Approving an API key release request
Depending on how the Security Policy Administrator configured the policy, an API key release request will either require approval by one or more Safeguard for Privileged Passwords users, or be auto-approved. Depending on policy configuration, approval can be automatic or require the consent of one or more users which provides closer control over system accounts.
You can revoke a request between the time the requester views it and checks it in.
Any eligible approver can deny an API key release request after it has already been approved or auto-approved. Once disallowed, the requester will no longer have access to the API key, but they are given another opportunity to request that API key again. The requester receives an email notifying them that the request was denied.
Safeguard for Privileged Passwords can be configured to notify you of an API key release request that requires your approval. For more information, see Configuring alerts.
To approve or deny an API key release request
Click Approvals on the left of the page to manage approvals. On the Approvals page, you can:
- View details by selecting a request then looking at the details display on the right of the page.
- Approve one or more request: Select the requests. Then, click Approve all selected requests to approve all the requests you selected. Optionally, enter a comment.
- Deny one or more request: Select the requests. Then, click Deny all selected requests to deny all the requests you selected. Optionally, enter a comment.
- Change the columns that display: Click and select the columns you want to see. You can select columns including:
- Action: Displays Approve only this request and Deny only this request.
- Requester / Status: Displays the user name and the status of the approval (for example, Pending 1 approval).
- Asset / Access Type: Displays the name of the asset and the type of access (for example, Password, SSH Key, RDP, SSH, API Key, or Telnet).
- Account: Displays the managed account name.
- Ticket Number: Displays the ticket number, if required.
- Requested For: Displays the date and time as well as the window of availability (for example, March 20, 2021 9:56 AM 2 hours).
- Search: For more information, see Search box.
Reviewing a completed API key release request
The Security Policy Administrator can configure an access request policy to require a review of completed API key release requests for accounts in the scope of the policy.
You can configure Safeguard for Privileged Passwords to notify you of an API key release request that requires your review.
To review a completed API key release request
Select Reviews on the left of the page to manage reviews. On the Reviews page, you can:
- View details by selecting a request then looking at the details display on the right of the page, including the workflow.
- Mark one or more request as reviewed: Select the requests. Do the following:
- If no comment is needed, click Mark all the selected requests as reviewed.
- If a comment is needed, this icon will display as One or more of the selected requests requires review comments. Add the comment. Then, click Mark as Reviewed.
- Change the columns that display: Click Select columns to display then select the columns you want to see.
- Action: Displays This request requires review comments or Mark only this request as reviewed.
- Requester: Displays the user name of the requester.
- Access Type: Displays the type of access (for example, Password, SSH Key, RDP, RDP Application, SSH, API Key, or Telnet).
- Account: Displays the managed account name.
- Ticket Number: Displays the ticket number, if required.
- Request For/Duration: Displays the date and time as well as the window of availability (for example, March 20, 2021 9:56 AM 2 hours).
- Search: For more information, see Search box.
Session request workflow
Authorized users can authorize connections, view active connections, limit access to specific resources, be alerted if connections exceed pre-set time limits, and even close connections.
Typically a session request follows the workflow below:
- Request: Users that are designated as an authorized user of an entitlement can request a session for any asset in the scope of that entitlement's policies.
- Approve: Depending on how the Security Policy Administrator configured the policy, a session request will either require approval by one or more Safeguard for Privileged Passwords users, or be auto-approved.
- Review: The Security Policy Administrator can optionally configure an access request policy to require a review of completed requests for assets in the scope of the policy. In addition, if session recording is enabled in the policy, reviewers can audit the workflow transactions and launch the Desktop Player to replay the session as part of the review process.
About sessions and recordings
Safeguard for Privileged Passwords proxies all sessions to target resources. Users do not have direct access to resources, therefore, the enterprise is protected against viruses, malware or other dangerous items on the user's system. Safeguard can proxy and record Unix/Linux, Windows, network devices, firewalls, routers and more.
NOTE: PuTTY is used to launch the SSH client for SSH session requests and MSTSC is used for RDP session requests. For information on how to setup using PuTTY or MSTSC, see SCALUS.
Important notes
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Sessions requests are enabled by default. However, if authorized users cannot request sessions, check the Session Requests setting in the web client (Appliance Management > Enable or Disable Services).
NOTE: You must have Appliance Administrator permissions to manage the service settings.
- All session activity (every packet sent and action that takes place on the screen, including mouse movements, clicks, and keystrokes) is recorded and available for play back.
- If Safeguard for Privileged Passwords detects no activity for 10 minutes during a privileged session, the session is closed.