PAM Appliance Session Control for Granular Endpoint Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing access control systems for sensitive information systems are costly, difficult to administer, and provide inadequate granular control and audit reporting, leading to potential unauthorized access and increased risk.

Innovation Solution

A PAM appliance that provides real-time access control through a PAM appliance, enabling granular access management, secure session handling, and automated approval processes, allowing accessors, administrators, and approvers to manage and enforce policies across networks, including remote access without pre-installed clients.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional network segmentation is used to control access to information systems, then access control is implemented, but overly broad access is granted when only particular asset access is required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess control granularityVSAvoidunauthorized access risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments access control from network segmentation by implementing asset-level credentials that can be selectively assigned to entities. Each asset has its own credential set, allowing precise control over which entities can access which specific assets without granting broad network access.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by making access rights asset-specific rather than network-wide. Each asset can have customized credential requirements and access policies tailored to its specific security needs, allowing different security levels for different assets within the same network.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If access credentials are set up per asset and disseminated to select entities, then granular access control is achieved, but the solution is expensive to coordinate, maintain, and audit

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess control granularityVSAvoidaccess management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary access control system that automatically manages credential distribution, validation, and revocation. This intermediary layer handles the complexity of coordinate and maintaining per-asset credentials, reducing administrative burden while maintaining granular control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements self-service capabilities where entities can autonomously obtain and manage their own access credentials through automated processes. The system automatically handles credential issuance, renewal, and revocation based on predefined policies, reducing manual coordination and maintenance costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If per-asset access credentials are implemented, then granular access control is provided, but accurate audit trail generation becomes costly and difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess control granularityVSAvoidaudit trail accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements comprehensive feedback mechanisms that automatically log and report all access attempts, successful authentications, and credential usage. This automated feedback system continuously monitors and records access events, ensuring accurate audit trails without manual intervention and maintaining information integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

4Reliability

If traditional access control systems are used, then access management is provided, but the systems are costly and difficult to administer

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess control securityVSAvoidaccess management ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal access control platform that handles multiple functions including credential management, access validation, policy enforcement, and audit logging through a single system. This multi-functional approach consolidates administrative tasks and reduces the complexity of managing separate systems for each function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12483592B2Method and apparatus for enforcing realtime access controls for endpoints

Publication Date: 2025.11.25 BEYONDTRUST CORP

AI summary

The disclosed system includes privileged access management (PAM) appliance that facilitates establishing a session between an accessor device and an endpoint device. Generally, an access application can be pushed to the endpoint device. Once received, the endpoint device can automatically execute the access application. When executed, the access application can connect to the PAM appliance. The PAM appliance can establish the session between the accessor device and the endpoint device.