by Altani Batoudaki, ADACOM Cyprus, Director
In the face of an evolving cyber threat landscape fed by financial and geopolitical motivations, critical national infrastructures (CNI) become a lucrative target of cybercriminals. High-impact attacks on critical infrastructure climbed 140% in 2022, and their increase at such an unprecedented rate may shut down up to 15,000 industrial sites within the next five years. Most of these attacks targeted data across information technology (IT) networks and impacted operational technology (OT), resulting in real-world effects beyond system delays.
Today, cyber warfare repertoire evolves and incorporates cyber attacks on power plants, public sector enterprises, and other critical infrastructures. These threats are of great concern for the EU, as they can disrupt local operations and affect a large proportion of a country's population.
The rise of these sophisticated cyber threats has exposed the vulnerabilities of Cyprus and Greece's critical national infrastructure (CNI) sectors, which stand at a crucial juncture, underscoring the urgent need for robust cybersecurity measures. Against this backdrop, Privileged Access Management (PAM) emerges as a cornerstone of cybersecurity strategy for safeguarding CNI against the risks that loom large.
What is PAM
Privileged Access Management (PAM) is an essential component of an organization's cybersecurity framework, focusing on meticulously managing elevated access rights within its digital ecosystem. This comprehensive strategy is not just about limiting who has access to what but also about monitoring and securing that access to prevent unauthorized use.
The importance of PAM stems from the inherent risks associated with privileged access. Privileged accounts, including critical system administrator and service accounts, hold "the keys to the kingdom" because they enable extensive access to the organization's most sensitive systems and data. As such, they are attractive targets for cybercriminals.
Hijacking a privileged account would allow an adversary to move laterally across systems, bypassing all security controls. A compromised privileged account can lead to catastrophic outcomes, including data breaches, unauthorized access to confidential information, and system-wide disruptions.
PAM and Regulatory Compliance
The complexity of CNI environments, with their myriad entry points and the proliferation of privileged accounts, presents an increased attack surface for cyber threats. Implementing PAM is compulsory, as it is a matter of enhancing security and ensuring compliance. Many EU, international, and national laws and regulations underscore the importance of stringent access controls, including those provided by PAM, to meet enhanced security requirements.
The NIS2 Directive emphasizes regulating and monitoring access to essential infrastructure to reduce the risk of security breaches that could harm national security and economic stability by enforcing strong security measures. PAM is vital to this mandate because it protects sensitive systems and data.
The latest iteration of the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS 4.0) introduces updated and stringent requirements to protect cardholder data from cyber threats. Within this framework, PAM is crucial to safeguard passwords, implement access control, and monitor payment system access.
The worldwide ISO 27001:2022 Standard for Information Security Management Systems (ISMS) promotes a risk-based approach to access control to secure information assets. Organizations can improve their security by integrating PAM techniques into ISMS to provide the least privilege and need-to-know access, mitigating the risk of unauthorized access and data breaches.
Law 40/2022 of Cyprus focuses on strict access controls, monitoring, and security measures to prevent unauthorized access and ensure the resilience of critical services against cyber attacks. PAM helps CNI operators comply with the law by managing privileged system access.
Key Benefits
Implementing PAM offers significant advantages for organizations aiming to bolster their security posture. One of the key benefits is enhanced security. Through features such as multifactor authentication (MFA), enforcement of the least privilege principle, credential vaulting, and privileged session management, PAM systems play a critical role in securing privileged accounts from unauthorized access and potential breaches, maintaining the integrity of an organization’s environment.
In addition to security enhancements, PAM solutions contribute to improved operational efficiency and streamlined auditing and reporting. Automated provisioning and de-provisioning of access rights reduce the administrative burden on IT staff, simplifying tasks and enhancing overall efficiency.
Furthermore, PAM systems provide detailed activity logs, which are invaluable for compliance efforts and forensic investigations. This capability ensures that organizations can quickly meet regulatory requirements, avoid legal issues and fines, and gain better control insights into user activities and privileged access.
Implementing a PAM solution enhances the cybersecurity posture and ensures continuous, smooth, secure operations and essential services resilient against disruptions, external attacks, and internal threats. CISA’s report on the results of a red team assessment (RTA) on a large and highly distributed CNI could not have stressed more emphatically PAM’s efficacy: “The team gained persistent access to the organization’s network, moved laterally across the organization’s multiple geographically separated sites, and eventually gained access to systems adjacent to the organization’s sensitive business systems (SBSs). Multifactor authentication (MFA) prompts prevented the team from achieving access to one SBS, and the team was unable to complete its viable plan to compromise a second SBS within the assessment period”.
Selecting a PAM Vendor
When selecting a PAM vendor, several crucial factors must be considered to ensure the security of a CNI. First and foremost, understanding the business requirements is essential. The selected vendor must have a deep understanding of the specific challenges and threats faced by CNI in Cyprus and Greece. This involves recognizing the unique cybersecurity threats and regulatory requirements and ensuring the PAM solution is tailored to meet these specific needs effectively.
Evaluating the technical capabilities and the vendor's reputation is also paramount. Key technical features include session recording and the ability to seamlessly integrate with existing systems, which are critical for maintaining robust security and operational efficiency. Choosing a vendor with a proven track record and positive recognition within the industry can significantly contribute to the reliability and effectiveness of the PAM solution.
Finally, ensuring that the solution can scale in line with the organization's growth and evolving cybersecurity needs is essential, providing a long-term, sustainable security framework.
PAM Pays Dividends
The imperative of PAM for protecting critical infrastructure in Cyprus and Greece must be addressed. As cyber threats become increasingly sophisticated, the role of PAM in ensuring the security and compliance of CNI sectors grows ever more crucial.
The journey towards enhanced cybersecurity is complex and ongoing. By implementing an effective PAM solution, businesses are well-equipped to navigate the challenges.
Learn more about the PAM solutions offered by ADACOM and how we can help your business stay secure here