When vendors regularly connect remotely to your systems, the standard methods of vendor access can lead to a lack of visibility and control over that access. This situation raises concerns about the introduction of malware, inappropriate use of access, and the potential for errors that pose significant risks.
Within the multitude of vendors connecting to your environment, it’s likely that some of them have poor security practices that are cause for alarm. Weak credentials, shared access among vendors and their employees, password reuse, and outdated accounts are common issues. Moreover, the risk is amplified when a user has privileged access, which they utilize for vendor or contractor responsibilities.
If you were to assess this risk, it’s highly probable that one of your vendors represents the weakest link in your overall enterprise security. Granting access to valued vendors and contractors should not compromise your network, access controls, or identity security.
The objective of vendor privileged access management is to facilitate secure and seamless vendor access while simultaneously mitigating risks by applying privileged access management best practices that extend beyond the network perimeter.