The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has issued a rare and urgent advisory following a March 11, 2026 cyberattack that disrupted the Microsoft environment of Stryker Corporation. Reports indicate the attackers gained access through a compromised Intune administrator account, created a new global admin, and used it to wipe managed devices.  

At its core, this appears to be a credential-driven attack and part of a larger shift. Attackers are no longer just targeting endpoints. They are targeting the identities and systems that control them. 

Endpoint management platforms like Microsoft Intune have become central control planes. When privileged credentials are compromised, attackers can push software, execute scripts, and make sweeping changes across entire environments in minutes. 

In response, CISA is urging organizations to enforce least privilege, require phishing-resistant multi-factor authentication, introduce multi-admin approval, and tighten role governance. These are necessary steps, but they are most effective when combined with a modern Privileged Access Management (PAM) approach that secures and controls access at the session level. 

Privileged Access Management for Endpoint Security and Intune Protection 

What makes these attacks especially difficult to stop is how they unfold. In many cases, there is no exploit. Attackers use valid credentials and trusted administrative tools. They log in, operate within normal workflows, and blend in with legitimate activity. 

This is why Privileged Access Management (PAM) for endpoint security is becoming essential. 

A modern PAM platform like 12Port PAM focuses on controlling access at the session level, not just the identity level. 

Rather than allowing direct, standing access to systems such as Intune or managed endpoints, 12Port brokers every privileged session. Access is granted only when it is needed and is limited to specific systems and actions. This significantly reduces the risk associated with standing privileges that attackers can exploit. 

Before any privileged session begins, 12Port enforces multifactor authentication (MFA) at the point of access. This ensures that even if credentials are compromised, an attacker cannot easily initiate a privileged session. 

Another key capability is credential vaulting with realtime injection. Administrative credentials are never exposed to users. Instead, they are securely stored and automatically injected into approved sessions when required. This removes one of the most common attack paths: credential theft and reuse. 

12Port also provides granular access controls and approval workflows. Organizations can require one or more approvals for sensitive actions or privileged sessions, and scope access by system, role, or time window. This makes it possible to enforce least privilege in a practical, operational way. 

Visibility is equally critical. With full session monitoring and recording in PAM, security teams can see exactly what occurs during a privileged session. Commands, actions, and behavior are captured in real time, enabling faster detection of misuse and more effective incident response. 

Zero Trust Access and Real Time Control for Microsoft Intune 

Together, these capabilities support a practical Zero Trust model for privileged access. Trust is not assumed based on identity or network location. Every session is verified, controlled, and monitored from start to finish. 

The CISA alert makes one thing clear that Endpoint management systems like Intune are now part of the attack surface, and they are being actively targeted. The Stryker incident shows how quickly a single compromised credential can turn into full control of an environment. Once inside, attackers do not need exploits. They use the same tools and workflows as administrators. 

Organizations that rely only on identity controls and configuration hardening are leaving a critical gap. The risk is no longer just who has access, but how that access is used. 

Modern Privileged Access Management closes that gap by enforcing control at the moment it matters most. Every session is authenticated, approved, and visible in real time. Because in today’s threat landscape, stopping access is not enough. You have to control it. 

Take control of privileged access. Download 12Port.

The post CISA Recommends Privileged Access Controls for Endpoint Management After Stryker Incident  appeared first on 12Port.

*** This is a Security Bloggers Network syndicated blog from 12Port authored by Peter Senescu. Read the original post at: https://www.12port.com/blog/cisa-recommends-privileged-access-controls-for-endpoint-management-after-stryker-incident/