{"id":14132,"date":"2023-05-26T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-05-26T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.syteca.com\/blog\/en-blog-system-server-administrators\/"},"modified":"2026-03-30T05:53:27","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T12:53:27","slug":"system-server-administrators","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.syteca.com\/en\/blog\/system-server-administrators","title":{"rendered":"7 Best Practices to Secure System Administrators\u2019 Privileged Accounts"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>System administrators interact with your organization\u2019s most sensitive assets. Therefore, protecting their accounts is a must. In this article, we explain seven proven best practices to secure sysadmin accounts, from enforcing strong password policies to monitoring user activity and planning incident response. You\u2019ll walk away with a clear roadmap on how to strengthen privileged account security, prevent insider threats, and deal with potential incidents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"mt-4\"><strong>Key takeaways:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"mb-2\">Having elevated access to your IT infrastructure, system administrators\u2019 accounts are prime targets for cyberattackers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"mb-2\">Applying the principle of least privilege to sysadmin accounts can help you reduce the risk of credential theft and privilege misuse.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"mb-2\">Automating the monitoring of sysadmin activity allows for detecting and responding to threats in real time.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"mb-0\">Consider getting a unified cybersecurity solution like Syteca for full visibility and control over privileged and regular user accounts.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2  class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why system administrators deserve special attention<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Keys help you enter your home, but a thief can use them too.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>System administrators are employees responsible for installing, maintaining, and configuring an organization\u2019s computer systems, networks, and servers. Working with both hardware and software, they have to follow strict cybersecurity policies to ensure the security of a company\u2019s sensitive data and the entire IT infrastructure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>System administrators have more access rights than other employees. They can:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Access all files and data within the corporate network<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Create and delete accounts, both regular and privileged<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Assign access rights to user accounts<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Download, upgrade, and remove software<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Modify corporate systems<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Depending on an organization\u2019s type and size, system administrators can be categorized as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"825\" height=\"417\" src=\"https:\/\/syteca_site_uploads.storage.googleapis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/26052749\/figure-1-system-server-administrators.png\" alt=\"System administrators can specialize in\" class=\"wp-image-24392\" srcset=\"https:\/\/syteca_site_uploads.storage.googleapis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/26052749\/figure-1-system-server-administrators.png 825w, https:\/\/syteca_site_uploads.storage.googleapis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/26052749\/figure-1-system-server-administrators-300x152.png 300w, https:\/\/syteca_site_uploads.storage.googleapis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/26052749\/figure-1-system-server-administrators-768x388.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 825px) 100vw, 825px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"mb-3\"><strong>Database administrators<\/strong> are responsible for data integrity and the efficiency, maintenance, and performance of the database system.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"mb-3\"><strong>Network administrators<\/strong> maintain network infrastructure such as switches and routers and find problems within the network.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"mb-3\"><strong>Security administrators<\/strong> handle computer and network security and communicate general security measures to an organization\u2019s staff.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"mb-3\"><strong>Web administrators<\/strong> maintain web server services that allow for internal or external access to websites and may also manage software.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"mb-3\"><strong>Computer administrators<\/strong> perform routine maintenance and upkeep of computer equipment, such as changing backup tapes or replacing failed drives in a redundant array of independent disks.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"mb-3\"><strong>Telecommunications administrators<\/strong> are responsible for maintaining equipment and networks that provide data and voice communication systems, such as telephone, video conferencing, computer, and voicemail systems.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>In some organizations, system administrators can take on several or even all of these roles. But since sysadmins have this degree of access, their accounts pose a significant threat to system security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t\t<div  class=\"block-f5ba86ab-0b0b-438c-a78a-f52c6ce5fe21 areoi-element container pattern-start-trial-2 rounded-bg-13px overflow-hidden mt-5\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"areoi-background  \">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"container-fluid\" style=\"padding: 0;\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row justify-content-start\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col \">\n\t\t\t            <div class=\"areoi-background__color\" \n\t                        \tstyle=\"background: rgba(16, 206, 158,0.15)\">\n\t                        <\/div>\n\n\t                    \n\n\t                    \n\n\t                    \n\t    \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t    \t\t<\/div>\n\t    \t<\/div>\n\t    <\/div>\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t<div  class=\"block-7fa45f44-f921-4aba-9b07-52de097679b8 row areoi-element align-items-center row-cols-md-2\">\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t<div  class=\"block-9e962fe6-f77f-40f9-898c-abaef3f48ccb col areoi-element d-flex flex-wrap flex-column align-items-center align-items-md-start col-12 col-md-8 col-xl-6\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left pt-5 text-center text-md-start lh-sm p-poppins\" style=\"font-size:1.75rem;font-style:normal;font-weight:600\">Explore the power of Syteca now!