According to the web search results, exclusive accounts are a feature of CyberArk Defender PAM that enables organizations to permit users to check out a ‘one-time’ password and lock it so that no other users can retrieve it at the same time1. After the user has used the password, the user checks the password back into the Vault. This ensures exclusive usage of the privileged account, enabling full control and tracking for the password. The duration of the check-out period can be configured in the platform settings for each account1.

The primary purpose of exclusive accounts is to prevent a single user from accessing a sensitive account without authorization, which could lead to fraud or misuse of privileges. By requiring a check-out and check-in process, exclusive accounts ensure that there is a ‘collusion to commit’ fraud, meaning that at least two users are involved in the malicious activity and are accountable for it. One user must check out the password and use it, while another user must approve the check-in and verify the password change. This way, exclusive accounts add an additional measure of protection and accountability for accessing sensitive accounts.