7 misconceptions about the bastion host

In a context of ever-increasing cyber threats, Privileged Access Management (PAM) has become a strategic priority for IT Departments. Yet, despite ANSSI's recommendations, audits highlighting the need to invest in the right tools, and an evolving threat landscape, many organisations are still slow to adopt a PAM solution, largely because certain misconceptions persist.

But what exactly is a bastion host?

It is a security solution that acts as a single entry point for all privileged access within an information system. The bastion serves to control, trace and secure administration connections (internal or external), providing key functions such as:

Centralised, multi-factor strong authentication
Session management (RDP, SSH, web access, etc.) via a single interface
Real-time recording and supervision of actions performed
Access rights management based on the principle of least privilege

In short, the administration bastion is an essential barrier against targeted intrusions, human error and internal misuse, while enabling organisations to meet compliance and audit requirements.

Yet despite its benefits, this technology remains subject to many misconceptions. These preconceptions, sometimes technical, sometimes organisational or cultural — slow its adoption or limit its use.

Here is an overview of the 7 most common misconceptions about administration bastions that deserve to be debunked.

1. "It slows down access, it's restrictive"

FALSE.

A bastion does not slow down access : it controls and structures it. When the project is well designed, the user experience is actually better than in a traditional, disorganised environment.

Rather than having to memorise or store multiple credentials, the operator accesses a unified portal for all their RDP/SSH/HTTPS connections. This single entry point makes it easier to connect to target systems regardless of where they are located (on-premises, remote site, SaaS, cloud…) and without needing to know the target systems' login credentials.

2. "It's too complex to deploy"

FALSE.

Early generations of PAM solutions could indeed be heavy to integrate. But vendors have significantly evolved their offerings : architectures are now more flexible, interoperable with existing environments (Active Directory, MFA…), and often quick to implement for targeted use cases.

A good administration bastion offers:

Compatibility with IS administration protocols
Centralised account and entitlement management
Seamless integration with the corporate directory
A simple interface for both users and administrators

This is the case with the PROVE IT bastion, for example, whose deployment and configuration on a priority scope (remote third-party access, internal administration access, etc.) can be completed in less than a day.

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3. "It's a surveillance tool, IT teams don't like it"

FALSE.

This is one of the most delicate misconceptions to address, as it touches on internal culture. It is true that some IT teams perceive the bastion as a monitoring, or even disciplinary tool. However, its primary objective is to secure sensitive access, not to monitor individuals.

A well-integrated and properly communicated bastion actually becomes a protective tool for administrators :

The solution records and logs all actions performed on critical systems, enabling not only the rapid identification of the cause of an incident, but also providing formal evidence of who accessed what, when, and for what purpose. In the event of an error or suspicion, each user can demonstrate that they were not responsible for a disputed action, avoiding confusion or unjustified accusations.
It simplifies access through unified portals and access shortcuts.
It eliminates the need for direct connections using shared, and therefore known, passwords.
It supports collaboration through granular rights and separation of responsibilities.

A PAM solution is not a surveillance camera, it is a trust framework that governs privileges without hindering them. As one of our clients, Vincent Templier, put it : "Trust does not exclude control."

4. "A bastion is only for large company"

FALSE.

It is true that the first administration bastion solutions were historically deployed in large organisations (banks, critical industries, government ministries…), due to their risk exposure and budget capacity.

But this view is now outdated. Threats targeting privileged accounts (AD administrators, managed service providers, IT contractors, service accounts…) affect all organisations, regardless of size. The "Agence Nationale de Sécurité des Systèmes d'Information" (ANSSI) itself, in its recommendations on hardening sensitive access, encourages a progressive but systematic approach, including for SMEs.

"The deployment of an administration bastion is expected at level 2. It enables the tracing, filtering and control of administration access to the IS." (Recommendations on Secure Administration, version 2.0, April 2023)

5. "We already have MFA, that's enough"

FALSE.

MFA (multi-factor authentication) is an essential measure, but insufficient in a system administration context. It helps prevent identity theft, but it does not protect the target systems themselves. The administration bastion adds several essential layers:

Centralised and filtered access : users no longer connect directly to systems but go through the bastion
Real-time supervision, with the ability to interrupt sessions or trigger alerts
Session recording, for analysis in the event of an incident

MFA is an authentication component ; the solution is a privileged access governance component (PAM). One does not replace the other, they complement each other for effective security. The PAM solution is part of a comprehensive PAM strategy, of which MFA is one element.

6. "We don't need it, our network is well segmented"

FALSE.

Network segmentation is a fundamental best practice, but it does not control the use of authorised access.

A privileged account can be compromised and operate within its authorised zone without being detected.
A legitimate access from an infected workstation can bypass network protections.
An external connection can be made via a compromised machine.

A bastion provides governance of access within a segmented architecture :

Single access point : it prevents direct connections to critical machines.
Administration traffic filtering : it channels and isolates sensitive access, even between segmented zones.
Enhanced authentication & supervision : every session is governed, recorded and reviewable.

It acts as a behavioural barrier, complementary to network protections. Network segmentation limits the attack surface. The bastion controls the use of privileged access.

7. "It's an IT project, not a security matter"

FALSE.

Privileged access management is one of the major pillars of modern cybersecurity. In frameworks such as ISO 27001, SecNumCloud, PAMS and NIS2, it consistently appears as a prerequisite for risk management.

An administration bastion is not simply an IT organisation tool:

It reduces the exposure surface of privileged accounts
It improves the detection of abnormal behaviour
It feeds SOC tools and event correlation systems
It helps meet growing compliance requirements

CIOs and CISOs must collaborate on this type of project, as it addresses both operational and strategic challenges: third-party oversight, reduction of internal risks, post-incident investigation, and overall IS resilience.

Rethink the Bastion as a Control Lever !

Too long perceived as a restrictive project reserved for mature organisations, the administration bastion is now establishing itself as a key element of modern security frameworks. It does not replace IT best practices, it makes them scalable, and frames them within a controllable, auditable and compliant model.

For IT leadership and cybersecurity officers, the time has come to move beyond misconceptions and embed privileged access management within a strategic vision: agile, progressive, and determined.

Our Approach to Administration Bastion

At Rubycat, we have designed a PAM solution that addresses these challenges with a pragmatic, modular and user-experience-centred approach. Our bastion integrates quickly into your existing environment, ensures complete traceability of actions, simplifies third-party management, and complies with the most demanding security frameworks.

Designed to support both public and private sector organisations, our PROVE IT solution is currently the only one certified with the ANSSI CSPN Security Visa. It combines ease of deployment, technical robustness and full visibility over sensitive access, a concrete lever for regaining control of your privileged access, with complete confidence.