Least Privilege Definition:
Least Privilege is a security principle that limits user, application, or process access to the minimum permissions necessary to perform their tasks. By restricting access to only essential resources, the principle of Least Privilege reduces the risk of accidental or intentional misuse of system privileges.
What is Least Privilege?
The Least Privilege principle involves assigning the smallest set of permissions possible to each user or system component, ensuring that they cannot access or alter unnecessary parts of the system. This principle applies to both users and applications, aiming to reduce the potential impact of security breaches by containing access to a minimal scope.
Why is Least Privilege important?
The purpose of Least Privilege is to improve security by minimising the attack surface and reducing the likelihood of privilege misuse. By limiting permissions, organisations can better control access to sensitive information, prevent unauthorised activities, and mitigate the damage that could result from compromised accounts or software vulnerabilities.
How does Least Privilege work?
Implementing Least Privilege requires careful assessment of user roles and system requirements to define necessary access rights. Access is then restricted to only those rights essential for each role. Privileges should be regularly reviewed and adjusted to ensure they remain appropriate. Techniques like role-based access control (RBAC) and privilege access management (PAM) are often used to support the Least Privilege principle.
Least Privilege Examples:
Examples of Least Privilege include providing temporary administrative access for specific tasks rather than permanent privileges, or restricting an employee’s access to only the files and applications necessary for their role. Database administrators, for instance, might be given access only to specific tables rather than the entire database.
Least Privilege Issues:
While Least Privilege significantly enhances security, improper implementation or excessive restrictions can disrupt operations. Regular reviews and adjustments are necessary to balance security with usability, and organisations must ensure that exceptions to the Least Privilege principle are strictly managed and monitored.
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