performing-privileged-account-access-review

# Performing Privileged Account Access Review ## Overview Privileged Account Access Review is a critical identity governance process that validates whether users with elevated permissions still require their access. This review covers domain admins, service accounts, database administrators, cloud IAM roles, and application-level privileged accounts. Regular access reviews are mandated by SOC 2, PCI DSS, HIPAA, and SOX compliance frameworks, typically required quarterly for high-privilege accounts. ## When to Use - When conducting security assessments that involve performing privileged account access review - When following incident response procedures for related security events - When performing scheduled security testing or auditing activities - When validating security controls through hands-on testing ## Prerequisites - PAM solution deployed (CyberArk, BeyondTrust, Delinea, or equivalent) - Identity governance platform (SailPoint, Saviynt, or equivalent) - Complete inventory of privileged accounts across all platforms - Defined access review policy with SLAs and escalation procedures - Designated reviewers (account owners, managers, security team) ## Core Concepts ### Privileged Account Categories | Category | Examples | Risk Level | Review Frequency | |----------|----------|------------|-----------------| | Domain Admins | Enterprise Admin, Domain Admin, Schema Admin | Critical | Monthly | | Service Accounts | SQL service, backup agents, monitoring agents | Hi...