What is a "service account" in the context of CyberArk?

A "service account" in the context of CyberArk refers to an account used by applications or services to authenticate and perform tasks. These accounts are typically used in automated processes, allowing applications to interact with other services, systems, or databases without human intervention. Service accounts are essential for running background processes, executing scripts, or managing tasks that require elevated privileges and consistent access to resources.

By using service accounts, organizations can ensure that specific applications or services have the necessary permissions to function correctly while still maintaining security best practices. This is especially important in environments where access needs to be tightly controlled and monitored. These accounts are often configured with policies that limit their access and usage to specific systems and applications, thereby reducing the risk of misuse or exposure.

In contrast, accounts managed by end users are typically individual accounts for personal use, and administrative task accounts are specialized accounts granted to users for managing systems, not necessarily tied to automated processes. Guest access accounts serve a different purpose, providing temporary access with limited privileges, which is not the function of a service account.