Definition

Privileged Access Management (PAM) is a cybersecurity approach designed to control, monitor, and secure accounts with elevated permissions. These privileged accounts—commonly used by administrators, developers, and IT staff—often have full access to critical systems and data. As a result, they are frequent targets for external attackers and vulnerable to internal misuse.

To address these risks, PAM solutions reduce the number of users with privileged access and enforce just-in-time permission policies. They also track and log all privileged activities, ensuring transparency and accountability. By doing so, PAM helps organizations meet regulatory compliance, such as NIST, HIPAA, GDPR, and ISO 27001, while safeguarding sensitive assets.

Why Poor PAM Practices Pose Serious Risks

Without an effective PAM strategy, organizations expose themselves to a wide range of security threats. For example, weak or shared admin credentials are often exploited through phishing or brute-force attacks. When logins are reused or manually shared, it becomes almost impossible to trace specific user actions.

Moreover, legacy systems without centralized control create dangerous visibility gaps. Even temporary access—such as during IT maintenance—can be risky if not time-limited and monitored. That’s why PAM is not only about restricting access but also about enforcing accountability, ensuring auditability, and enabling quick response to potential incidents.

GateKeeper Proximity Enhances PAM with Secure, Proximity-Based Authentication

GateKeeper Enterprise strengthens PAM by adding a physical layer of protection using proximity-based access controls. Users carry a 2FA token—such as a hardware key, smartphone, or NFC badge—that unlocks workstations with a PIN when they approach and locks them when they leave. This ensures that only authorized personnel can access privileged systems, eliminating the threat of walk-away sessions.

Additionally, GateKeeper supports multiple authentication models. For high-risk scenarios, it enables multi-factor authentication (MFA) with a token and PIN. For more routine access, organizations can enable tap-to-login using NFC tokens. These flexible options allow companies to customize their access policies to fit operational needs.

The centralized GateKeeper Hub logs all authentication events, creating a reliable and tamper-proof audit trail. This makes it easy for security teams to track privileged activity, enforce policy compliance, and respond to threats swiftly. By removing the need for typed passwords and linking access to user presence, GateKeeper helps organizations modernize their PAM strategy without sacrificing security or usability.