Edit the basic_psm.ini file to configure external storage for CyberArk PSM.

Outline in a Nutshell

• Why external storage matters for Privileged Session Manager (PSM)

• The file that actually governs external storage: basic_psm.ini

• Quick tour: what to edit and how to test

• Why the other files aren’t the right place for storage config

• Security, relevance, and real-world tips

• Quick wrap-up and next steps

PSM and external storage: a simple idea that saves you headaches

If you’re responsible for safeguarding privileged sessions, you know the drill: you want fast access to logs, session data, and artifacts, but you don’t want that data to live on a single server that could fail or be compromised. External storage gives you resilience, scale, and a clean separation between session data and the host machine running PSM. It’s the kind of practical setup that makes incident response easier, and audits smoother. And yes, you’ll want this to be almost invisible—working smoothly in the background so your team can focus on real security concerns rather than wrestling with configuration puzzles.

The file that actually governs external storage for PSM

Here’s the core fact, plain and simple: when you configure external storage for Privileged Session Manager, the dedicated file to edit is basic_psm.ini. This is the place where the operational parameters for storage—such as where to store data, how to connect, and what format to use—live. The other files in the CyberArk ecosystem have their own jobs, but for telling PSM how to reach and use external storage, basic_psm.ini is the one that matters.

Let me explain with a mental picture. Imagine PSM as a diligent librarian. It catalogs every session, streams logs, and saves artifacts. The “storage shelf” where those items go is defined by settings inside basic_psm.ini. If you point PSM to the wrong shelf, you’ll spend your time hunting through disks instead of focusing on the security story. Fix the path, adjust the access details, and suddenly the library hums.

What goes into basic_psm.ini (and how to edit it)

Where to find it

• On most installations, you’ll find basic_psm.ini in the PSM configuration directory. A typical path might resemble /opt/CyberArk/PSM/conf or C:\CyberArk\PSM\conf, depending on your OS. If you’re not sure, a quick search for the file name in your PSM install tree will reveal the spot.

What you’ll edit

• External storage provider: This field tells PSM which type of storage you’re using (for example, a network file system, cloud storage, or a database-backed store). The exact key name can vary by version, but the concept is consistency: you declare the provider so PSM knows how to talk to it.

• Storage location or path: This is the address where PSM will read from and write to. It could be a mount point, a URI, or a connection string, depending on the provider.

• Access credentials: If the storage backend requires authentication, you’ll configure credentials in a secure way. Best practice is to avoid embedding plain passwords directly in the file; instead, reference a secure secret store or use a mechanism that encrypts credentials at rest.

• Optional parameters: Depending on your storage type, you may add flags for encryption, timeouts, retry behavior, or logging verbosity. Keep the flags minimal but sufficient to meet your operational needs.

A simple, representative snippet (conceptual, not literal)

• storageProvider = "NFS" or "CloudBlob" or "DBStore"

• storagePath = "/mnt/psm-ext/secure-logs" or "https://blob.storage.example.com/container"

• connectionString = "Server=storage.example.com;Database=PSMLogs;User Id=psm;Password=•••••" (note: in practice, avoid plaintext passwords here)

• enableEncryption = true

• logLevel = "INFO"

How to edit safely

• Start with a copy: duplicate basic_psm.ini, so you always have a fallback if something goes sideways.

• Use a trusted editor: pick a tool you trust and avoid line-ending quirks that might corrupt the syntax.

• Validate syntax: many configurations will surface syntax errors on service restart. If you see errors, revert to the previous working copy and recheck your changes.

• Restart with care: after saving changes, restart the PSM service and watch the logs for any storage-related warnings or errors.

• Verify end-to-end: check that PSM can read from and write to the external store. Look for entries that confirm successful storage operations and no permission denials.

A quick checklist to keep you on track

• Have you selected the correct external storage provider in basic_psm.ini?

• Is the storage path accessible from the PSM host, with proper permissions?

• Are credentials stored securely, not left in clear text in the file?

• Have you tested basic read/write operations during a maintenance window?