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<button data-bs-target=\"#hsModal-trial\" data-bs-toggle=\"modal\" \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"block-a078d8dd-5154-4728-856b-ae04c188c41a btn areoi-has-url position-relative mb-5 hsBtn-trial mt-1 btn-secondary\"\n\t >\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tRequest a Free Trial \n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t<div  class=\"block-f840f051-f300-4ade-9e70-68d6c65e619d col areoi-element col-md-4 col-xl-6 d-none d-sm-none d-md-block\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"396\" height=\"289\" src=\"https:\/\/syteca_site_uploads.storage.googleapis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/02013958\/348.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24853\" srcset=\"https:\/\/syteca_site_uploads.storage.googleapis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/02013958\/348.png 396w, https:\/\/syteca_site_uploads.storage.googleapis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/02013958\/348-300x219.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 396px) 100vw, 396px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n<h2  class=\"wp-block-heading\">Top 3 threat vectors for system administrators\u2019 accounts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><em>What can go wrong with your keys?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Because of their elevated access rights, sysadmin accounts carry potential risks for the organization\u2019s cybersecurity. Elevated privileges can harm an organization if they fall into the wrong hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>If you put a key under the mat for the cops, a burglar can find it, too. Criminals are using every technology tool at their disposal to hack into people&#8217;s accounts. If they know there&#8217;s a key hidden somewhere, they won&#8217;t stop until they find it.<\/p>\n<cite>Tim Cook<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Major threat vectors related to system administrators\u2019 accounts are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"825\" height=\"472\" src=\"https:\/\/syteca_site_uploads.storage.googleapis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/26052858\/figure-2-system-server-administrators.png\" alt=\"Key threat sources for sysadmin accounts\" class=\"wp-image-24399\" srcset=\"https:\/\/syteca_site_uploads.storage.googleapis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/26052858\/figure-2-system-server-administrators.png 825w, https:\/\/syteca_site_uploads.storage.googleapis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/26052858\/figure-2-system-server-administrators-300x172.png 300w, https:\/\/syteca_site_uploads.storage.googleapis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/26052858\/figure-2-system-server-administrators-768x439.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 825px) 100vw, 825px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s take a closer look.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t\t<div  class=\"block-4b33c6b1-f455-4813-a18e-8b78baa0685b areoi-element pattern-read-also rounded-bg-13px mt-5 mb-5\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"areoi-background  \">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"container-fluid\" style=\"padding: 0;\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row justify-content-start\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col \">\n\t\t\t            <div class=\"areoi-background__color\" \n\t                        \tstyle=\"background: rgba(16, 206, 158,0.1)\">\n\t                        <\/div>\n\n\t                    \n\n\t                    \n\n\t                    \n\t    \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t    \t\t<\/div>\n\t    \t<\/div>\n\t    <\/div>\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\n<p class=\"p-poppins opacity-50 has-text-color\" style=\"color:#1a3b4e;font-style:normal;font-weight:500\">Learn more about<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"p-poppins\" style=\"font-size:1.38rem;font-style:normal;font-weight:600\"><a href=\"\/en\/solutions\/privileged-user-monitoring\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Privileged User Management with Syteca<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\t\t\t \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">External cyber attacks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><em>A criminal can open the doors with your keys.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Cybercriminals can steal or disrupt an organization\u2019s sensitive data by compromising a sysadmin\u2019s account. It&#8217;s especially widespread in <a href=\"\/en\/blog\/5-industries-most-risk-of-data-breaches\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the top most targeted industries<\/a>. While there are a number of ways to compromise a sysadmin\u2019s account, most involve gaining account credentials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Insider-related credential theft is one of the costliest threats to remediate, with an average of $679,621 per incident according to the <a href=\"https:\/\/static.poder360.com.br\/2022\/01\/pfpt-us-tr-the-cost-of-insider-threats-ponemon-report.