In an approach for providing auditable retrieval of privileged credentials in a privilege identity management (PIM) system, a processor invokes a checkout of a PIM credential, based on, at least, a determination that a PIM server cannot be accessed. A processor receives a request to access the PIM credential by a user. A processor receives validation of the request to access the PIM credential and an identity of the user. A processor retrieves the PIM credential from a database, wherein the database stores a plurality of PIM credentials owned by a system owner.