Posture Check

A posture check is a security control used to verify that a device meets an organization’s defined security standards before granting it access to sensitive resources. This process evaluates a system’s current state, ensuring endpoint security by validating the presence and health of critical safeguards such as antivirus software, firewalls, and updated patch levels. By confirming devices follow required security configurations, posture checks reduce the risk of credential stealing, malware infection, and other exploit attempts that thrive on unprotected or outdated systems. In an era where cyberattacks frequently target vulnerable endpoints, posture checks serve as a crucial line of defense.

The concept of a device posture check goes beyond simply verifying software installations — it also involves assessing risk behaviors and analyzing systems for vulnerabilities that could jeopardize network security. Organizations use posture checks to evaluate device threats in real time, confirming whether security agents are running correctly and whether updates have been applied. If a device fails to meet the established requirements, step-up authentication or restricted access can be triggered, preventing vulnerable systems from connecting to business-critical resources. These practices not only improve security but also help organizations with regulatory compliance by enforcing consistent standards across all endpoints.

Posture checks have become especially important in environments with Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) compliance policies, where personal endpoints regularly connect to enterprise networks. By continuously validating patch levels, security configurations, and firewalls, posture checks ensure that employee-owned or vendor-managed devices align with enterprise risk tolerance. This ability to monitor and enforce endpoint security standards reduces potential attack vectors and strengthens trust in cross-network connectivity.

Within Imprivata VPAM (Vendor Privileged Access Management) and CPAM (Customer Privileged Access Management), posture check functionality provides administrators with precise control over which machines can establish connections. Safety checks enable organizations to enforce requirements such as active firewalls, antivirus solutions, and system updates without needing external support. This built-in control improves security by restricting access from unsafe third parties and ensuring only properly configured endpoints participate in privileged sessions. Combined with certificate-based machine authentication from ADCS, posture checks allow administrators to authenticate not only the VPAM or CPAM user, but also the endpoint itself, thereby closing a critical security gap.

By embedding posture checks directly into access workflows, Imprivata strengthens enterprise-wide endpoint security and reduces the risk of compromised connections. Administrators gain a simple, centralized way to configure and enforce device standards, ensuring consistency across environments. This proactive approach not only enhances network security but also supports compliance initiatives, offering organizations the confidence that every connection into their environment comes from a verified, secure, and trusted device.