Privileged Account

Noun · Security & Infosec

Definitions

  1. An account with elevated capabilities such as administrator, root, domain-wide, or system-level authority that can significantly change configurations or access sensitive data. Because privileged accounts can alter defenses and move laterally quickly, they require stronger controls than ordinary user accounts.

    In plain English: An account with unusually powerful access or administrative rights.

    Example: "The breach became critical once the attacker pivoted from a normal user account to a privileged account in the backup system."

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