Implementing Privileged Access Workstation

Implementing Privileged Access Workstation

Overview

A Privileged Access Workstation (PAW) is a hardened device dedicated to performing sensitive administrative tasks. This skill covers PAW design using the tiered administration model, device compliance enforcement via Microsoft Intune or Group Policy, just-in-time (JIT) access provisioning, and integration with privileged access management (PAM) platforms like CyberArk and BeyondTrust.

When to Use

• When deploying or configuring implementing privileged access workstation capabilities in your environment
• When establishing security controls aligned to compliance requirements
• When building or improving security architecture for this domain
• When conducting security assessments that require this implementation

Common Misconfigurations & Verification

A PAW that can reach the internet or run arbitrary code is no longer a PAW — these gaps quietly void the control:

• Internet/email/browsing left enabled: the #1 failure. A PAW must be denied general web and email so it cannot be phished or download payloads. Verify with a proxy/firewall test from the PAW — arbitrary outbound HTTPS and mail must be blocked, allowing only approved management endpoints (Intune, PAM, specific admin URLs).
• Tier mixing: admins use the PAW to manage Tier-0 and browse Tier-2 / read email, collapsing the tier boundary. Confirm the clean-source / tiered model: Tier-0 credentials are never entered on a non-PAW device and vice versa. Audit sign-in logs for Tier-0 accounts authenticating from non-PAW devices.
• Credential Guard / VBS not actually on: hardening is documented but not enforced. Verify on-device: Get-CimInstance -ClassName Win32_DeviceGuard -Namespace root\Microsoft\Windows\DeviceGuard shows SecurityServicesRunning includes Credential Guard, and confirm AppLocker is in enforce (not audit) mode.
• JIT elevation degenerates into standing admin: verify time-bound group membership actually expires (re-check the privileged group after the window) rather than leaving the account permanently in Domain Admins.
• Device compliance not gating access: confirm Conditional Access requires a compliant/PAW device for admin portals, so a non-compliant machine cannot use vaulted creds.
• PAM checkout bypass: confirm admins check credentials out through CyberArk/BeyondTrust (with recording) rather than using locally cached or memorized privileged passwords.

Prerequisites

• Windows 10/11 Enterprise with Virtualization Based Security (VBS)
• Microsoft Intune or Active Directory Group Policy
• CyberArk Privileged Access Security or BeyondTrust Password Safe (optional)
• Python 3.9+ with requests, subprocess, json
• Administrative access to target endpoints

Steps

1. Audit current privileged access patterns and identify Tier 0/1/2 assets
2. Configure device hardening baselines (AppLocker, Credential Guard, Device Guard)
3. Enforce compliance policies via Intune or GPO
4. Implement just-in-time access with time-limited admin group membership
5. Integrate with CyberArk/BeyondTrust for credential vaulting
6. Validate PAW configuration against CIS and Microsoft PAW guidance
7. Monitor privileged sessions and generate compliance reports

Expected Output

• JSON report listing device compliance status, hardening checks, JIT access windows, and PAM integration verification
• Risk scoring per workstation with remediation recommendations