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2023 Cost of Insider Threats Global Report<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Compromised administrative accounts can cost substantially more because elevated account privileges grant access to far more valuable assets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To compromise a sysadmin\u2019s account, cybercriminals can use the following <a href=\"\/en\/blog\/mitigating-password-attacks\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">types of password attacks<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"825\" height=\"443\" src=\"https:\/\/syteca_site_uploads.storage.googleapis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/26052950\/figure-3-system-server-administrators.png\" alt=\"Ways sysadmin accounts can be compromised\" class=\"wp-image-24406\" srcset=\"https:\/\/syteca_site_uploads.storage.googleapis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/26052950\/figure-3-system-server-administrators.png 825w, https:\/\/syteca_site_uploads.storage.googleapis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/26052950\/figure-3-system-server-administrators-300x161.png 300w, https:\/\/syteca_site_uploads.storage.googleapis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/26052950\/figure-3-system-server-administrators-768x412.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 825px) 100vw, 825px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Keylogging malware<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Keylogging malware captures users\u2019 keystrokes, thereby acquiring logins and passwords. The information is then sent to an attacker. This malware can be intentionally installed on a computer by a malicious insider or by an outside attacker. Common techniques for installing keylogging malware include <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Drive-by_download\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">drive-by downloads<\/a>, infected USB devices, and <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Watering_hole_attack\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">watering hole attacks<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Phishing techniques<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Even the most sophisticated firewall can be useless when <a href=\"https:\/\/www.investopedia.com\/terms\/s\/social-engineering.asp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">social engineering<\/a> comes in. Cybercriminals can email their victims on behalf of a trusted source and trick the recipients into compromising important data or account credentials. A phishing email may also contain a malicious file. While looking like a regular document, an attachment may have a virus that will infect the system if opened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Hacked user databases<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Sometimes, e-commerce and social media websites get hacked and their databases along with user credentials end up in cybercriminals\u2019 hands. The problem is that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.syteca.com\/en\/blog\/inadvertent-privileged-user-mistakes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">people tend to reuse their passwords<\/a> for both personal and corporate accounts. As people tend to reuse their passwords for multiple accounts, attackers can successfully use credentials compromised in public breaches against corporate accounts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Pass-the-hash attacks<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This hacking technique allows an attacker to steal a password hash instead of stealing complete passwords. To perform a <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pass_the_hash\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">pass-the-hash attack<\/a>, an attacker can dump authenticated user credentials stored in memory or dump the local user\u2019s account database.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Credential stuffing and password spraying<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Credential_stuffing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">credential stuffing<\/a> attack is possible if an attacker gains access to a list of credentials like passwords and tries to use them against multiple accounts to see if there\u2019s a match. A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/security\/blog\/2020\/04\/23\/protecting-organization-password-spray-attacks\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">password spraying<\/a> attack is performed when a cybercriminal has a list of usernames and tests each username against a list of the most commonly used passwords. They can also try to bypass the limit of repeated password attempts by using multiple IP addresses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Vulnerability exploits<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Cybercriminals may use system vulnerabilities or system administrators\u2019 negligence to take control over sysadmin accounts. For example, if a sysadmin logs in to a hacked computer, their account can get compromised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">System administrator negligence<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Holding the keys entails responsibility.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>System administrators themselves are sometimes unwittingly responsible for account compromise. External attacks are frequently successful due to a careless attitude towards performing sysadmin duties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s take a look at ways administrators might assist in compromising their credentials:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"825\" height=\"354\" src=\"https:\/\/syteca_site_uploads.storage.googleapis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/26053014\/figure-4-system-server-administrators.png\" alt=\"Poor system administrator security practices\" class=\"wp-image-24413\" srcset=\"https:\/\/syteca_site_uploads.storage.googleapis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/26053014\/figure-4-system-server-administrators.png 825w, https:\/\/syteca_site_uploads.storage.googleapis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/26053014\/figure-4-system-server-administrators-300x129.png 300w, https:\/\/syteca_site_uploads.storage.googleapis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/26053014\/figure-4-system-server-administrators-768x330.