Privileged Identity

Definitions

1. A human or machine identity that holds or can obtain elevated permissions over important systems, data, or control planes. Privileged identities include not just named admin users but also service principals, automation accounts, and platform roles with high-impact authority.

   In plain English: A person or system identity that has powerful access or control.

   Example: "The audit expanded from admin usernames to privileged identity review after discovering several CI service accounts had production-wide write access."

Related Terms

• Authentication
• OAuth 2.0 Flow
• IAM
• JWT Claims
• SSO
• Access Control List
• Identity Federation
• Just-in-Time Access
• Operator Security
• Root Access Security