Describe the capabilities of Azure AD Privileged Identity Management (PIM)

Azure AD Privileged Identity Management (PIM) is a service that enables you to manage, control, and monitor access within your organization. This includes access to resources in Azure AD, Azure, and other Microsoft Online Services like Office 365 or Microsoft Intune.

Capabilities of Azure AD Privileged Identity Management (PIM)

Just-in-Time Privileged Access

With Azure AD PIM, you can grant just-in-time privileged access to Azure AD and Azure resources. Users can activate the roles when needed and the access is time-bound. For example, if an IT administrator needs to perform a specific task requiring admin privileges, PIM can grant those rights for a limited period, after which the rights are automatically revoked.

Role Assignment

It allows you to assign users to Azure roles in two ways: as active permanent members (Active Roles) or eligible members (Eligible Roles). Eligible role assignments require users to perform a multi-step activation process to use the assigned role, providing an additional security layer.

Approval to Activate Roles

Administrators can require approval to activate privileged roles. This means when a user requests to activate a role, an approver will receive a notification to review the request, adding scrutiny to the process. This feature reduces the risk of unauthorized access by ensuring privileged roles are not granted without oversight.

Access Reviews

PIM also supports access reviews for Azure AD roles, allowing regular checks on whether users still need the roles they have. This mechanism ensures that the principles of least privilege are followed, thereby reducing risks associated with unnecessary or outdated permissions lingering in the system.

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) Requirement

For any role activation, you can enforce MFA to prevent unauthorized access. When a user activates a privileged role, they are required to pass an additional authentication check, which significantly enhances the security of the role activation process.

Alerts and Notifications

PIM provides alerts and notifications for various activities such as role activations, changes in role settings, or if there are any issues with privileged roles. This feature helps in auditing and real-time monitoring of privileged access within the environment.

Audit History

PIM maintains an audit history of all privileged operations performed through the service. Every activation, deactivation, assignment, and other related actions are logged, providing a clear trail of privileged access across the organization.

Time-bound Access

Admins can define time limits on roles to ensure that privileged access is not just limited but also temporary. This reduces the attack surface by ensuring that privileges do not persist beyond what is necessary for a given task.

Downloadable Audit Reports

You can generate reports to audit privileged access, assignments, and history. These reports can be downloaded for offline analysis or to comply with regulatory requirements.

Secure your Privileged Access Roadmap Integration

PIM integrates with the Secure Privileged Access roadmap outlining recommended practices to secure your organization’s privileged access against cyberattacks. This integration helps organizations move through the different phases—from baseline protections to advanced protections—to secure privileged access.

Azure AD PIM is a powerful tool within the Microsoft Azure ecosystem designed to mitigate the risks associated with privileged accounts and access. It is a key service to enhance an organization’s security posture, ensuring that high-level access is given only when required and with appropriate oversight. Through careful and strategic use of Azure AD PIM, organizations can protect sensitive data and resources from unauthorized access and potential breaches.