Role-based Access Control (RBAC) is a widely-used access control model that allows system administrators to define and assign roles to users or user groups. These roles dictate what level of access a particular user or group has to a set of resources or services within the system. RBAC is a static model, meaning that roles and permissions are pre-defined and remain constant until they are manually changed by an administrator.
Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) Privileged Identity Management (PIM) is a feature within Azure AD that allows organizations to manage and monitor access to specific resources and services within their Azure environment. This is done by elevating user access on an as-needed basis, allowing them to perform privileged actions for a limited amount of time. Azure AD PIM offers just-in-time access, minimizing the risk of excessive access permissions and reducing the risk of potential security breaches.
The main difference between RBAC and Azure AD PIM is that RBAC is a static access control model that focuses on defining and assigning roles, while Azure AD PIM is a dynamic access control model that focuses on elevating user access on an as-needed basis. With RBAC, users are given static roles that dictate their level of access to resources and services, which can become overly permissive or restrictive over time.
Azure AD PIM, on the other hand, allows organizations to elevate user access only when needed and for a limited amount of time. This means that users only have the access they require to perform their specific tasks, reducing the attack surface of the organization and minimizing the risk of potential security breaches.