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 825px) 100vw, 825px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Logging on to unsecured endpoints<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Logging on with administrator accounts to unprotected computers outside an organization\u2019s perimeter may expose such accounts to attackers. This is especially relevant now, in the <a href=\"\/en\/blog\/mistakes-in-securing-remote-work\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">remote work<\/a> reality, when even a system administrator may be working from home via their personal laptop. If the unsecured computer is infected with malware or hacked in some other way, the privileged account can be easily compromised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Sharing administrative accounts<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Instead of having several identities, system administrators may share a single super-admin account to accomplish numerous tasks. For example, someone might use it to set up a new employee&#8217;s computer while another person configures the company\u2019s network. When a shared admin account is abused, identifying the perpetrator might be difficult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If such an account is compromised at one of the endpoints, the entire system is in danger. In addition, it\u2019s much harder to recover or disable such a highly privileged account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Using administrative accounts for daily activities<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>A similar risk is related to using the system administrator account to perform everyday tasks such as checking email, chatting on social media, downloading content, or simply surfing the internet. Though seemingly innocent, these activities conceal a number of ways to compromise an admin account, freeing the perpetrator\u2019s hands to carry out their malicious plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Plus, if a compromised account has administrative <a href=\"https:\/\/www.syteca.com\/en\/blog\/secure-active-directory-with-pam\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Active Directory<\/a> rights, the whole domain may be in danger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Using poor password management practices<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Poor password handling is unacceptable among system administrators, who are supposed to promote system security instead of exposing the system to risks. Nonetheless, some sysadmins have unhealthy password habits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To name a few:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Using the same password for different administrative accounts<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Not updating passwords regularly<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Storing passwords in the browser cache<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sharing credentials with colleagues<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Such negligence paves the way to a compromised admin account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Having too many administrative accounts in the system<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Overpopulating the system with administrative accounts expands the attack surface. The more administrative accounts you have in an organization\u2019s network, the higher the risk of one of them getting compromised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition, it\u2019s hard to maintain and manage a large number of accounts (rotate passwords regularly, remove access rights that accounts no longer need, track account activity, etc.).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Malicious activity of system administrators<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Do you trust the person holding your keys?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As we discussed earlier, full access rights to your organization\u2019s systems provide system administrators with almost unlimited opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In wicked hands, this power can harm your organization in a variety of ways:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"825\" height=\"615\" src=\"https:\/\/syteca_site_uploads.storage.googleapis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/26053034\/figure-5-system-server-administrators.png\" alt=\"Ways malicious system administrators can harm an organization\" class=\"wp-image-24420\" srcset=\"https:\/\/syteca_site_uploads.storage.googleapis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/26053034\/figure-5-system-server-administrators.png 825w, https:\/\/syteca_site_uploads.storage.googleapis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/26053034\/figure-5-system-server-administrators-300x224.png 300w, https:\/\/syteca_site_uploads.storage.googleapis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/26053034\/figure-5-system-server-administrators-768x573.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 825px) 100vw, 825px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether driven by a desire for personal benefit or managed from the outside, as in cases of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.syteca.com\/en\/blog\/prevent-industrial-espionage\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">industrial espionage<\/a>, malicious insiders are extremely difficult to identify.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s why:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>System administrators are good at camouflaging their actions. Elevated access rights allow them to cover traces of cybercrime by using accounts of other employees, deleting applications, and erasing or modifying event logs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It can take years to detect a crime committed by a malicious sysadmin. For instance, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/usao-wdpa\/pr\/texas-man-sentenced-27-months-prison-damaging-health-care-system-s-computers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Brandon Coughlin<\/a>, who was sentenced to prison only in 2017, created an undisclosed administrative account with full access and control of a Pennsylvania clinic group\u2019s computer system just two days after he finished his job at the company back in 2013. He proceeded to make fraudulent technology purchases and delete computer settings and data until mid-2015, when the clinic group finally changed the system administrator\u2019s credentials. His actions caused a financial loss of approximately $60,000 to the group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ultimately, securing privileged administrator accounts is no longer just an IT task \u2014 it\u2019s one of the <a href=\"\/en\/blog\/the-biggest-challenges-for-cios\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">top CIO challenges<\/a>, given the financial, operational, and reputational impact of privileged account compromise. