Introduction
Microsoft Entra Privileged Identity Management (PIM) is a feature of Microsoft Entra ID that enables organizations to manage, control, and monitor access to critical resources. By implementing PIM, organizations can significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access and ensure that users have the necessary permissions only when required. A key aspect of PIM is its Just-In-Time (JIT) access capability, which allows users to activate their roles temporarily, thus enhancing security while maintaining operational efficiency.
What is Just-In-Time Access?
Just-In-Time access is a security mechanism that grants users temporary permissions to perform specific tasks. This approach reduces the risk of excessive permissions and potential misuse, as users can only access sensitive resources when absolutely necessary. JIT access is particularly important for administrative roles, where the potential for misuse can have significant consequences.
Key Features of Azure PIM
- Time-Based Role Activation: Users can activate roles for a limited time, ensuring that permissions are not permanently granted.
- Approval Workflow: Activation requests can require approval from designated approvers, adding an extra layer of security.
- Multi-Factor Authentication: To activate any role, users must complete multi-factor authentication, further securing access.
- Justification for Activation: Users must provide a reason for activating their roles, which helps organizations understand access patterns.
- Notifications and Audit Trails: PIM sends notifications when roles are activated and maintains an audit history for compliance and review purposes.
Licensing Requirements
To utilize PIM, your organization must have one of the following licenses:
- Microsoft Entra ID Governance License
- Microsoft Entra ID P2 License
Best Practices for Using Just-In-Time Access
- Implement Least Privilege: Always adhere to the principle of least privilege, granting users only the permissions necessary for their tasks.
- Conduct Regular Access Reviews: Periodically review role assignments and access to ensure they are still appropriate.
- Utilize Multifactor Authentication: Enforce MFA for all role activations to enhance security.
Demo: Activating Just-In-Time Access
In this demo, we will introduce a security engineer named Grady Archie, who holds a Security Reader role that is permanently assigned to him. Occasionally, Grady needs to configure Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps. To adhere to the principle of least privilege, we will assign him the role of Cloud App Security Administrator but he will be only eligible for that role. This assignment will allow him to activate it only when necessary, ensuring that he has the appropriate permissions without compromising security.
- Assigning the Role:
Access the Microsoft Entra ID portal by navigating to entra.microsoft.com.
Once logged in, we go to the Identity Governance section.
Click on Privileged Identity Management (PIM).
In the PIM interface, select Roles from the sidebar, then click on Add Assignments.
We will assign the Cloud App Security Administrator role to the user Grady Archie.
Grady will be eligible to activate this role for a duration of four days, starting from 08/04/2024 to 08/08/2024.
- Activating the Role:
We will log in as “Grady Archie” First, verify the roles assigned to Grady Archie. He is permanently assigned the Security Reader role and is eligible for the Cloud App Security Administrator role.
Grady will navigate to PIM, then select My Roles and click on Activate for the Cloud App Security Administrator role.
During the activation process, Grady will need to provide a justification for the role elevation.
He must also specify the duration for which he requires the role activation.
Once all information is entered, the activation process will begin. If everything is correct, Grady will be temporarily assigned the Cloud App Security Administrator role.
After the verification process is completed, Grady will now be actively assigned the Cloud App Security Administrator role for a duration of 8 hours.
Conclusion
Azure PIM and its Just-In-Time access feature are essential for organizations looking to enhance their security posture. By allowing temporary access to sensitive resources, organizations can minimize the risk of unauthorized access while ensuring that users have the permissions they need to perform their tasks effectively.
