How to integrate Privileged Access Management into IAM

Privileged access is one of the easiest places for risk to build up if it is not managed closely. This article shows how to integrate Privileged Access Management (PAM) into Identity and Access Management (IAM) so elevated access is tied to real users, controlled through clear lifecycle steps, and straightforward to audit.

Why Privileged Access Management and IAM must work together

Privileged accounts represent some of the highest security risks in any IT environment. They often have broad access to systems and data, making them a common target in security incidents.

Privileged Access Management (PAM) is designed to control and monitor this elevated access, including administrator and service accounts. Identity and Access Management (IAM), on the other hand, manages identities, authentication, and access across the organization. When these two disciplines operate separately, gaps quickly appear. Privileged access may be granted outside standard identity processes, remain active longer than necessary, or lack the right approvals and audit trails.

Integrating PAM into the IAM system closes these gaps. IAM acts as the authoritative source for identities and policies, including governance and lifecycle processes that define who should have access. PAM enforces how privileged access is granted, used, and monitored. The result is stronger control, better visibility, and a more consistent approach to least privilege.

For organizations with complex environments or regulatory requirements, aligning PAM and IAM is a fundamental step toward a secure and scalable identity architecture.

The difference between Identity & Access Managment and Privileged Access Management

Identity and Access Management and Privileged Access Management address different access needs, but they are designed to work together. Illustration of Privileged Access Management (PAM) controlling administrator access in a Nordic IAM environment

Identity and Access Management (IAM)

Manages identities and access across applications and systems
Covers authentication, authorization, and identity lifecycle and governance processes
Acts as the system of record for who should have access

Privileged Access Management (PAM)

Secures elevated and administrative access
Controls how privileged access is approved, granted, and monitored
Focuses on just-in-time access and session control

The key difference is scope. IAM defines access entitlements, while PAM enforces how high-risk access is used. When PAM is integrated into IAM, privileged access follows the same governance and lifecycle rules as all other access.

Where PAM fits in a Identity and Access Management architecture

In a modern setup, Identity and Access Management and Privileged Access Management have clear and complementary roles.

IAM sits at the center of the identity architecture:

Acts as the authoritative source for identities.
Evaluates access policies and roles.
Handles authentication and lifecycle events.

PAM operates as an enforcement layer for privileged access:

Grants time-bound, just-in-time privileged access.
Controls and monitors privileged sessions.
Prevents direct access to shared or high-risk credentials.

Key integration points between IAM and PAM include:

Identity data and group synchronization.
Centralized authentication and MFA.
Role- and policy-based access decisions.
Logging and monitoring integrations with SIEM platforms.

This separation ensures that IAM defines who is allowed to request privileged access, while PAM controls how that access is executed.

Together, they form a layered architecture that scales across on-prem, cloud, and hybrid environments.

Governance and compliance for Privileged Access Management

Privileged access requires stricter governance than standard user access. Without clear controls, it becomes difficult to demonstrate who approved access, why it was granted, and how it was used.

When Privileged Access Management (PAM) is integrated with Identity and Access Management (IAM), governance becomes a natural part of the overall access model. In many organizations, these governance processes are handled through Identity Governance and Administration (IGA) capabilities that form part of the broader IAM landscape. Privileged access can be approved through well-defined workflows, aligned with roles and responsibilities, and reviewed on a regular basis.

This integration also makes audits easier. Privileged access requests, approvals, and usage can be traced back to individual identities, supported by session logs and access history. In regulated environments, this provides the documentation and transparency that's important for audits.

By anchoring privileged access in IAM, organizations can reduce risk while making compliance more straightforward to manage and maintain over time.

What does “audit-ready” PAM look like in practice? Read about what a PAM implementation should include for compliance and audits →

A phased approach to integrating PAM into IAM

Integrating Privileged Access Management (PAM) into Identity and Access Management (IAM) is most effective when done in phases. This reduces risk, limits complexity, and delivers value early.

1. Identify high-risk systems and accounts
Start by getting a clear overview of where privileged access exists today. Pay particular attention to administrator accounts, service accounts, and systems that provide broad or sensitive access.

