileged data can be accessed by cybercriminals to misuse the data.

1. Banking: In 2020, one of the banks in India suffered a data breach that exposed the personal information of millions of customers. The breach occurred due to a vulnerability in SBI’s vendor management system, which allowed hackers to gain access to a server with privileged access. The hackers were able to steal sensitive data, including account numbers and contact details.
2. Healthcare: In 2021, health laboratories across India, a leading pharmaceutical company in India, suffered a cyberattack that disrupted their operations. The attack targeted the company’s servers with privileged access, and the hackers were able to steal sensitive data, including research and development information.
3. Government: In 2020, during COVID-19 a contact tracing app, suffered a vulnerability that allowed hackers to gain access to sensitive data, including user location and health status. The vulnerability occurred due to a flaw in the app’s privileged access management system./li>
4. IT Services: In 2021, an Indian IT services company, suffered a data breach that exposed the personal information of thousands of employees. The breach occurred due to a phishing attack that targeted employees with privileged access, and the hackers were able to steal sensitive data, including employee names and contact details.

These are highlighting the importance of implementing robust privileged access management practices across industries in India to prevent cyberattacks and protect sensitive data.

Why is Privileged Access a Target for Cybercriminals?

Here are a few reasons why privileged access data is targeted:

1. Access to sensitive data: Privileged accounts often have access to the most sensitive data within an organization, including financial data, personal information, and intellectual property.
2. Access to critical systems: Privileged accounts often have access to critical systems within an organization, including servers, databases, and network devices.
3. Elevation of privileges: Cybercriminals can use privileged accounts to elevate their own privileges within an organization, making it easier for them to move laterally within the network and gain access.
4. Persistence: Privileged accounts often have long lifetimes and are rarely changed, making them an attractive target for cybercriminals.
5. Trust: Privileged accounts are often trusted by other systems and applications within an organization, making them an attractive target for cybercriminals.

These factors make privileged access data a prime target for cybercriminals, highlighting the importance of implementing robust privileged access management practices to prevent and detect privileged access breaches.

The Risks of Privileged Access Breaches

Industries such as healthcare, finance, IT services, retail and many more domains are exposed to the risk of privileged access breaches. This can have severe consequences for organizations, including data theft, system disruption, and reputational damage. When cybercriminals gain access to privileged accounts, they can carry out a range of malicious activities, including stealing sensitive data, installing malware, or disrupting critical systems. Additionally, privileged access breaches can be difficult to detect, as attackers can use legitimate credentials to access systems and data.

Securing Privileged Access and Best Practices for Privileged Access Management

Securing privileged access is critical to protecting organizations from cyber threats. Robust privileged access management practices, including strong authentication, monitoring, and access controls, can help prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data and critical systems. organizations should provide regular training to users on privileged access management best practices to ensure they understand the risks and their role in protecting the organization.

1. Implement strong authentication: Use multi-factor authentication (MFA) to ensure that only authorized users can access privileged accounts. This can include a combination of something the user knows (such as a password), something the user has (such as a security token), and something the user is (such as biometric data).
2. Monitor privileged access: Monitor privileged access to detect and respond to suspicious activity. This can include real-time monitoring of privileged account usage, as well as regular reviews of privileged access logs.
3. Limit privileged access: Limit privileged access to only those users who require it to perform their job functions. This can include implementing the principle of least privilege, which means granting users only the minimum level of access required to perform their job functions.
4. Regularly review and audit privileged access: Regularly review and audit privileged access to identify and remove unnecessary privileges. This can include conducting regular access reviews and audits to ensure that users have only the access they need to perform their job functions.
5. Provide regular training: Provide regular training to users on privileged access management best practices to ensure they understand the risks and their role in protecting the organization. This can include training on how to identify and respond to phishing attacks, how to create strong passwords, and how to report suspicious activity.

Conclusion

Cybercriminals often target privileged accounts as they provide a pathway to sensitive data and critical systems. Organizations must implement robust privileged access management practices, including strong authentication, monitoring, and access controls, to prevent and detect privileged access breaches. Additionally, organizations should regularly review and audit privileged access, provide training to users, and have a plan in place to respond to privileged access breaches.

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