Privileged user access

Privileged users are a special faction of the user base in the enterprise with elevated access permissions to systems and data. This elevated access status above and beyond the standard user can be an excellent path of compromise for intentional and unintentional actions expected by the account with the permissions. If actions by this faction of users are not properly monitored, it can lead to significant loss to the enterprise. It has been a long time discussion in information security on how to properly monitor accounts with elevated privileges having access to sensitive data and critical processes.

There are generically three types of privileged users: power users, system administrators, and data administrators. It is possible to extrapolate additional account types but most commonly these are the overarching defined account types. Each has a specific purpose for interaction with the system, data, or both at a level that provides additional access above what a typical...