Topic starter
23/03/2026 2:04 pm
TL;DR: Static credential vaulting leaves the 95% of human privileged access that does not need passwords governed by tools built for a different era, while session-time control, JIT access, and TPM-backed device binding aim to reduce exposed credentials and replay risk, according to Ping Identity. Zero standing privilege is shifting from a design goal to an operating requirement for modern PAM programs.
Editorial analysis by NHI Mgmt Group, based on content published by Ping Identity: “Privileged Access Is Broken. It’s Time to Control Privilege Beyond Login.”.
By the numbers:
- 95% of human privileged access does not require static credentials, according to Ping Identity.
Key questions
Q: What breaks when privileged access is not routed through PAM?
A: When privileged actions bypass PAM, organisations lose the controls that make elevation accountable.
Q: When should organisations prioritise zero standing privilege over traditional vaulting?
A: They should prioritise zero standing privilege when privileged tasks are intermittent, repeatable, or short-lived, because persistent admin access adds exposure without adding value.
Q: Why does hardware binding improve privileged access assurance?
A: Hardware binding reduces the usefulness of stolen credentials and session artefacts by making the device part of the trust decision.
Practitioner guidance
- Shift PAM controls to session-time enforcement Define privileged access policies around what can happen during an active session, including task scope, command boundaries, and automatic revocation when the task ends.
- Replace standing admin access with task-scoped elevation Identify privileged roles that exist only to support intermittent work and convert them to just-in-time access with no persistent entitlement between tasks.
- Require hardware trust for high-risk privilege Use TPM-backed device binding for privileged workflows that would be materially dangerous if replayed from an untrusted endpoint.
Bottom line: Traditional PAM controls reduce exposure at login, but they do not govern the actions that matter once a privileged session is active.
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This topic was modified 4 days ago by NHI Mgmt Group
08/10/2026 5:32 pm
Runtime privileged access is the control boundary PAM has been avoiding. Password vaulting solves exposure at rest, but it does not govern what an operator can do once the session is live. That is why static PAM architectures routinely misplace the control point. For modern privileged access governance, the decisive boundary is session execution, not credential checkout.
A few things that frame the scale:
- 97% of NHIs carry excessive privileges, increasing unauthorised access and broadening the attack surface, according to the Ultimate Guide to NHIs.
A question worth separating out:
Q: How do security teams decide whether a privileged workflow still needs static credentials?
A: They should map each workflow to its actual runtime need and remove static credentials wherever the task can be completed with temporary, task-scoped elevation. If the privilege is only needed for execution, a reusable credential usually adds risk rather than control.
👉 Read our full editorial: Runtime privileged access for zero standing privilege is the real PAM test