PAM stands for "pluggable authentication module". It is a mechanism that allows multiple low-level authentication schemes to be integrated into a high-level application programming interface (API) . This means that programs that rely on authentication can be written independently of the underlying authentication scheme. PAM was first proposed by Sun Microsystems in 1995 and was adopted as the authentication framework of the Common Desktop Environment.
However, PAM can also refer to "privileged access management". This is a cybersecurity strategy that involves controlling, monitoring, securing, and auditing all privileged identities and activities across an enterprise IT environment. PAM is considered one of the most important security projects for reducing cyber risk and achieving high security ROI. It provides granular visibility, control, and auditing over privileged identities and session activities. PAM is critical for achieving compliance with industry and government regulations.