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\t\t<div  class=\"block-4b33c6b1-f455-4813-a18e-8b78baa0685b areoi-element pattern-read-also rounded-bg-13px\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"areoi-background  \">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"container-fluid\" style=\"padding: 0;\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row justify-content-start\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col \">\n\t\t\t            <div class=\"areoi-background__color\" \n\t                        \tstyle=\"background: rgba(16, 206, 158,0.1)\">\n\t                        <\/div>\n\n\t                    \n\n\t                    \n\n\t                    \n\t    \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t    \t\t<\/div>\n\t    \t<\/div>\n\t    <\/div>\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\n<p class=\"p-poppins opacity-50 has-text-color\" style=\"color:#1a3b4e;font-style:normal;font-weight:500\">Learn more about<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"p-poppins\" style=\"font-size:1.38rem;font-style:normal;font-weight:600\"><a href=\"\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Insider Risk Management with Syteca<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\t\t\t \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n<h2  class=\"wp-block-heading\">7 security best practices for system administrators\u2019 privileged accounts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><em>How to protect administrator accounts?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are multiple ways administrative accounts can be compromised. Fortunately, there are multiple <a href=\"\/en\/blog\/service-account-security\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">service account security best practices<\/a> you can apply to minimize the risks posed by privileged users and sysadmins:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"825\" height=\"543\" src=\"https:\/\/syteca_site_uploads.storage.googleapis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/26053048\/figure-6-system-server-administrators.png\" alt=\"7 best practices to secure system administrators\u2019 accounts\" class=\"wp-image-24427\" srcset=\"https:\/\/syteca_site_uploads.storage.googleapis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/26053048\/figure-6-system-server-administrators.png 825w, https:\/\/syteca_site_uploads.storage.googleapis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/26053048\/figure-6-system-server-administrators-300x197.png 300w, https:\/\/syteca_site_uploads.storage.googleapis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/26053048\/figure-6-system-server-administrators-768x505.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 825px) 100vw, 825px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Assess the risks posed by system administrators<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Think about how your keys can be abused.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Identify all of your critical assets and people who have unrestricted access to them. Think about how many system administrators your organization has. What access rights do they possess? How can you make sure that sysadmins follow your security policies?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Use this information to choose the right security controls and implement an efficient strategy for administrator privileged account security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Establish robust security policies<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Describe how everyone should be using your keys.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Make sure you have formal written policies on working with corporate networks and systems. Clearly describe all cybersecurity measures applied within your organization, including privileged access controls and <a href=\"\/en\/blog\/service-account-security\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">service account security policies<\/a>, to ensure that both human and non-human administrative accounts are properly governed. Take a look at Stanford University\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/uit.stanford.edu\/security\/sysadmin\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Guide for System Administrators<\/a> and the University of Arizona\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/policy.arizona.edu\/information-technology\/acceptable-use-system-administrators-policy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Acceptable Use for System Administrators Policy<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although administrators are cybersecurity professionals themselves, ensure that they are aware of and follow all of your security requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Enhance your password management<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Don\u2019t just hide the keys under the mat.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Implementing <a href=\"\/en\/blog\/password-management-best-practices\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">password management best practices<\/a> is essential both for cybersecurity and compliance purposes. For example, you can find special NIST and <a href=\"\/en\/blog\/password-policy-compliance-checklist\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">HIPAA password requirements<\/a> you should follow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Enrich your security policies with a description of healthy password habits, such as creating complex passwords, updating them regularly, and using different passwords for different accounts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, this might not be enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To secure root and administrator credentials within your organization, apply practices recommended by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.syteca.com\/en\/solutions\/meeting-compliance-requirements\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">cybersecurity regulations and standards<\/a> relevant to your industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, you can use dedicated password management solutions. Consider Syteca \u2013 a universal insider risk management platform with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.syteca.com\/en\/product\/privileged-access-management\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">privileged access management<\/a> (PAM) functionality that will allow you to securely store, deliver, and handle administrative credentials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Use and manage accounts wisely<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Keep the keys safe.