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Privileged Identity Management (PIM) - Getting Started

Complete guide to implementing Microsoft Entra Privileged Identity Management (PIM) for enterprise environments, focusing on zero-trust principles and just-in-time access management.

Privileged Identity Management (PIM) - Getting Started

Enterprise Zero-Trust Security
This guide covers implementing Microsoft Entra Privileged Identity Management (PIM) for enterprise environments, focusing on zero-trust principles and just-in-time access management.

Overview

Privileged Identity Management (PIM) is a service in Microsoft Entra ID that enables you to manage, control, and monitor access to important resources in your organisation. PIM provides time-based and approval-based role activation to mitigate the risks of excessive, unnecessary, or misused access permissions.

Key Benefits

Security Enhancement

Zero Standing Privileges

  • Eliminates permanent administrative access
  • Reduces attack surface through just-in-time access
  • Provides comprehensive audit trails for all privileged operations
  • Implements approval workflows for sensitive role activations

Compliance & Governance

Regulatory Compliance

  • Meets SOX, PCI-DSS, and other regulatory requirements
  • Provides detailed access reviews and reporting
  • Implements segregation of duties principles
  • Maintains comprehensive audit logs for compliance reporting

Operational Efficiency

Streamlined Administration

  • Automates access provisioning and deprovisioning
  • Reduces administrative overhead through self-service activation
  • Provides centralised management of privileged access
  • Integrates with existing identity governance processes

Prerequisites

Licensing Requirements

⚠️ Licensing Dependency
PIM requires Microsoft Entra ID P2 or Microsoft 365 E5 licensing for all users who will have privileged roles managed by PIM.

  • Microsoft Entra ID P2: Standalone licensing option
  • Microsoft 365 E5: Includes Entra ID P2 capabilities
  • Enterprise Mobility + Security E5: Alternative licensing path

Required Permissions

To configure PIM, you need one of the following roles:

  • Global Administrator: Full access to all PIM features
  • Privileged Role Administrator: Can manage role assignments and settings
  • Security Administrator: Can view PIM data and configure some settings

Technical Prerequisites

  • Microsoft Entra ID tenant with appropriate licensing
  • Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) configured for privileged users
  • Conditional Access policies for enhanced security
  • Azure AD Connect (if using hybrid identity)

Initial Setup and Configuration

Step 1: Enable PIM

  1. Navigate to Microsoft Entra Admin Center

    https://entra.microsoft.com

  2. Access PIM Service

    • Go to Identity governance > Privileged Identity Management
    • Click Consent to PIM if prompted
    • Review and accept the terms of service

  3. Verify Service Activation

    • Confirm PIM dashboard is accessible
    • Verify licensing compliance warnings (if any)

Step 2: Configure Role Settings

Microsoft Entra Roles

Configure Built-in Roles

  1. Navigate to Microsoft Entra roles > Settings
  2. Select a role to configure (start with Global Administrator)
  3. Configure activation settings:
    • Maximum activation duration: 4-8 hours recommended
    • Require approval: Enable for high-privilege roles
    • Require MFA: Always enable
    • Require justification: Enable for audit purposes

Azure Resource Roles

Configure Subscription/Resource Roles

  1. Navigate to Azure resources > Discover resources
  2. Select subscriptions or management groups to manage
  3. Configure role settings similar to Entra roles
  4. Set up resource-specific approval workflows

Step 3: Assign Eligible Roles

  1. Remove Permanent Assignments

    • Audit existing permanent role assignments
    • Convert to eligible assignments where appropriate
    • Maintain emergency access accounts as permanent

  2. Create Eligible Assignments

    Navigate to: PIM > Microsoft Entra roles > Assignments
- Click "Add assignments"
- Select role and users/groups
- Choose "Eligible" assignment type
- Set start/end dates if required

  3. Configure Assignment Settings

    • Assignment duration: Typically 6-12 months
    • Require justification: For assignment creation
    • Notification settings: Configure for role assignments

Role Configuration Best Practices

High-Privilege Roles Configuration

For roles like Global Administrator, Privileged Role Administrator:

Activation Settings:
  Maximum Duration: 4 hours
  Require Approval: Yes
  Require MFA: Yes
  Require Justification: Yes
  Require Ticket Information: Yes (if using ITSM)

Assignment Settings:
  Maximum Duration: 6 months
  Require Approval: Yes
  Require Justification: Yes

