The principle of least privilege is nothing but one of the basic security concepts related to the way we protect data, yet, is one of the most vital elements of the identity governance framework in the cloud environment.
The principle of least privilege definition implies a kind of security idea based upon the concept of limiting access for the performance of needed action. The principle applies not only to users, but also to hardware systems, processes, computer networks, and applications.
According to statistics, 74% Of data breaches start with privileged credential abuse, and this applies to your public cloud as well. When the entity itself does not have access to information or processes it doesn’t need, no attacker will misuse or steal it.
As a result, organizations can ensure their identity governance through POLP application. Here’s how:
Setup a Privilege Audit:
The first step towards implementing POLP in an organization for identity governance is to verify all the accounts and check exactly which users are given what permissions. If there are any privileges given to users that they don’t need, you can consider taking them back.
Define Privileges Required by Each Account:
By default, give the lowest level of privilege to all the accounts initially. Depending on their job requirements, you can assign them more privileges as they need them. Suppose they need that privilege for a short period only or occasionally only. In that case, you can consider giving them just-in-time access to privileges and keep them protected by passwords at other times.
Apply Privilege Bracketing:
According to this concept, an organization can raise privileges for certain users only when they need them to perform a particular job and then take them back later. Some tools allow escalation and de-escalation of users’ rights, and some even allow setting expiry times of the allowed privileges.
Use Automatic Auditing:
Organizations must use a reliable tool for managing privileged access as and when needed. However, the tool that they choose must allow them to see complete audit trails to stay informed about what their users are running when their privileges are elevated.
Prevent Accumulation of Privileges:
The organization needs to audit the granted privileges regularly. When you give certain privileges to a user and do not take them back, they get accumulated with them over time and may put sensitive data at risk of theft or breach. Keep checking the privileges to all the users and see if they still need them. If not, immediately taking them back can ensure identity governance.
Select a Trustworthy Service Provider for Privileged Access Management:
There are service providers who offer endpoint protection to organizations or individuals through the management of admin rights and overview of user activities. They also provide automatic de-escalation of granted privileges in case of malicious behaviour.
So, suppose you are an organization looking for identity governance. In that case, it’s vital to get a core idea of the principle of least privilege definition and implement it using automated tools and technology. Get in touch with a reliable cloud security service provider and keep your system safe and secured.
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