Just-in-Time Access: A Modern Approach to Minimizing Risk

As organizations shift to hybrid and multi-cloud environments, Identity and Access Management (IAM) leaders face increasing pressure to secure privileged access without slowing down business agility. Traditional Privileged Access Management (PAM) approaches—based on vaulting credentials and monitoring usage—are no longer sufficient in today’s dynamic and threat-prone environments.

To bridge this gap, modern enterprises are adopting the Just-in-Time (JIT) model as a core part of their PAM strategy. This article explores why JIT is gaining popularity, what it offers, and how organizations can implement it effectively.

The Limitations of Traditional PAM

Traditional PAM practices revolve around discovering, vaulting, and monitoring privileged accounts. While this reduces the risk of credential theft and misuse, it does not fully eliminate the risk of standing privileges—permanent and high-level access that remains available even when not in use.

Such static access models present a growing liability in environments where agility, scalability, and compliance are critical. Attackers actively target dormant privileged accounts, and security teams often struggle with overprivileged access rights that go unnoticed.

From Static Access to Just Enough Privilege (JEP)

The principle of least privilege is foundational to access security. The Just Enough Privilege (JEP) model builds on this by limiting access to only what is necessary for a specific task or role. Instead of broad administrative rights, users are granted narrowly scoped privileges aligned with their operational needs.

Although JEP introduces complexity in privilege assignment, modern PAM platforms now offer automation, policy-based workflows, and identity analytics to simplify management and enforcement.

Just-in-Time Access: Enforcing Temporary Privileges

While JEP minimizes the scope of access, it still leaves the access persistently available. This is where the Just-in-Time (JIT) model further reduces risk—by delivering privileges only when needed, for the limited duration required.

JIT eliminates standing access by requiring that elevated permissions be explicitly requested, approved, and time-bound. The ultimate goal is to reach a state of Zero Standing Privileges (ZSP)—a security status where no privileged access exists unless provisioned for a specific task and timeframe.

Key Benefits of the JIT Model

• ‍No standing access: Limits attack vectors by removing always-on privileges.‍
• Stronger governance: Enforces granular and policy-based privilege elevation.‍
• Improved auditability: Every privileged action is logged, reviewed, and tied to specific users and approvals.‍
• Alignment with Zero Trust: Access is continuously verified, never assumed.

Implementing Just-in-Time Privileged Access

To operationalize JIT access, organizations should take the following steps:

• ‍Map privileged access scenarios across all environments—on-premises, hybrid, and cloud.‍
• Identify and classify privileged identities, including human users, service accounts, and third parties.‍
• Select JIT methods that align with your IT architecture, risk appetite, and compliance needs. This can include ephemeral accounts, temporary elevation, etc.

Conclusion

The JIT approach represents a fundamental shift in how organizations manage and secure privileged access. By combining granular privileges (JEP) with ephemeral access (JIT), organizations can significantly reduce their attack surface and enhance compliance, without compromising on productivity.

In a world where identities are the new perimeter, Just-in-Time access isn't just a best practice—it's a strategic necessity.