Privileged account management refers to the governance and operational controls used to administer accounts that haveelevated permissionsbeyond standard user access. Privileged accounts can change system configurations, create or modify users, access sensitive datasets, disable security tools, and administer core infrastructure such as servers, databases, directories, network devices, and cloud consoles. Because misuse of privileged access can quickly lead to large-scale compromise, cybersecurity frameworks treat privileged access as a high-risk area requiring stronger safeguards than normal accounts.
The definition in option A is correct because it captures the core purpose of privileged account management:establishing and maintaining access rights and controlsspecifically for roles that must perform administrative or support functions. In practice, this includes ensuring privileges are granted only when justified, scoped to the minimum necessary, and reviewed regularly. It also includes controls such as separation of duties, approval workflows, time-bound elevation, credential vaulting, rotation of privileged passwords and keys, multifactor authentication, and detailed logging of privileged sessions for monitoring and audit.
Option B is too broad because privileged account management is a specialized subset of identity and access management focused on elevated access. Option C is incorrect because privilege is defined by permissions, not job title. Option D describes an authentication concept, not the full management lifecycle of privileged access.
