Privileged Access Management (PAM) Implementation

Strengthening Access Control and IT Governance through CyberArk PAM

Overview
Challenge
Solution
Results
Technologies

Overview

Client is a technology-driven private bank in Ethiopia, known for its focus on digital-first banking services and streamlined operations. As part of its ongoing effort to enhance cybersecurity and operational resilience, the bank identified a need to secure administrative accounts and privileged access to its critical systems.

V-Tech Solutions was engaged to implement a CyberArk Privileged Access Management (PAM) solution to improve control, accountability, and auditability of administrative activities while ensuring alignment with the bank’s IT governance and compliance framework.

Challenge

Before the PAM implementation, The client’s privileged access environment faced several challenges common in fast-growing digital institutions:

  • Decentralized Admin Credentials — Privileged accounts were maintained across different systems with no centralized oversight.

  • Manual Access Management — Account provisioning and deprovisioning were handled manually, creating inefficiencies.

  • Compliance & Audit Pressure — The bank needed a system that met National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) and PCI DSS audit requirements.

  • Shared Accounts — Multiple administrators used shared credentials, leading to accountability issues.

  • Limited Activity Visibility — There was no real-time monitoring or recording of privileged user sessions.

Solution

V-Tech Solutions deployed CyberArk Privileged Access Management Suite to establish a secure, automated, and auditable framework for managing administrative access.

Key solution highlights:

  • Centralized Credential Vault — Consolidated all privileged credentials in a highly secured encrypted vault.

  • Automated Password Rotation — Reduced credential misuse by automating password changes based on policy.

  • Granular Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) — Defined roles for different administrative levels and business units.

  • Session Recording & Real-Time Monitoring — Captured all privileged activity for accountability and forensics.

  • Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) — Enforced MFA across administrative logins for enhanced security.

  • Integration with SIEM Tools — Fed PAM logs into the bank’s SOC for continuous monitoring and alerting.

Results

The implementation significantly improved the Bank’s privileged access security and operational efficiency:

  • Full compliance with internal audit and NBE access control directives.

  • Elimination of shared credentials and improved user accountability.

  • Faster incident response through visibility and alert integration with the SOC.

  • Reduced operational workload on IT staff through automated provisioning and password management.

  • Enhanced governance by aligning privileged access with the bank’s IT and security policies.

Technologies

  • CyberArk Privileged Access Management Suite
  • Active Directory Integration
  • Multi-Factor Authentication (Duo / Azure MFA)
  • SIEM Integration (e.g., Splunk / IBM QRadar)
  • Session Recording & Audit Trail Framework
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