Securing Higher Learning with Enterprise-Grade Privileged Access Management

For a well-respected North American university, the challenge was clear: move beyond fragmented, manually managed privileged accounts to an enterprise-grade solution. They needed to secure their critical data and systems effectively, even with limited dedicated resources. This case study explores how a strategic Privileged Access Management (PAM) implementation transformed their security posture, bringing robust controls and peace of mind to their sprawling IT environment.

Highlights

Challenge

Our client, a well-respected North American university, had a central inventory of privileged accounts in KeePass, but was looking for an Enterprise-grade solution to transition from static-password storage to advanced PAM controls. Due to resource capacity limitations, there aren’t any dedicated resources to oversee PAM operations across the university. For this reason, privileged account management was completed on a best-effort basis with high reliance on personal Admin accounts.

Solution

Strategic PAM Implementation & Design: We designed and architected the CyberArk Privileged Access Manager according to best practices. After implementation, which included onboarding sample privileged accounts, we tested key enterprise-grade PAM controls like password rotation, remote session monitoring, and privileged access auditing.

Dual Environment Deployment & Integration: We successfully deployed CyberArk PAM in both Non-Production and Production environments. This included crucial integrations with key enterprise solutions such as Active Directory and Duo MFA for authentication, Splunk for SIEM logging, and an SMTP server for email notifications.

Validation Through Test Account Onboarding: To ensure full functionality, we onboarded test accounts across various platforms. This step was essential for validating the key features and capabilities of the newly deployed PAM solution.

Outcomes

Enhanced Cybersecurity Posture & Risk Reduction: The university moved from vulnerable static-password storage to advanced PAM controls, significantly reducing its attack surface and mitigating the risk of credential theft and unauthorized access.

Improved Operational Efficiency for IT & Admins: The university reduced its high reliance on personal admin accounts and "best-effort" security by centralizing privileged account management with a comprehensive PAM solution. This functional upgrade streamlines PAM operations with automation. 

Stronger Compliance & Audit Readiness: The implementation of enterprise-grade PAM controls, including session monitoring and auditing, provides clear visibility and robust logging. This ensures the university can now readily demonstrate compliance with security policies and is well-prepared for any internal or external audits.

Foundational Security for Digital Transformation: The deployment of CyberArk PAM across production and non-production environments, integrated with key enterprise systems like Active Directory, MFA, and SIEM, establishes a robust and scalable security foundation to support their current and future needs. 

This engagement delivered a profound transformation for the university's cybersecurity landscape. By replacing outdated manual processes with an automated, enterprise-grade PAM solution, the institution gained critical control and visibility over its most sensitive accounts, significantly reducing their risk exposure and simplifying compliance. The university is now well-positioned with a secure foundation to support its ongoing mission of education and research.