In cybersecurity, users may need temporarily higher privileges to perform certain tasks. In these cases, the Temporary Privilege Escalation strategy comes into play. This strategy allows users to obtain privileges that are only required for a certain period of time or for a specific task. In particular, one of the most important applications of this strategy is to grant Domain Admin privileges for only one session and revoke them after the session. In this article, we will examine in detail the importance of the Temporary Privilege Escalation strategy, how it is implemented and the advantages it provides to businesses.

What is Temporary Privilege Escalation?

Temporary Privilege Escalation is a security strategy that allows users to have higher privileges that are only required for a specific period of time or task. This strategy ensures that users only have the privileges they need and that these privileges are automatically revoked after a certain period of time. This approach minimizes security risks and increases the security of systems.

Temporary Granting of Domain Admin Authorizations

One of the most common applications of the Temporary Privilege Escalation strategy is the temporary granting of Domain Admin privileges. These privileges are granted to users for only one session and are automatically revoked after the session. This prevents users from having unnecessarily high privileges and minimizes security vulnerabilities.

How is it Implemented?

1. Approval of Access Requests
   • Users request temporary Domain Admin authorizations for a specific task. These requests are approved through the authorization process and users are only granted these authorizations for a certain period of time.
2. Granting Temporary Authorizations
   
   • Based on approved requests, users are granted temporary Domain Admin privileges for a specific session. These authorizations allow the user to perform their tasks during the session.
3. Revoking Authorizations After Session
   • When the session ends, users’ temporarily acquired authorizations are automatically revoked. This process prevents users from having unnecessary authorizations and increases security.

Screen Video Recording and Recording Keyboard Keystrokes

Under the Temporary Privilege Escalation strategy, users’ actions performed with elevated privileges are monitored and recorded. This is a critical measure both to ensure security and to conduct investigations when necessary. Transactions performed during users’ sessions are recorded through screen video recording and keyboard keystrokes.

How is it implemented?

1. Screen Video Recording
   • All actions performed during the user’s session are monitored and recorded by screen video recording. This helps to determine what actions the user performs and whether these actions pose any security risks.
2. Recording Keyboard Keystrokes
   
   • All keyboard keystrokes performed by the user during their session are recorded. This allows tracking of all commands and data entered by the user.
3. Auditing and Review
   
   • Recorded video and keystrokes are reviewed by security teams after the session. This is used to check the accuracy and security of the actions taken by users.

Advantages of Temporary Privilege Escalation

1. Reducing Security Risks Temporary Privilege Escalation minimizes security risks by ensuring that users only have elevated privileges for a certain period of time. This makes it harder for attackers to access highly authorized accounts and increases security.
2. Preventing Internal Threats Internal threats pose a significant risk to cybersecurity. Temporary Privilege Elevation helps prevent insider threats by ensuring that users only have the privileges they need. This reduces the likelihood of employees abusing their privileges.
3. Ease of Auditing and Monitoring Monitoring and recording users’ sessions makes security audits and reviews easier. This allows for quick detection and response to security incidents.
4. Compliance and Regulatory Requirements Many regulatory agencies and standards require that elevated privileges be granted and monitored only when necessary. Temporary Privilege Elevation helps businesses meet these compliance requirements.

Result

Temporary Privilege Elevation is an important component of cybersecurity strategies. Granting users elevated privileges only for a certain period of time reduces security risks, prevents insider threats and protects data integrity. KeyCyte PAM effectively applies this principle, preventing users from being granted unnecessary privileges and maximizing the security of your business. By adopting the Temporary Privilege Escalation strategy, you can build a stronger defense mechanism against cybersecurity threats.