Principle of Least Privilege
The Principle of Least Privilege (PoLP) is a fundamental concept in information security that dictates that any user, program, or process should have only the bare minimum privileges necessary to perform its function. This principle helps to limit the potential damage in case of errors or malicious activities.
Key Aspects of the Principle of Least Privilege
- Minimal Access:
- Grant users and processes only the permissions they need to perform their tasks. This minimizes the risk of accidental or intentional misuse of privileges.
- Role-Based Access Control (RBAC):
- Use RBAC to assign permissions based on roles within an organization. This ensures that users have permissions that align with their job functions.
- Time-Bound Access:
- Provide temporary access to resources when needed, and revoke it once the task is complete. This reduces the window of opportunity for potential misuse.
- Segregation of Duties:
- Divide responsibilities among different users and processes to prevent any single entity from having too much control, reducing the risk of fraud and error.
- Regular Audits and Reviews:
- Periodically review access rights and adjust them as necessary. Ensure that users and processes still need the permissions they have been granted.
- Default Deny:
- Start with no access rights by default, and explicitly grant permissions only as required. This ensures that no unnecessary privileges are assigned.
- Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA):
- Implement MFA to add an additional layer of security, ensuring that users accessing sensitive resources are indeed who they claim to be.