What is vendor privileged access management?

Vendor Privileged Access Management (VPAM), also known as vendor access management, is a subset of Privileged Access Management (PAM) that focuses on controlling and monitoring the access that third-party vendors and contractors have to an organization's systems, networks and data. Because third-party vendors often require elevated privileges to perform their tasks, VPAM ensures that this access is granted securely, limited to what’s necessary and closely monitored to reduce the risk of security breaches or unauthorized activity.

PAM vs VPAM vs RPAM: What’s the difference?

Vendor Privileged Access Management (VPAM), Privileged Access Management (PAM) and Remote Privileged Access Management (RPAM) are all cybersecurity concepts that focus on controlling and securing access to critical systems and data. However, they each have distinct focuses and use cases.

Privileged Access Management (PAM)

PAM is a broad term that encompasses the management, control and monitoring of privileged access across an entire organization. It deals with internal users, such as administrators and IT staff, who need elevated permissions to perform their duties. The key features of PAM typically include:

Access control: Ensure that only authorized users have access to privileged accounts and resources.
Session monitoring: Track and record sessions to detect and respond to suspicious activities.
Password management: Manage and rotate passwords for privileged accounts to prevent unauthorized access.
Endpoint privilege management: Remove standing admin rights and enable just-in-time access.

Vendor Privileged Access Management (VPAM)

VPAM is a subset of PAM that specifically focuses on managing, controlling and monitoring the privileged access that third-party vendors and contractors have to an organization's systems. The key features of VPAM typically include:

Granular access control: Limit vendors’ network access, following the principle of least privilege, to only what is necessary for their tasks.
Session monitoring and recording: Monitor and record vendor activities for auditing purposes.
Just-In-Time (JIT) access: Whenever possible, provide temporary, time-limited access to vendors.
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Require vendors to use multiple forms of verification to authenticate into the organization’s network.

Remote Privileged Access Management (RPAM)

Despite its name, RPAM isn’t a subset of PAM but rather a broader concept that focuses on managing and securing privileged access when it’s used remotely. This is especially important in scenarios where IT administrators, DevOps teams or contractors need to access critical systems from off-site locations.

RPAM includes many of the same core features as PAM and VPAM, such as granular access control based on least privilege, multi-factor authentication, session monitoring and recording and secure credential management. Its purpose is to ensure that remote privileged access is just as secure and auditable as on-premises access.

The importance of VPAM

Vendors and third-party providers often require elevated access to internal systems for tasks like software updates, troubleshooting or system integration. If not properly managed, this access can become a serious vulnerability and expose organizations to data breaches, ransomware or unauthorized changes. VPAM provides a structured way to control and monitor this access. It enforces least-privilege principles and MFA, limits access to specific systems for defined time periods, and records all session activity to ensure accountability. This reduces the risk of insider threats, compromised vendor credentials and supply chain attacks, while also supporting compliance with security and privacy regulations such as PCI DSS, HIPAA and GDPR.

How vendor privileged access management works

VPAM works by implementing a series of processes, technologies and controls designed to manage, monitor and secure the access that third-party vendors and contractors have to an organization's critical systems and data. Here’s an example of a typical VPAM workflow:

Vendor onboarding: The vendor submits an access request to the organization, specifying the systems and data they need to access. The request is reviewed and approved by authorized personnel within the organization.
Access provisioning with least privilege: Once approved, access is granted based on the principle of least privilege and limited to a specific timeframe. JIT access is used to ensure vendors can only access systems when necessary and only for the duration of the approved task. MFA is required before access is permitted.
Credential management: Credentials used by vendors are securely managed through a password vault. Passwords are rotated automatically and never shared directly to reduce the risk of unauthorized reuse or compromise.
Session monitoring and recording: All vendor sessions are monitored in real time, with detailed session recording enabled. This ensures visibility into all actions taken during a vendor’s access window. Any suspicious behavior can trigger immediate alerts for investigation.
Auditing and reporting: Logs and session recordings are regularly reviewed for compliance, accountability and forensic analysis. These records help demonstrate adherence to security policies and regulatory requirements.
Access revocation: Once the task is completed or the access period ends, vendor access is automatically revoked.

Benefits of implementing vendor privileged access management

Implementing VPAM enables organizations to control, monitor and audit third-party access to critical systems and data. Key benefits of VPAM include:

Specific benefits of implementing VPAM include:

Enhanced security: Robust VPAM practices reduce the risk of supply chain attacks that lead to data breaches.
Ensure regulatory compliance: VPAM supports compliance with legal, industry and cybersecurity standards by enforcing access controls, maintaining detailed logs and providing audit-ready reports.
Operational efficiency: VPAM streamlines vendor access management by automating many routine tasks, reducing administrative overhead.
Improved visibility: VPAM provides IT and security personnel with full visibility into who accessed what and when, and what actions they performed, aiding in incident response and forensic analysis.

Best practices for implementing vendor privileged access management

The following are some key best practices for implementing VPAM:

Thorough vendor onboarding: Establish a formal process to review and approve vendor access requests, including background checks and identity verification. Assign roles based on vendor responsibilities to enforce least-privilege access.
Automated workflows: Use automation to manage vendor access requests, approvals and revocations whenever possible to improve efficiency and reduce errors.
Session monitoring and recording: Continuously monitor vendor activity in real time, record sessions and maintain detailed logs. Leverage AI and machine learning tools to detect anomalies and potential threats.
Regular access reviews: Periodically review vendor permissions and adjust access based on current needs and roles.
Risk assessment and mitigation: Continuously evaluate risks related to vendor access and implement controls to reduce them. Develop and test incident response plans for vendor-related security events.
Policy maintenance: Regularly update VPAM policies to address changing threats, organizational needs and regulatory requirements.
Thorough vendor offboarding: Ensure a formal offboarding process to revoke access and deactivate accounts promptly when vendor services end. Include clear procedures for securely handling any associated data.

How KeeperPAM® supports vendor access control

VPAM addresses the need to secure elevated access granted to third-party vendors and contractors. While VPAM is often discussed as a standalone approach, KeeperPAM fully supports these use cases through its unified privileged access management platform.

With features such as JIT access, credential-free remote sessions and session recording with AI threat analytics, KeeperPAM enables organizations to securely manage vendor access without requiring VPNs or direct network exposure. Its zero-trust and zero-knowledge security architecture ensures vendors only access what they need, when they need it, while IT and security teams maintain full visibility and control. Learn more about KeeperPAM.