Who uses the PSMAdminConnect User accounts in CyberArk Sentry?

PSMAdminConnect: Who Should Really Be Using It—and Why Auditors Lead the Way

Imagine you’re running a high-stakes security theater. The audience needs to see what’s happening, but you don’t want them backstage, tinkering with the set. In the world of privileged access management, that balance is achieved with careful role design and tight access controls. One feature that often comes up in CyberArk discussions is PSMAdminConnect—an account type tied to the Privileged Session Manager (PSM). So, who should use these accounts? The answer is surprisingly straightforward: auditors.

Let me explain how this works in practice and why it matters for security teams, compliance officers, and anyone studying how CyberArk is typically deployed in real environments.

What is PSM, and what does PSMAdminConnect mean?

First, a quick refresher. The Privileged Session Manager (PSM) is CyberArk’s gateway for controlling, monitoring, and recording privileged sessions. When a user needs to access systems or applications with elevated rights, PSM sits in the middle, providing a controlled channel. It helps ensure that admin actions aren’t wandering around untracked, and it gives security teams a way to observe sessions without giving away full, unfettered access.

PSMAdminConnect is a specialized user account type associated with PSM. Think of it as a dedicated passport that allows a permitted, auditable window into privileged sessions. It’s not a “workhorse” credential meant for day-to-day maintenance; it’s a carefully scoped key designed for oversight and verification.

Auditors: the primary users

Who benefits most from PSMAdminConnect? Auditors. Here’s why:

• Independent verification: Auditors are tasked with confirming that controls are actually working as intended and that policies for privileged access are being followed. PSMAdminConnect provides a structured, traceable path to review sessions without granting broad access to critical systems.

• Focused access, reduced risk: These accounts are deliberately constrained. Auditors can view and review activity, but they’re not in a position to perform ad hoc changes that could destabilize production environments.

• Compliance alignment: In regulated settings—financial services, healthcare, or government—demonstrating evidence of oversight is essential. PSMAdminConnect helps generate the kind of audit trails regulators expect.

You’ll notice a recurring theme here: independence. Auditors bring an external or internal compliance lens, and their access needs to be sufficient for evaluation but not so broad that it undermines security.

How PSMAdminConnect differs from other privileged accounts

It’s helpful to contrast the typical users of PSMAdminConnect with other roles that live in a CyberArk world.

• System admins and IT support staff: These folks usually require broader capabilities to manage infrastructure, apply patches, and troubleshoot. Their privileges are often tied to operational needs and ongoing tasks, not just oversight. They interact with privileged accounts differently—usually with more day-to-day access, longer sessions, and higher tolerance for change activity.

• End users: These users generally don’t need privileged sessions. Their access is normal business access, with some elevated rights often gated behind approvals or just-in-time controls. Their day-to-day work isn’t about monitoring privileged activity; it’s about getting their work done.

• Auditors (via PSMAdminConnect): Here’s the unique angle. Auditors need visibility and verification without becoming an active operator. PSMAdminConnect is designed to strike that balance—allowing audit work to take place with a clear, auditable footprint, while minimizing the chance of accidental or intentional misuse.

If you picture a spectrum of access, PSMAdminConnect sits at the edge where oversight becomes the mission, not operation.

Security controls that work well with PSMAdminConnect

For auditors to do their job effectively—and for the organization to stay aligned with risk management—the following controls are typically in place around PSMAdminConnect:

• Least privilege and role-based access control: The account is granted only the permissions necessary to perform audits. No extra tools or commands that could alter systems are routinely available.

• Strong authentication: Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is standard, adding a second line of defense beyond a password.

• Session recording and real-time monitoring: Privileged sessions accessed via PSM are recorded, and security teams can view session streams live if needed. This creates a robust audit trail.

• Detailed logging and tamper-evident records: Every action taken, every attempt to access a session, and every policy decision is logged for later review. Logs are protected against tampering and stored in a secure, searchable repository.

• Time-bound access and approval workflows: If auditors require temporary access beyond a standard window, approvals can be triggered and tracked, with an automatic expiry.

• Separation of duties: The person who reviews logs is not always the person who accessed the session. This reduces the risk of collusion and improves the integrity of the audit process.

