What is least privilege?
The principle of least privilege (PolP) is an information security model focused on restricting the number of identities with privileged access to networks, applications, data, programs, and processes to only those who require that access. In identity and access management (IAM), least privilege is applied by determining the minimal access privileges required for every identity and using access controls to manage that access. Privilege is attached to human users as well as non-human identities and is most often assigned based on the user’s job duties or the non-human identity’s role within an application.
However, too often access to privileged accounts isn’t revoked after it’s no longer needed (e.g., a user changes jobs or the function of the non-human identity is completed) or access privileges are assigned to too many users. This opens up opportunities for unauthorized users to gain access to critical systems or data through human error, vulnerabilities, or misuse.
Benefits of least privilege
Using the principle of least privilege lowers your organization’s risk level in the following ways:
- Decreases the threat of data breaches and cyber threats by hackers
- Helps the organization meet federal and industry compliance regulations
- Reduces the attack surface area, decreasing the risk of cyber attacks and malware spread
- Allows the organization to track user access and behavior
- Decreases the risks of human error
- Improves overall cybersecurity
Best practices for implementing least privilege
- Identify user roles and access needs: Clearly define the minimum permissions required for each user role.
- Use role-based access controls (RBAC): Implement RBAC to simplify access management and ensure employees have the minimum level of access needed to carry out their job functions.
- Run frequent user access reviews: Regularly review and update user access rights to ensure they remain aligned with job functions.
- Implement just-In-time (JIT) access: Leveraging time-based access controls like JIT allows organizations to grant and revoke access in real time.
What is zero trust?
Zero trust is a security approach that requires everything to be verified. Nothing—no user, no device, no application—is trusted by default.
“Zero trust assumes there is no implicit trust granted to assets or user accounts based solely on their physical or network location (i.e., local area networks versus the internet) or based on asset ownership (enterprise or personally owned),” according toNIST. “Zero trust is a response to enterprise network trends that include remote users, bring your own device (BYOD), and cloud-based assets that are not located within an enterprise-owned network boundary. Zero trust focuses on protecting resources (assets, services, workflows, network accounts, etc.), not network segments, as the network location is no longer seen as the prime component to the security posture of the resource.”
The framework was first introduced in 2010 by John Kindervag, who was a principal analyst at Forrester. Kindervag created the zero trust concept to address a problem he noticed as organizations migrated to the cloud — too many unchecked users with access to accounts, leading to an increased risk of data breaches.
Within a zero trust architecture, all user identities must go through a strict authentication and authorization deployment model that Kindervag set up. Those deployment steps include:
- Defining your protect surface
- Mapping the transaction flows
- Architecting the environment
- Creating a zero trust policy
- Monitoring and maintaining the environment
Benefits of zero trust
Using a zero trust architecture lowers your organization’s risk level in the following ways:
- A detailed process of authorizing user credentials
- Better visibility into overall user behavior
- Less opportunity for a threat actor to move laterally throughout the network infrastructure
- A thorough and accurate inventory of your organization’s IT infrastructure, with complete knowledge of where any and all resources reside
- Better monitoring and alert systems
- Easier creation of security policies
- Better Overall cybersecurity
Key components of a zero trust architecture
- Multi-factor authentication (MFA): Requires additional verification factors beyond a password for access
- Zero trust network access (ZTNA): Provides secure remote access without placing users directly on the network
- Microsegmentation: Divides the network into smaller zones, limiting lateral movement of attackers within the network
Challenges of implementing zero trust and least privilege
- Complexity: Implementing a zero trust model can be complex and requires changes to workflows and security policies.
- User experience: Balancing security measures with a smooth user experience can be challenging.
- Management overhead: Managing granular access controls for a large user base can require additional resources.
Least privilege or zero trust?
Zero trust security emphasizes the “never trust, always verify” approach to security. The least privilege approach focuses on authorizing access permission to only those identities that require it for job functions. Separately, the two security frameworks offer solid protection for data and the network.
Both frameworks operate on the same overarching principle: protect access points and implement strict levels of access control. Both frameworks also involve a limited trust layer to decrease the risk of internal and external threats. Where least privilege access stands out, however, is the ability to minimize the attack surface with its well-defined access controlpolicies.
You shouldn’t think of zero trust versus least privilege. It isn’t an either-or proposition. Your security program should integrate both frameworks. Zero trust, when done right, incorporates least privilege principles into its architecture. The two concepts will minimize your attack surface area, secure access, better prepare the organization for audits and to meet compliance regulations, and decrease the risk for credential theft and data breaches.