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Check these helpful tips on how to securely use and manage accounts of system administrators:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"825\" height=\"416\" src=\"https:\/\/syteca_site_uploads.storage.googleapis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/26053101\/figure-7-system-server-administrators.jpg\" alt=\"Tips on using and managing administrative accounts\" class=\"wp-image-24434\" srcset=\"https:\/\/syteca_site_uploads.storage.googleapis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/26053101\/figure-7-system-server-administrators.jpg 825w, https:\/\/syteca_site_uploads.storage.googleapis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/26053101\/figure-7-system-server-administrators-300x151.jpg 300w, https:\/\/syteca_site_uploads.storage.googleapis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/26053101\/figure-7-system-server-administrators-768x387.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 825px) 100vw, 825px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"mb-3\"><strong>Limit the use of admin accounts.<\/strong> Make sure that your system administrators use their admin accounts only when needed and use regular accounts for daily tasks. Also, try to keep admin accounts signed out. Staying signed in permanently increases the likelihood of account compromise.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"mb-3\"><strong>Create separate accounts for different admin duties. <\/strong>Create separate roles for your admins based on the tasks they need to perform and the level of access required. You can create one super admin account and multiple role-based (less privileged) admin accounts. This will help you limit the amount of power held by each admin and minimize the scope of possible privilege abuse. To find out more about role-based access control (RBAC) and attribute-based access control (ABAC), you can refer to our article on the <a href=\"\/en\/blog\/rbac-vs-abac\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">differences between ABAC and RBAC<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"mb-3\"><strong>Avoid using shared admin accounts. <\/strong>Sharing one administrator account with multiple users makes it impossible to monitor and audit actions of particular users. If you have no other choice but to use a shared account, consider applying <a href=\"https:\/\/www.syteca.com\/en\/product\/identity-management\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">secondary authentication<\/a>, as it helps to identify actions of individual users of a shared account.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>To manage administrative accounts more efficiently, you can use the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.syteca.com\/en\/product\/privileged-access-management\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PAM<\/a> capabilities of Syteca as part of a <a href=\"\/en\/blog\/pasm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">privileged account and session management<\/a> approach, which ensures both access control and visibility over privileged user actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t\t<div  class=\"block-0fd9dafd-f438-4a8f-bdeb-5bc2169c0387 areoi-element pattern-get-in-touch-1 rounded-bg-13px d-flex flex-column align-items-center mt-5 mb-5\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"areoi-background  \">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"container-fluid\" style=\"padding: 0;\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row justify-content-start\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col \">\n\t\t\t            <div class=\"areoi-background__color\" \n\t                        \tstyle=\"background: rgba(71, 144, 234,0.15)\">\n\t                        <\/div>\n\n\t                    \n\n\t                    \n\n\t                    \n\t    \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t    \t\t<\/div>\n\t    \t<\/div>\n\t    <\/div>\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center p-poppins hsBtn-trial mb-2 lh-sm pt-2 text-38-32\" style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600\">Got a question?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center p-poppins mb-0 has-text-color\" style=\"color:#1a3b4e;font-style:normal;font-weight:500\">Syteca CySec expert team will provide you with all the answers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<a \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"block-722e80d0-c5b1-4f8c-8662-38969da417e2 btn areoi-has-url position-relative mb-2 btn-info mt-4 btn-info\"\n\t href=\"\/en\/get-in-touch\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tGet in Touch \n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Restrict access to critical systems<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Do not just give the keys to everyone. And keep the doors shut.