• Regular review of permissions: Access to PSMAdminConnect is reviewed periodically to ensure it still fits governance objectives and regulatory requirements.

Let me give you a practical picture. If a bank’s security team needs to verify that a privileged session didn’t misuse elevated rights, they’d pull up the PSMAdminConnect trail. They’d see who accessed what, when, and under what policy. If a sensitive action was attempted, they’d know whether it was allowed, blocked, or escalated. All of that lives in the audit logs, not in a glorified “watchdog” role—this is evidence you can present to regulators and the board.

A real-world lens: why this matters beyond theory

You don’t have to be in a regulated industry to appreciate the value here. Consider a scenario at a large SaaS provider with multiple data centers:

• An auditor needs to verify that privileged access for incident response is controlled and logged. Instead of granting broad admin credentials, the team uses PSMAdminConnect to observe sessions tied to incident response playbooks.

• The security team demonstrates to executives that every privileged touchpoint is captured, reviewed, and accounted for. That evidence is a cornerstone for a mature security program and can improve vendor risk management with clients who demand strong controls.

This isn’t about sneaking around or catching people doing something wrong; it’s about building confidence in your governance framework. Auditors don’t need the ability to change systems to prove the controls work—they need visibility, consistency, and traceability.

Common questions you’ll hear in practice

If you’re exploring how PSMAdminConnect fits into a broader security design, these questions often surface in conversations:

• Why not give auditors broader read access to systems? The answer is risk reduction. Broad read access can expose sensitive data or enable unintended actions. A tightly scoped PSMAdminConnect path preserves oversight while keeping the surface area small.

• What keeps auditors from becoming insiders? Separation of duties helps here. Auditors review activity without performing regular maintenance tasks. The process is designed to minimize “the power of correcting” while maximizing accountability.

• How do you prove that the access is truly limited to auditing? Comprehensive logs, policy-based access control, and regular governance reviews provide the evidence. Automated reports can show who accessed PSMAdminConnect and what they reviewed.

• Can auditors ever need to perform actions? In some setups, there may be a need for guided, time-limited actions under strict controls. When that happens, a formal approval and recording process governs any expansion of access.

Digressions that still circle back

Now, you might wonder about the tension between wanting auditors to have enough visibility and the urge to keep everything sealed tight. It’s a healthy tension. On one hand, security teams want to shield sensitive data from unnecessary exposure. On the other hand, regulators demand transparency and verifiability. The solution isn’t to choose one over the other but to design workflows that separate the “watching” from the “doing.” In many modern IT shops, that balance is achieved through policy-driven access, robust auditing, and automated reporting. It’s not glamorous, but it’s incredibly practical.

What this means for your learning and assessment

If your study materials touch on CyberArk’s Sentry and PSM, you’ll likely encounter scenarios that test your understanding of role delineation, access controls, and audit readiness. Here are a few takeaways to anchor your memory:

• PSMAdminConnect is intended for auditors and similar oversight roles, not for everyday system maintenance.

• The goal is to enable independent review of privileged sessions with strong controls and a clear audit trail.

• Understanding who uses these accounts—and why—helps you map security policies to real-world outcomes.

• A mature setup includes least privilege, robust authentication, session recording, and formal review processes.

Bringing it all together

Auditors play a crucial, highly specialized role in any security program that relies on privileged access management. PSMAdminConnect User accounts are not about mass access; they’re about accountable oversight. They let auditors verify that controls are effective, policies are followed, and privileged activity remains auditable without expanding the risk footprint.

If you’re studying CyberArk concepts, keep this core idea in mind: the architecture isn’t just about who can log in; it’s about who can observe, verify, and validate sensitive activity without becoming an unintended point of failure. When the right people have the right kind of access, organizations sleep a little easier at night.

Final thought: security is a collaborative craft

The beauty of a well-structured PAM system is that it weaves together people, processes, and technology. Auditors, administrators, security engineers, and compliance officers each bring a piece of the puzzle. The PSMAdminConnect pathway recognizes the unique duties of auditors and provides a careful, auditable window into privileged sessions. It’s a small design choice with big implications for trust, accountability, and resilience in the digital age. If you’re mapping a thoughtful security program, this is the kind of detail you’ll want to get right.