How does a PowerBroker work?

PowerBroker, specifically referring to BeyondTrust PowerBroker, is a robust Privilege Access Management (PAM) solution designed to secure, manage, and audit privileged accounts and access across an organization's IT environment. Its core function is to empower system administrators with granular control over elevated privileges without compromising sensitive credentials.

The Mechanism of PowerBroker

PowerBroker works by providing a centralized system to manage who can execute what commands, on which systems, and under what conditions, all without revealing passwords for highly privileged accounts like root.

Here's a breakdown of its operational process:

1. Policy Definition: System administrators define comprehensive policies within PowerBroker that specify which users or groups are authorized to perform specific tasks, such as running an application, accessing a particular file, or executing a command that normally requires root privileges. These policies can be highly granular, considering factors like the command itself, the target system, the time of day, and the user's role.

2. Agent Deployment: Lightweight agents are installed on the target systems (e.g., Unix, Linux, and Mac OS X platforms). These agents act as the enforcement points for the defined policies.

3. Privilege Delegation without Password Disclosure:

   • When a standard user needs to perform a task that requires elevated privileges (e.g., installing a software package or restarting a service), they attempt to execute the command.
   • The PowerBroker agent intercepts this request.
   • The agent then consults the central PowerBroker policy engine to determine if the user is authorized to perform that specific action.
   • If the user is authorized, PowerBroker executes the command on behalf of the user using the necessary elevated privileges (e.g., root) without ever disclosing the root password to the end-user. This eliminates the risk associated with shared or disclosed root credentials.

4. Comprehensive Session Recording and Auditing:

   • A critical feature of PowerBroker is its ability to record all privileged access for audits, including key stroke information.
   • Every command executed, every file accessed, and every keystroke typed during a privileged session is logged and can be replayed.
   • This detailed logging provides an immutable audit trail, crucial for compliance, forensic analysis, and accountability.

Key Features and Benefits

PowerBroker's operational mechanism translates into several significant features and benefits for organizations:

• Least Privilege Enforcement: It allows organizations to implement the principle of least privilege, ensuring users and applications only have the minimum necessary access to perform their tasks. This drastically reduces the attack surface.
• Elimination of Shared Root Passwords: By delegating specific privileges without revealing the underlying root or administrative passwords, PowerBroker removes a major security vulnerability.
• Enhanced Security and Compliance: The detailed audit trails, including keystroke logging, help organizations meet stringent regulatory requirements (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA, SOX, PCI DSS) and provide irrefutable evidence for security audits. Learn more about the importance of Privilege Access Management.
• Threat Detection and Incident Response: The comprehensive logging and monitoring capabilities enable faster detection of suspicious activities and provide the necessary data for quick and effective incident response.
• Simplified Administration: Centralized policy management streamlines the process of granting and revoking privileges, reducing administrative overhead and potential for misconfiguration.
• Reduced Insider Threat Risk: By controlling and monitoring all privileged activity, organizations can mitigate the risk of malicious or accidental actions by internal users with elevated access.

How PowerBroker Streamlines Operations

In essence, PowerBroker acts as a gatekeeper for privileged operations, ensuring that only authorized individuals can perform specific elevated tasks, all while maintaining a meticulous record for accountability and security.