The Smart Access PAM Framework: A Modern Blueprint for Privileged Access Success

To build a resilient, future-ready Privileged Access Management (PAM) capability, organisations need more than tools and quick wins—they need a blueprint. A fortress cannot be constructed from random stones; it requires engineering, a solid foundation, and a plan tailored to the terrain. The same holds true for securing privileged access. Enter the Smart Access PAM Framework—a modular, maturity-driven approach built to help organisations move from foundational gaps to advanced, Zero Trust-aligned control without hindering productivity or overwhelming internal teams.

This framework is designed for strategic leaders—CIOs, CISOs, Heads of IAM and PAM—who need a clear, scalable model for implementing PAM that supports risk reduction, regulatory alignment, and long-term business enablement.

Why a Framework Matters

Too often, PAM is approached as a point solution—a vault, a password manager, or a least-privilege policy deployed in isolation. But PAM is not a single tool. It is a system of governance, visibility, control, and culture. Without a coherent framework, even the most expensive technologies falter under the weight of complexity, stakeholder resistance, or unmanaged exceptions.

The Smart Access PAM Framework addresses this by:

• Aligning with industry standards – Built on the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF), the blueprint offers credibility, traceability, and consistency.

• Supporting tailored implementation – Modular design allows organisations to prioritise based on specific risks, resources, and regulatory pressure.

• Driving measurable maturity – Using a five-level maturity model, it helps leaders assess where they are, where they want to go, and how to get there.

• Focusing on visibility first – Grounding all efforts in the discovery and governance of privileged access, because what you can’t see, you can’t secure.

The Smart Access PAM Framework: At a Glance

Maturity Model: A Path from Ad Hoc to Zero Trust

Each capability pillar in the framework is assessed across five levels:

The NIST CSF 2.0 Aligned PAM Maturity Model provides a structured framework with five maturity levels (0-4) for privileged access management, covering governance, identification, detection, response, and recovery. It enhances control visibility and integration, guiding clients through prioritised practices with over 43 specific controls.

Learn More About the Framework

The framework is the culmination of many years of transforming Privileged Access Management in highly regulated organisations. The six pillars are only the foundation; the framework is much broader. Learn more and get the eBook, which provides a practical guide to the framework.