Notification Settings:
  Notify on Activation: All admins
  Notify on Assignment: Security team

Medium-Privilege Roles Configuration

For roles like User Administrator, Exchange Administrator:

Activation Settings:
  Maximum Duration: 8 hours
  Require Approval: No (with conditions)
  Require MFA: Yes
  Require Justification: Yes

Assignment Settings:
  Maximum Duration: 12 months
  Require Approval: No
  Require Justification: Yes

Approval Workflows

Single Approver

Simple Approval Process

  • Suitable for medium-privilege roles
  • Single approver from security team
  • Automatic approval after timeout (optional)

Multi-Stage Approval

Complex Approval Process

  • Required for high-privilege roles
  • Multiple approvers (manager + security)
  • No automatic approval
  • Escalation procedures defined

Security Hardening

Multi-Factor Authentication

🔒 Critical: MFA Requirement
Always require MFA for privileged role activation. This is non-negotiable for enterprise security.

Configuration Steps:

  1. Navigate to Conditional Access
  2. Create policy for PIM activation
  3. Require MFA for all privileged role activations
  4. Consider requiring compliant devices

Conditional Access Integration

Create specific Conditional Access policies for PIM:

Policy Name: "PIM Activation - High Privilege Roles"
Assignments:
  Users: All eligible for high-privilege roles
  Cloud Apps: Microsoft Azure Management
  Conditions:
    - Sign-in risk: Medium and High
    - Device platforms: All

Access Controls:
  Grant: Require MFA + Compliant Device
  Session: Sign-in frequency every 4 hours

Emergency Access Procedures

Maintain emergency access accounts:

  • Break-glass accounts: 2-3 cloud-only accounts
  • Permanent assignments: Only for emergency accounts
  • Strong passwords: 25+ character complex passwords
  • Secure storage: Hardware security modules or secure vaults
  • Regular testing: Monthly access verification

Monitoring and Alerting

Built-in Monitoring

PIM provides comprehensive monitoring capabilities:

  1. Activation History

    • All role activations with timestamps
    • Justifications and approval chains
    • Duration and scope of access

  2. Assignment Changes

    • Role assignment modifications
    • Eligibility changes
    • Configuration updates

  3. Access Reviews

    • Periodic review of role assignments
    • Automated removal of unused assignments
    • Compliance reporting

Custom Alerting

Configure alerts for:

  • Unusual activation patterns: Multiple roles activated simultaneously
  • Failed activations: Repeated failed attempts
  • Emergency account usage: Any use of break-glass accounts
  • Configuration changes: Modifications to PIM settings

Integration with SIEM

Export PIM logs to your Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) system:

# Example: Export PIM audit logs
Connect-MgGraph -Scopes "AuditLog.Read.All"
Get-MgAuditLogDirectoryAudit -Filter "category eq 'RoleManagement'" |
    Export-Csv -Path "PIM-Audit-$(Get-Date -Format 'yyyy-MM-dd').csv"

Common Implementation Challenges

User Adoption

Challenge: Users resistant to additional activation steps

Solution:

  • Comprehensive training programmes
  • Clear documentation and self-service guides
  • Gradual rollout starting with IT teams

Role Sprawl

Challenge: Too many custom roles created

Solution:

  • Regular role audits and cleanup
  • Standardised role definitions
  • Principle of least privilege enforcement

Approval Bottlenecks

Challenge: Approval processes causing delays

Solution:

  • Multiple approvers for redundancy
  • Clear SLA definitions
  • Escalation procedures
  • Consider auto-approval for lower-risk scenarios

Next Steps

After implementing basic PIM:

  1. Advanced Group Management: Implement PIM for Groups
  2. Access Reviews: Set up periodic access reviews
  3. Integration: Connect with ITSM and SIEM systems
  4. Automation: Implement PowerShell/Graph API automation
  5. Governance: Establish ongoing governance processes

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Activation Failures

# Check user's eligible assignments
Get-MgRoleManagementDirectoryRoleEligibilitySchedule -Filter "principalId eq 'user-object-id'"

# Verify MFA status
Get-MgUser -UserId "user@domain.com" -Property "StrongAuthenticationMethods"

Permission Issues

  • Verify licensing compliance
  • Check Conditional Access policy impacts
  • Validate MFA registration status
  • Review role assignment scope

💡 Enterprise Implementation Tip
Start with a pilot group of IT administrators before rolling out to the entire organisation. This allows you to refine processes and address issues before full deployment.

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