What is Privileged Task Automation? How Does It Work?

Jun 05, 2022 / Kron

Privileged Task Automation allows the routine tasks in the business processes in next-gen business models to be performed efficiently, securely, and automatically, as the name suggests. Industrial transformation, which is one of the most important consequences of the transition from an industrial society to an information society, leads to the digitalization process that has revolutionized business life and redefined the business model.

In today's world, where data and information can be easily digitalized and stored, the corporate environment is evolving rapidly, and digital workspaces are being used more than ever. Companies transfer their digital assets to electronic platforms, i.e., databases, and these databases are used in an active manner. Naturally, this transition doesn’t come without its challenges. If access to databases containing essential data is not regulated or audited, companies may face catastrophic data breaches, with consequences ranging from disruption of workflow, to loss of reputation, and even legal consequences. Privileged Access Management of the accounts that have access to critical data in the database, and Privileged Task Automation, which is an important component of this management, automates the repetitive daily workflow securely and prevents negative consequences such as data breaches by eliminating cyber threats.

What is Privileged Task Automation?

Privileged Task Automation (PTA) serves as a key component of Privileged Access Management (PAM), which is used to track, detect, and analyze the workflow and authorization use of accounts that have privileged access to critical data. PTA automates routine operations in the company's workflow, and the workflow is completed at any predetermined time, both safely and efficiently, without service interruptions. PTA allows businesses to emphasize cybersecurity in their business models while lowering their costs.

Complex and lengthy processes, often involving more than one authority, used for performing a task in traditional work models, are replaced by faster, streamlined, and efficient processes that are automated and run by privileged access users. Privileged Task Automation complements Privileged Access Management, which renders business models safer against cyber threats, as another piece of the puzzle. PTA improves the productivity of the users by ensuring tasks that take hours, sometimes days, are performed within minutes. Privileged Task Automation also prevents data breaches that are caused by human error.

Today, data breaches by unauthorized parties are considered as one of the most serious issues in the business world. Human errors are responsible for 82 percent of data breaches reported in 2021, according to Verizon's Data Breach Investigation Report (DBIR) 2022. Human errors include the use of stolen credentials in the system, phishing, abuse of authority, and, occasionally, a simple mistake. Ensuring continuous automation in the workflow eliminates human error and, as a consequence, data breaches, making digital transformation considerably safer.

How Does Privileged Task Automation Work?

PTA is widely used to automate daily routine tasks and complex service flows. Privileged Task Automation incorporates Designer and Player modules, and creates a workflow that includes pre-check, execution, post-check, and rollback components consecutively, and provides single interface support with dynamic and extensible instruction sets to ensure that the workflow runs effectively. Thanks to PTA, an authorized account creating a workflow for a task can enter the relevant commands in the Designer and Player modules in the visual design tab of the PTA module and easily connect the tasks to be executed according to the order of execution.

In addition to automating the workflow, PTA can also serve as a troubleshooting tool. Through the Command Builder Module, which is part of the Privileged Task Automation component and stands out with its interface that provides a very practical user experience, it is also possible to create and utilize troubleshooting and monitoring commands in a single line.

Privileged Task Automation can be used with the Command Builder Module, Designer, and Player modules and specially designed workflows, in addition to different combinations of the above alternatives to meet the requirements of different teams.

What Are The Benefits of Privileged Task Automation?

According to the DBIR 2022, data security continues to be threatened by the human factor. Human error was involved in 82 out of every 100 data breaches in 2021. These errors can originate from malicious software being delivered to the system, cyber threats deceiving or manipulating individuals in order to exploit them, disclosure of the privileges of the privileged account holders, or sometimes from a simple mistake.

Web attacks (40%) were the most common action vector among the 3279 data breaches examined in the report, followed by e-mail attacks, carelessness, sharing of desktop software, cloud media assets, and other reasons, respectively. Breaches of data security can have serious consequences for companies, from the loss of reputation to legal sanctions and bankruptcy. Automating routine workflows using Privileged Task Automation is critical for minimizing human errors and safeguarding businesses from data breaches.

The benefits of Privileged Task Automation (PTA) are not limited to the regulation of workflows. Other benefits are:

Offers a visually useful, flexible, and fast platform for troubleshooting.
Renders task scheduling to a routine that effectively increases the afterhours workforce.
Allows fast action against urgent requirements, even at the minimum experience level.
Offers a scalable and flexible platform for all sizes.
Simplifies the use of single-line tracking commands thanks to the smart command generator.
Provides easy installation and a high level of authorization with Single Sign-in.
Improves the event management process and reduces downtime.
Enables the planning and execution of tasks based on events and alerts depending on monitoring and performance.
Combines automatic command files and IT tasks with human interaction.
It is a safe way to delegate configuration tasks across the network.
Provides full control of each configuration performed on the network.
Reduces operational costs and improves efficiency.
Allows multi-level and multi-type authorization scenarios with role-based access management.
Centralizes visibility of business processes and workflow.
The generation of complex command workflows can be handled by administrators and operators, thanks to PTA’s Designer and Player modules (no hard-coded workflows are required).

Kron, with its Single Connect product family, is listed as one of the top 10 companies offering Privileged Access Management (PAM) solutions in the world, according to the reports published by Omdia, Gartner and KuppingerCole, which are among the leading global research companies. PTA, a product of the Single Connect suite, provides an effective solution for those who want to prevent human errors and protect their data by using privileged accounts with authorized access in areas where businesses have important digital assets, and it also contributes to increasing operational efficiency by automating routine tasks.

Contact us for more information about our Privileged Task Automation solution, a component of the Single Connect PAM suite, and vital in securing authorized accounts and critical data.