Password Management for Okta Administrators using CyberArk PVWA 

  • Introduction
  • Pre-Requisites
  • Use case Overview
  • Technical Demonstration
  • Conclusion
  • Reference Links

Introduction: 

As Organizations continue to adopt cloud-based identity and access management solutions like Okta, securing administrative access to these platforms has become a top priority. Okta administrators possess elevated privilege allowing them to manage user identities, configure security policies, and access sensitive data. However, this also makes them a prime target for attackers seeking to exploit these privileges. 

To mitigate this risk, it is essential to implement a robust password management solution that can securely store, manage, and rotate administrative credentials. Okta manages password in cloud and the organization desires to manage passwords on-premises using CyberArk Password Vault

To address the integration challenge, we will implement a comprehensive solution that integrates Okta with CyberArk PVWA using SAML 2.0. This integration will enable secure and automated management of Okta admin account passwords, reducing the risk of password-related security incidents and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements. As part of this solution, two admin accounts will be created in Okta: one non-privileged account to access Okta user dashboard, and a second one Privileged account which will be linked to CyberArk PVWA. The Privileged account will receive a password generated by CyberArk, which will be used for authentication. Using SAML 2.0, the admin will log in to Okta using the privileged account credentials, with the password provided by CyberArk. This will ensure secure and compliant access management and password management processes, streamlining administrative tasks and reducing the risk of security breaches.

Pre-requisites: 

  • Okta tenant, CyberArk PVWA tenant and Active Directory with a Domain. 
  •  Active Directory must be integrated with CyberArk and Okta. 

Use case Overview:

Please refer to the below video to have an understanding about Okta & the use case around integrating CyberArk Password Vault with Okta.

Technical Demonstration:

Here’s the technical walkthrough on the integration between CyberArk Password Vault & Okta.

Conclusion: 

The integration of Okta with CyberArk PVWA provides a comprehensive solution for managing Okta administrator passwords, enhancing security, and improving compliance. By automating password rotation, expiration, and compliance, organizations can reduce administrative burdens and minimize the risk of password-related security incidents. With real-time visibility and control over password management, organizations can respond swiftly on security incidents and ensure the integrity of their identity and access management systems. Overall, this integration provides a robust and scalable solution for securing Okta administrator passwords and protecting sensitive resources and applications. 

Reference Links:

Setup SSO | Okta 

SAML authentication | CyberArk Docs 

CyberArk PAM Master Policy

Managing and securing privileged access across diverse IT environments is complex and prone to vulnerabilities. Without a centralized approach, inconsistencies in policy enforcement can lead to security breaches and compliance issues.

Using CyberArk’s PAM Master Policy helps standardize and enforce security and compliance policies consistently across all platforms, reducing the risk of unauthorized access and enhancing overall security.

CyberArk’s PAM Master Policy offers a simple and intuitive way to manage an organization’s security policy.

The Master Policy enables us to configure the security and compliance policy of privileged accounts in an organization from a single pane of glass. It allows us to configure compliance-driven rules, which will be defined as the baseline for the organization.

The Master policy is divided into four higher-level and compliance-driven policy sections, such as:

  1. Privileged Access Workflows
  2. Password Management
  3. Session Management
  4. Audit

Each of the above sections has a set of rules and offers better visibility and control over policy configurations and enforcement.

Master policy rules
Image: Rules of the Master Policy

Master policy settings, when configured, can be applied to most privileged accounts in the organization. However, a few privileged accounts may need to deviate from these global settings for various reasons. We can create exceptions for the accounts that need to deviate from the configured global settings.

The following video will explain CyberArk PAM’s Master Policy and it’s rules in detail. Below are the topics covered as part of this video:

  • The Master Policy
  • Master Policy: Main Concepts
  • Master Policy: Rules
  • Master Policy: Configuring a Rule
  • Privileged Access Workflows
  • Password Management
  • Session Management
  • Audit
  • Exceptions
  • Combining Privileged Access Workflows
CyberArk PAM Master Policy: Technical Presentation

The following video will provide a detailed technical demonstration on configuring the Master Policy:

CyberArk PAM Master Policy: Technical Demonstration

In conclusion, managing privileged access across diverse IT environments is complex and prone to vulnerabilities. The CyberArk’s PAM Master Policy standardizes and enforces security and compliance policies, reducing the risk of unauthorized access. 

ENH iSecure plays a crucial role in this ecosystem by providing comprehensive support and expertise in implementing and managing CyberArk’s PAM Master Policy. With ENH iSecure, organizations can ensure that their privileged access management is not only effective but also aligned with industry best practices and compliance requirements.