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Elevated access permissions are what make system administrators\u2019 accounts so attractive to malicious users. To minimize the chances of a system administrator\u2019s account being compromised, consider implementing the <a href=\"\/en\/blog\/the-principle-of-least-privilege\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">principle of least privilege<\/a> and <a href=\"\/en\/blog\/user-access-review\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">user access review best practices<\/a>. If you want to protect your critical assets even more, think about implementing <a href=\"\/en\/blog\/zero-trust-security-model\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">zero trust security<\/a>. The <a href=\"\/en\/blog\/zero-trust-implementation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">zero trust<\/a> model implies that only verified users get to access protected data and systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you decide to implement the above concepts, Syteca\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.syteca.com\/en\/product\/privileged-access-management\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PAM<\/a> functionality can help you with that. Syteca will enable you to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"mb-3\">Get full visibility over all accounts of system administrators and regular users<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"mb-3\">Manage system administrators\u2019 access rights in your infrastructure<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"mb-3\">Secure remote access of sysadmins to critical endpoints<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"mb-3\">Verify identities of your system administrators with the help of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.syteca.com\/en\/two-factor-authentication-tool\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">two-factor authentication<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Given that, Syteca can help you minimize the chances of malicious actors accessing your corporate network even if they manage to compromise an admin account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. Monitor system administrators\u2019 activity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Get your house a surveillance system.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ensuring proper <a href=\"\/en\/blog\/privileged-user-monitoring-best-practices\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">privileged user monitoring and audit<\/a> is a great way to enhance your cybersecurity. Records of user sessions will provide you with information on <em>who <\/em>did <em>what, where<\/em>, and <em>when<\/em>. Also, these records can be used as evidence during a cybersecurity incident investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Syteca will allow you to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"mb-3\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.syteca.com\/en\/solutions\/privileged-user-monitoring\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Monitor the activity<\/a> of your system administrators and other users and record it in a video format<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"mb-3\">Watch recorded and live user sessions in an intuitive YouTube-like player<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"mb-3\">Search by a variety of factors, including launched applications, visited websites, typed keystrokes, executed commands and scripts, and more<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"mb-3\">Manage all <a href=\"https:\/\/www.syteca.com\/en\/product\/usb-blocking\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">USB devices<\/a> used by system administrators in your infrastructure and block unapproved devices automatically<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"mb-3\">Export monitoring data via a set of customizable reports and conduct an internal audit of all sysadmin activity performed inside Syteca<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>With the help of Syteca, you can ensure compliance with major cybersecurity <a href=\"https:\/\/www.syteca.com\/en\/solutions\/meeting-compliance-requirements\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">standards<\/a> and regulations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">7. Create a solid incident response plan<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Protect your house with an alarm system.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Create a well-thought-out plan for what your personnel will do if a system administrator\u2019s account is compromised. Writing down procedures will help your staff effectively react on time in a critical situation. An <a href=\"https:\/\/www.syteca.com\/en\/blog\/incident-response-plan-tips\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">incident response plan<\/a> will help minimize the damage caused by an external attacker or an insider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Think about optimizing and automating security incident handling in your organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With Syteca\u2019s automated incident response, you can:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"mb-3\">Receive email notifications about suspicious events and respond in a timely manner<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"mb-3\">Respond to detected threats automatically by blocking users\/processes, or by showing a violator a warning message<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\t\t<div  class=\"block-5b48652c-26d6-49ff-afc2-a2b4aafbde0b areoi-element pattern-read-also rounded-bg-13px pattern-case-studies-with-img div-a-target_blank mt-5\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"areoi-background  \">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"container-fluid\" style=\"padding: 0;\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row justify-content-start\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col \">\n\t\t\t            <div class=\"areoi-background__color\" \n\t                        \tstyle=\"background: rgba(242, 250, 254,1)\">\n\t                        <\/div>\n\n\t                    \n\n\t                    \n\n\t                    \n\t    \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t    \t\t<\/div>\n\t    \t<\/div>\n\t    <\/div>\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\n<p class=\"p-poppins opacity-50 has-text-color\" style=\"color:#1a3b4e;font-style:normal;font-weight:500\">Case study<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t\t<div  class=\"block-cb9c78de-1767-437c-aed3-a07e60247660 areoi-element d-flex justify-content-between\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n<p class=\"col-md-9 p-poppins mb-0 ms-0 mt-0 position-relative\" style=\"font-size:1.38rem;font-style:normal;font-weight:600\">A European Bank Mitigates Third-Party Admin Risks with Syteca<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large col-md-3 cs-img d-none d-md-flex