PAM Strategy • Failure Mode 4

Building a Sustainable PAM Operating Model & Governance

Go-live is not the end of a PAM deployment; it is the beginning of the operating lifecycle.

PB
PAM Best Practice July 2026 • 6 min read

A PAM strategy defines how an organization controls, governs, and monitors privileged access across its entire environment. But who actually runs it once the deployment team leaves?

Beyond Go-Live

The Reality

Many organisations treat PAM as a project with a definitive end date. Once the tool is installed, the project team disbands. There is no clear owner, no integration with Joiner/Mover/Leaver (JML) processes, and no dedicated personnel to manage the environment.

The Cost of Operational Neglect

Without an operating model, privilege creep inevitably returns. Over 80% of organisations need dedicated personnel just to manage their PAM environment—and those people are incredibly hard to find amidst the global cybersecurity skills gap. Without them, the system degrades, policies become stale, and security posture weakens daily.

Continuous monitoring and control is a core pillar of a 2026-ready PAM program. Privileged access must be actively monitored, not passively logged.

Run a Sustainable Programme in Module 10

Our curriculum bridges the gap between implementation and daily operations. In our upcoming Module 10, learners build a RACI matrix and a 12-month operating calendar, ensuring that governance is baked into the organisation’s DNA long after the initial deployment is ‘finished.’

View the Training Programme