• Do you have a rollback plan if something behaves unexpectedly after the change?

Why the other files aren’t the right home for storage config

If you’ve seen other configuration files in the CyberArk ecosystem, you might wonder if they can carry storage settings. Here’s the short version:

• config_psm.xml: This tends to cover other PSM configuration aspects, not the external storage wiring. It’s important, but it doesn’t govern how and where PSM stores session data.

• settings.psm: This file is more about session behavior and user-facing settings; it doesn’t define storage targets.

• storage_config.ini: In other CyberArk components, a file with a similar name could exist, but in the PSM context, that file isn’t the place to declare external storage for PSM’s own data flows.

If you’re juggling multiple components, the key habit is to map each setting to the right component. It saves you a lot of debugging time later, especially when audits or incidents require fast access to logs and artifacts.

Practical considerations: security, resilience, and everyday ops

• Encryption in transit and at rest: If you’re pointing PSM at external storage, ensure that data in transit is protected with strong transport security and that sensitive data at rest is encrypted. It’s the kind of precaution you’ll thank yourself for during a scrutiny or incident review.

• Access controls: Apply the principle of least privilege. The service account used by PSM to access external storage should have only the permissions it needs. Over-privilege invites risk.

• Secrets management: Avoid embedding credentials in plain text. Leverage a secret store, environment-based injection, or a vault integration so credentials aren’t sitting in a file that could be read by the wrong process or person.

• Backup and recovery: External storage should be part of your backup strategy. If logs or session data need to be retained for regulatory reasons, make sure the backup cycle lines up with your retention policies.

• Change control: Document changes to basic_psm.ini, and include a rollback plan. It’s not about paranoia; it’s about predictable operations when something unexpected happens.

From theory to practice: a little context that helps the workflow flow

Maybe you’ve worked with other IAM or PAM tools, and you’re used to the idea of keeping storage configurations separate from runtime settings. This separation keeps things tidy, reduces cross-dependency risk, and makes it easier to move storage configurations between environments—say, from a staging cluster to production—without cluttering the runtime behavior of PSM. It’s a small architectural choice with big payoff: you can adjust storage backing without altering session handling logic.

A few digressions that still circle back

• On-prem vs cloud: External storage can live on a local network share or in the cloud. Each choice has pros and cons—latency, cost, and reliability all play a part. If your organization is moving toward cloud-native capabilities, document how to map each environment’s storage path in basic_psm.ini so promotions stay smooth.

• Compliance vibes: If you’re in a regulated industry, you’ve probably got retention windows to meet. External storage choices should align with those windows so you don’t end up with gaps or over-retention that complicates audits.

• Observability matters: Extend basic_psm.ini with clear logging around storage operations. When operations teams need to trace an issue, good logs make the difference between “we have a problem” and “we know where it lives.”

Real-world tone: what you’ll actually hear in the field

Teams often tell me that once basic_psm.ini is set correctly, the day-to-day feels calmer. There’s less last-minute scrambling for mount points, fewer panic calls about missing artifacts, and more time to focus on what matters most: protecting critical assets and maintaining a smooth security posture. The file doesn’t need to be a mystery—it’s a practical, actionable piece of your security fabric.

Final thoughts: don’t lose sight of the goal

External storage configuration for PSM isn’t about clever tricks or heroics. It’s about resilience, traceability, and straightforward operation. By focusing your changes on basic_psm.ini, you keep the configuration transparent, auditable, and maintainable. And when things go well—when PSM talks to storage without friction—you’re left with a safer environment and a calmer team.

If you’re exploring CyberArk’s Sentry and its components, remember: the right file, the right path, and the right security posture all contribute to a solid foundation. Start with basic_psm.ini, verify access and permissions, and document your steps. It’s the kind of practical step that quietly supports much bigger security ambitions.

Want more practical guidance on how these pieces fit together? Look for resources that walk through real-world deployments, coverage of cloud storage options, and the latest security recommendations. A well-documented configuration is your best ally—and a steady partner in day-to-day security operations.