2. Establish IAM as the identity authority
Make IAM your single source of truth for users, roles, and access policies. Always link privileged access to managed identities and avoid shared or standalone accounts.

3. Introduce controlled privileged access
Use PAM to provide just‑in‑time access with clear approval workflows and strong authentication for all privileged actions. This quickly reduces standing privileges and improves control.

4. Expand coverage gradually
Once your core systems are secured, gradually extend PAM controls to your cloud platforms, SaaS applications, and other critical infrastructure components.

5. Review and improve continuously
Regularly review privileged access, approvals, and usage patterns, and use these insights to adjust policies and gradually remove access that’s no longer needed.

This phased approach keeps PAM integration closely connected to day‑to‑day operational needs instead of an abstract target state.

Operational considerations

When running Privileged Access Management (PAM) as an integrated part of your Identity and Access Management (IAM) landscape, several recurring operational challenges tend to surface:

Standing privileges remain active
Temporary access is not revoked automatically and becomes permanent over time.

Exceptions bypass IAM processes
Emergency or manual access granted outside IAM reduces visibility and control.

PAM treated as a one-time project
Policies, integrations, and access reviews are not maintained as environments change.

Unclear ownership
Security, IT operations, and application owners lack defined responsibilities.

Keeping PAM effective over time requires clear accountability, ongoing reviews, and tight alignment with your overall IAM governance model.

When to consider external expertise or Managed Services

Integrating Privileged Access Management (PAM) into Identity and Access Management (IAM) often starts as a technical project, but it quickly becomes an ongoing operational responsibility. As more systems, platforms, and privileged roles are brought under control, maintaining consistent policies and integrations can require more time and specialized competence than initially expected. PAM and Identity and Access Management (IAM) integration for least-privilege access and audit readiness in the Nordics

Bringing in external expertise or managed services can be especially valuable when PAM needs to operate across hybrid environments, multiple cloud platforms, or an increasing number of applications. It can also be helpful when your IAM landscape changes frequently – for example during reorganizations, cloud migrations, or system modernization – where privileged access needs continuous adjustment.

In these situations, external support helps keep PAM closely aligned with your IAM system, ensures that access controls remain up to date, and supports a stable, high-quality operation over time.

FAQ

Integrating Privileged Access Management (PAM) into your Identity and Access Management (IAM) setup means letting IAM act as the central source for identities, roles, and access policies, while PAM controls how privileged access is granted, activated, and monitored. This way, privileged access follows the same lifecycle, governance, and audit processes as all other types of access.

When Privileged Access Management (PAM) runs separately from your Identity and Access Management (IAM) platform, privileged access often ends up being handled manually or outside your standard identity processes. Over time, this can lead to orphaned accounts, excessive standing privileges, and weaker audit trails. By integrating PAM with IAM, you ensure that all privileged access is linked to real identities, follows the same governance model, and is easier to control and document.

Identity and Access Management (IAM) helps you manage user identities, authentication, and access rights across your systems. Privileged Access Management (PAM) adds an extra layer of protection around elevated access, such as administrator and service accounts. In simple terms, IAM defines who and when someone is allowed to have access, while PAM governs how privileged access is used and controlled in practice.

Yes. IAM alone does not provide sufficient control over privileged access. PAM adds just-in-time access, session control, and monitoring for high-risk permissions. Together, IAM and PAM address both standard and privileged access in a unified security model.

Yes. Integrating PAM into IAM improves auditability by linking privileged access requests, approvals, and usage to individual identities. This makes it easier to demonstrate control, accountability, and least-privilege enforcement during audits.

PAM is most effective when anchored in IAM

Privileged access represents some of the highest risk in any IT environment. When you integrate Privileged Access Management (PAM) into your overall Identity and Access Management (IAM) setup, you ensure that this access is governed, auditable, and managed in line with how identities are handled across the organization.

By anchoring PAM in IAM, you lower risk, gain better visibility, and build a scalable foundation for controlling privileged access over time. If you start with a clearly defined scope and then expand step by step, PAM becomes a natural and sustainable part of your overall identity security strategy instead of a separate, isolated control.