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Privileged Access Workstation

What is Privileged Access Workstation?

A hardened and dedicated computing environment used exclusively for performing sensitive administrative tasks, isolated from general-purpose activities and the internet.

Information Security

Each of these is named in at least one of the same controls as privileged access workstation. The number is how many controls name both.

What the standards actually require on privileged access workstation

Requirements naming privileged access workstation across 5 standards, quoted from the control text.

Provide secured, isolated workstations for sensitive roles such as administrators, developers and critical service operators, so administrative sessions do not originate from general-purpose endpoints.

ASBv3-PA-6 · Use privileged access workstations

Implement Operations Security + Physical/Environmental Security + Communications and Network Security per MTCS SS 584. Operations Security (ISO 27001 Annex A.12 alignment) - documented operating procedures + capacity management + separation of dev/test/prod +...

MTCS-Operations-Physical-Network-Tier-III-Data-Centre-Hardening-Patching-Network-Segmentation-DDoS · MTCS Operations + Physical + Network + Tier III Data Centre + Hardening + Patching + Segmentation + DDoS
MITRE D3FEND1 control

Apply D3FEND ISOLATE tactic to create logical or physical barriers in a system to reduce attack opportunities and impact. D3-EI Execution Isolation (D3-HBPI Hardware-based Process Isolation + D3-SCF System Call Filtering + D3-IBCA IO Channel Authentication + D...

MITRE-D3FEND-Isolate-Tactic-Execution-Network-Isolation-Sandboxing-Microsegmentation-DNS-Filtering · MITRE D3FEND Isolate Tactic + Execution + Network Isolation + Sandboxing + Microsegmentation + DNS Filtering

Implement Access Control + Cryptography + Network and Infrastructure Security per MAS TRM Chapters 9 + 10. Chapter 9 Access Control + Cryptography - access control policy + user identification + authentication (Multi-Factor Authentication MFA required for priv...

MAS-TRM-Access-Cryptography-Network-Security-Chapters-9-10-MFA-PKI-Encryption-Network-Segmentation · MAS TRM Access Control + Cryptography + Network + Chapters 9-10 + MFA + PKI + Encryption + Network Segmentation

Questions people ask about privileged access workstation

What is Privileged Access Workstation?
A hardened and dedicated computing environment used exclusively for performing sensitive administrative tasks, isolated from general-purpose activities and the internet.
Why is Privileged Access Workstation important for compliance?
Privileged Access Workstation is a key concept in Information Security. Understanding privileged access workstation helps organizations meet regulatory requirements, reduce risk, and demonstrate due diligence during audits. Our compliance platform maps 686 frameworks with 311K cross-framework control mappings.
Which compliance frameworks address Privileged Access Workstation?
Privileged Access Workstation appears in the requirement text of Azure Security Benchmark, MTCS (Singapore), ISMAP (Japan), MITRE D3FEND, Monetary Authority of Singapore Technology Risk Management Guidelines. Across these standards we have identified 6 controls that name it directly, each linked to the control text on the compliance platform.
Where can I learn more about Privileged Access Workstation?
Explore our compliance framework pages to see how privileged access workstation applies across different standards and regulations. Our implementation guides provide step-by-step guidance, and the compliance platform offers AI-powered analysis of how this concept maps across 686 frameworks.

See how Privileged Access Workstation applies across compliance frameworks

Our platform maps 686 frameworks with 311K cross-framework control mappings. Explore how this concept is addressed across standards.

Written and maintained by Gerard Blokdyk, The Art of Service.