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PAM Migration Best Practices

4 Steps You Should Follow When Switching
PAM Tools So You Don't Lose Coverage

Replacing a PAM platform can feel risky and overwhelming, but it doesn't have to leave you exposed. The trick is to never migrate without a safety net. Here are the four things you can do to keep you covered the whole way through.

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1

Keep the old platform running until the new one's ready

There should never be a day where you've turned off your original PAM solution before the migration is complete. Both platforms run side by side until the new one's ready to carry the load.

Side by Side No Gap in Coverage Safety Net

Run Both Together

Old platform stays live throughout

Never switch it off early

New one takes over when ready

Migrate by Priority

Unmanaged Accounts Step 1

No password chaos to worry about

Personal Privileged Accounts Step 2

What users touch every day

Managed Service Accounts Step 3

Complex, moved with care

Avoid the password rotation battle

2

Secure unmanaged accounts on the new tool first

Move by priority, not all at once. The accounts that aren't managed are the safest to move first, since there's no risk of the two systems fighting over changing passwords. Moving managed accounts takes more care, because done incorrectly it can easily result in a password rotation battle between the two solutions.

After the unmanaged accounts are migrated, plan a date to move the rest. For very large environments, move personal privileged accounts first, then the managed Service Accounts. Users will use two solutions briefly, but it lets you migrate complex Service Accounts far more carefully.

3

Schedule the shutdown of the old environment

Ensure audit logs have been exported and saved in long term storage to satisfy audit retention requirements. Then wait to shut down the old environment until everything has been migrated and running without issue for at least 30 days.

Audit Logs Exported Long-term Storage 30-Day Buffer

Shutdown Checklist

Export & preserve all audit logs

Archive to long-term storage

Wait 30 days without issues

Win Metrics to Share

New PAM tool installed & functional, testing complete

All unmanaged accounts migrated, 50% of the privilege estate

High-risk accounts covered by the new tool ASAP

Momentum helps leadership stay confident

4

Show progress early to keep leadership on board

A platform switch tends to make leadership uneasy, so give them concrete metrics that demonstrate real, measurable progress. Ultimately they want to see high-risk accounts covered by the new tool as soon as possible.

Even small "big win" items make the project feel like forward motion instead of a gamble. When the new tool is installed and testing is done, or your unmanaged accounts are fully migrated, share it. Concrete numbers turn unease into momentum.

Handle your PAM migration like this, and switching tools becomes a smooth handoff, not a gamble.

The new platform picks up right where the old one left off, and you never lose coverage. If you're planning a PAM switch, please reach out. This is one of our favorite problems to solve.