flex-wrap align-content-end overflow-hidden\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/syteca_site_uploads.storage.googleapis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/22095912\/prev-cta-casestudy-european-bank-third-party-risks.png\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\t\t\t \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<a class=\"areoi-full-link\"\n\t\t href=\"\/en\/resources\/case-studies\/european-bank-third-party-risks-case-study\"><\/a> \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n<h2  class=\"wp-block-heading\">Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s hard to overstate the role of system administrator cybersecurity in organizations&#8217; well-being. Similarly, it\u2019s easy to underestimate the risks system administrators pose with their elevated privileges. Whether done by a skilled hacker or a malicious insider, privilege exploitation can severely damage your security system and sensitive data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To avoid this, follow the system administration best practices we have discussed in this article. Securing administrative accounts implies assessing possible risks and establishing effective policies for using such accounts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As an efficient insider risk management platform, Syteca can help you properly secure access for IT admins. With our reliable activity monitoring, automated incident response, and access management functionalities, you can considerably reduce the likelihood of privileged account compromise in your organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t\t<div  class=\"block-a5a922ff-56ce-4468-9941-ea5073690a8c areoi-element container pattern-request-demo-2 rounded-bg-13px mt-5\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"areoi-background  \">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"container-fluid\" style=\"padding: 0;\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row justify-content-start\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col \">\n\t\t\t            <div class=\"areoi-background__color\" \n\t                        \tstyle=\"background: rgba(71, 144, 235,0.15)\">\n\t                        <\/div>\n\n\t                    \n\n\t                    \n\n\t                    \n\t    \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t    \t\t<\/div>\n\t    \t<\/div>\n\t    <\/div>\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t<div  class=\"block-956ebe2e-368e-4ac7-8ee2-a15583083abd row areoi-element align-items-center row-cols-md-2\">\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t<div  class=\"block-9e962fe6-f77f-40f9-898c-abaef3f48ccb col areoi-element d-flex flex-wrap flex-column align-items-center align-items-md-start col-md-6\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left p-poppins pt-3 text-center text-md-start lh-sm has-text-color\" style=\"color:#1a3b4e;font-size:1.75rem;font-style:normal;font-weight:600\">Want to try Syteca? Request access<br>to the online demo!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left p-poppins pb-3 text-center text-md-start\" style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:500\">See why clients from 70+ countries already use Syteca.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<button data-bs-target=\"#hsModal-demo\" data-bs-toggle=\"modal\" \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"block-9170fdac-8fec-4c73-a86c-338093dbf9d9 btn areoi-has-url position-relative me-lg-2  me-md-2 me-sm-2 me-lg-4 mb-3 hsBtn-demo btn-info  btn-info\"\n\t >\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tAccess the Demo Portal \n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t<div  class=\"block-f840f051-f300-4ade-9e70-68d6c65e619d col areoi-element col-md-6 d-none d-sm-none d-md-block\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"369\" height=\"248\" src=\"https:\/\/syteca_site_uploads.storage.googleapis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/02014220\/Group-584.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24868\" srcset=\"https:\/\/syteca_site_uploads.storage.googleapis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/02014220\/Group-584.png 369w, https:\/\/syteca_site_uploads.storage.googleapis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/02014220\/Group-584-300x202.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 369px) 100vw, 369px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>System administrators interact with your organization\u2019s most sensitive assets. Therefore, protecting their accounts is a must. In this article, we explain seven proven best practices to secure sysadmin accounts, from enforcing strong password policies to monitoring user activity and planning incident response. You\u2019ll walk away with a clear roadmap on how to strengthen privileged account [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":56,"featured_media":24455,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[56],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14132","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-access-management"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Top 7 Security Best Practices for System Administrator Accounts | Syteca<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn seven security best practices for administrator accounts to protect your system from cybersecurity risks related to privileged users.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.syteca.com\/en\/blog\/system-server-administrators\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Top 7 Security Best Practices for System Administrator Accounts | Syteca\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Learn seven security best practices for administrator accounts to protect your system from cybersecurity risks related to privileged users.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.syteca.com\/en\/blog\/system-server-administrators\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Syteca\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-05-26T07:00:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-03-30T12:53:27+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/syteca_site_uploads.storage.googleapis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/26053657\/OG-FB-system-server-administrators.png\" 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