SSH Key Manager in a Privileged Access Management (PAM) system like CyberArk or Delinea is used to securely manage SSH keys, which are commonly used for authentication in Unix/Linux environments. Here’s an overview of how you can use SSH Key Manager in a PAM solution:
1. Discovery of SSH Keys:
• Purpose: To locate all SSH keys within the organization’s infrastructure.
• How to Use: The PAM system can scan your Unix/Linux servers to discover both private and public SSH keys. This process helps identify where the keys are being used, their associations with user accounts, and any potential security gaps.
• Configuration: Define discovery jobs to scan the target systems. Configure discovery settings for key locations, such as /home/username/.ssh/.
2. Import and Secure SSH Keys:
• Purpose: To store discovered or manually provided SSH keys securely in the PAM system.
• How to Use: Import keys (both private and public) into the PAM vault. The keys are then encrypted and stored in a secure location. Users won’t have direct access to the private keys, thus improving security.
• Configuration: Use the PAM interface to manually import keys or set up automated policies for importing discovered keys.
3. Rotation and Key Lifecycle Management:
• Purpose: To rotate (change) SSH keys periodically to comply with security policies and reduce the risk of compromise.
• How to Use: Define policies in the SSH Key Manager to automatically rotate SSH keys at specified intervals. This includes generating new key pairs and updating the keys on the target systems without user intervention.
• Configuration: Set rotation intervals, and define rules for which accounts need key rotation. Ensure the updated public key is deployed to the appropriate target systems.
4. Access and Authentication:
• Purpose: To allow users to securely connect to target systems using SSH without exposing private keys.
• How to Use: The PAM system will provide a secure connection by injecting SSH keys directly into the user session. Users will connect through the PAM interface, and the system will handle authentication with the stored SSH key.
• Configuration: Enable session recording for SSH connections, configure access control policies, and set rules for which users or roles can use specific SSH keys.
5. Monitoring and Auditing:
• Purpose: To track and log the usage of SSH keys for auditing purposes.
• How to Use: The SSH Key Manager provides detailed logging of key usage, including who accessed which systems, when, and with what key. This helps in ensuring accountability and detecting any unusual or unauthorized activity.
• Configuration: Set up alerts for suspicious activity, configure logging for SSH key usage, and ensure audit reports are available for compliance purposes.
6. Automated Key Reconciliation:
• Purpose: To ensure that the SSH keys stored in the PAM system are always in sync with those on the target systems.
• How to Use: The reconciliation process checks for any discrepancies between the stored SSH keys and those used on the servers. If any are found, it will automatically fix the issue by updating the target systems with the correct keys.
• Configuration: Schedule regular reconciliation tasks to ensure the key management system is always up to date.
Benefits of Using SSH Key Manager in PAM:
• Security: By centralizing and securing SSH keys, it reduces the risk of unauthorized access.
• Automation: Automates key rotation and reconciliation, reducing the workload on IT administrators.
• Compliance: Provides detailed auditing and reporting, which helps with regulatory compliance and internal security policies.
• Access Control: Fine-grained access control over which users can use specific SSH keys.
In essence, SSH Key Manager simplifies and automates the management of SSH keys, helping organizations secure their privileged access to Unix/Linux systems.
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