The least privilege principle is widely acknowledged as one of the most critical security paradigms. It essentially means that a user should have precisely the rights and permissions necessary to do his work and no more.
Delegating users only those privileges they need via least privilege access management software or other mechanisms is a significant step toward enhancing information security.
But how do you choose the right platform for implementing the least privilege principle? And what key factors should be considered in your decision?
The answer is to understand what data and resources they need access to, how they will be accessed, and the risks involved. This research is the foundation of information security least privilege, and more.
Once you understand these factors, you can move on to choosing an access management platform that will meet your organization’s needs.
To make the best choice, keep in mind these key areas.
1. Understanding data and resources
The first step when considering a new access management system is to understand how it will secure servers, desktops, and other data sources.
Every time a new user is created with an access management platform, the system automatically populates their profile with all the permissions they need to do their job. These are called role-based privileges or just roles for short. So before you can implement the least privilege, you have to understand all of the resources that each user must access and how those resources will be accessed.
First, determine which users need access to data and other resources; this is often called a “data classification analysis.” Then map out how they need to access those resources (for example, using Remote Desktop Protocol or other protocols like Citrix). Finally, identify the risks associated with each type of access.
2. Determining the right platform for your business
Once you understand your data and resources, it’s time to determine the right platform for your business. There are several different access management platforms on the market, from least privilege access management software to Active Directory (AD) and beyond.
Each platform has advantages and drawbacks, making it essential to research the options and find the one that best meets your needs. Factors to consider include:
- The number of resources you need to secure.
- The types of access you need to manage.
- The level of security required.
3. Implementing least privilege
When you have chosen the right platform, it’s time to implement holistic security with the least privilege principle being the principle used. This process begins by assigning roles to users, and as mentioned earlier, these are simply permissions that allow users to do their job.
You can then automatically use the access management platform to assign those roles to each user. This process is called provisioning and will automatically change as users are added or removed.
4. Monitoring least privilege
Once your access management platform is implemented, you should take time to monitor it. It should be done ongoing, at least once a month and more often if possible. The team monitoring the system should ensure that no one has too many roles or few.
Any changes should be analyzed to make sure they are justified, and the risks associated with each change should be evaluated.
5. Integrating with your existing infrastructure
Another critical factor that should be considered when choosing an access management platform is integrated with the rest of your infrastructure. For example, if there are multiple applications in your organization that require different levels of security for various users, a platform that is easy to configure and manage will be a huge benefit.
In addition, an access management solution should have the ability to fine-tune permissions for all types of objects — from files and folders to databases, network shares, and local system resources. For example, you may want to set read access rights within certain limits for a specific user but complete control over other objects.
6. Other features to consider
Other factors that should be considered when choosing an access management platform are the number of users you have, their location, and whether they are mobile. A solution with a large user base will require scalability, while mobility matters because it’s essential to consider which approach best meets the company’s needs for managing devices in BYOD (bring your device) environments.
7. Ensuring the ease of use
A platform that is easy to use and configure is a plus. It should be intuitive so that users without specialized security knowledge can easily understand it, and administrators should be able to set up and manage permissions quickly and easily.
In addition, reporting and auditing features are essential for tracking user activity and ensuring compliance with corporate security policies.
When you delegate security tasks to a third party, you won’t have to worry about managing access rights and privileges yourself because your existing platform will be responsible for it.
