What is least privilege access, and why is it important?
The digital world is for everybody. Two-thirds of people worldwide are internet-connected. But considering the security risk inherent in offering unrestricted access to sensitive resources and information, your patch of the digital realm shouldn’t be open to all comers.
How much access is too much? It depends on whom you ask. Many would say that more access than is strictly necessary is too much. That’s the crux of least privilege access.
Least privilege access allows a company to enforce broad security measures among its workforce without unnecessarily exposing the organization to additional security risk.
Below, we’ll dive deeper into least privilege access and give you tips on how best to implement it.
Least privilege access definition
Least privilege access — also known as “the principle of least privilege” — is a security protocol that grants users only the minimum set of privileges necessary to perform their designated tasks. That is, no one receives more security clearance than is strictly required to fulfill their job duties.
The idea of the least privilege access model is to minimize the attack surface of a system by reducing the potential damage bad-actor users with elevated privileges could cause. Adhering to the principle of least privilege can help prevent malicious actors from exploiting vulnerabilities or misconfigurations in the system to gain unauthorized access or cause damage.
For example, a user who only needs to read files should have access to do so, but not to edit or broaden access to others.
How does least privilege access work?
Least privilege access works by restricting the rights and permissions of users and processes to those necessary to function within their stated capacity. The exact implementation of least privilege access depends on the operating system or platform an organization uses, but managed service providers (MSPs) use several common techniques to enforce the principle of least privilege:
- User accounts: Creating separate user accounts for different tasks allows specific privileges to be assigned. For example, an administrator account could have full privileges, while a standard user account would have limited access.
- Access control lists (ACLs): ACLs define permissions for resources like files or directories, restricting access based on the user or process.
- Sandboxing: This isolates a process from the rest of the system, limiting its access to resources and preventing malicious activity.
- Privilege elevation: Some systems allow temporary elevation of privileges for specific tasks, controlled by MSPs or higher-ranking users.
While not exhaustive, the above techniques reflect the remote access basics. Enforcing them reduces a system’s attack surface and makes exploitation more difficult.
What are privileged accounts?
Privileged accounts are user accounts with elevated privileges, providing access to sensitive resources. These accounts typically have more permissions than regular user accounts and are essential for maintaining systems and applications.
Examples of privileged accounts include:
- Administrative accounts: Full control over a system or network, including installing software and accessing sensitive data.
- Service accounts: Used by applications or services to run processes, often with elevated privileges.
- Root accounts: On Unix-like systems, the root account has complete control over the system.
- Database administrator accounts: Manage databases and associated resources.
While necessary, privileged accounts pose a significant security risk. If compromised, attackers can cause serious harm. It’s crucial to secure these accounts with:
- Strong authentication: Including strong passwords, multi-factor authentication (MFA), and biometrics.
- Access controls: Authorizing only specific users for specific programs.
- Auditing: Periodically reviewing the cybersecurity framework.
What is a superuser?
A superuser has complete control over a system or network. Known as “root” on Unix-like systems and “administrator” on Windows, this account can perform any action, including:
- Modifying configuration files
- Installing software
- Accessing sensitive data
- Maintenance
- Troubleshooting
While the superuser account provides a high level of control and flexibility, it is also a potential security risk. An attacker who gains access to the superuser account can compromise the security of a system. For this reason, it is important to assign superuser privileges only when necessary, and to use them with caution.
Why least privilege access is important for MSPs
Implementing least privilege access allows MSPs to head off security risks that come with company-wide unrestricted access. This frees up MSPs to monitor novel outside attacks rather than focusing a great deal of energy on closely watching extant user accounts.
Learn more about the value of least privilege access with our eBook, Remote Unattended Access Simplified, a one-pager that will quickly get MSPs up to speed on ConnectWise Control.
Benefits of least privilege access
Implementing least privilege access offers several benefits, including:
- Improved security: Restricting privileges reduces the attack surface and makes it harder for malicious actors to exploit vulnerabilities.
- Compliance: Regulatory standards like PCI DSS, HIPAA, and NIST require least privilege access as part of a secure posture.
- Reduced risk of data breaches: Limiting privileges helps protect sensitive information and maintain system integrity.
- Improved efficiency: Fewer privileges mean fewer errors, leading to a more streamlined and secure process.
- Better accountability: Tracking access improves visibility and helps identify and respond to incidents more effectively.
How to implement least privilege access in your organization
MSPs utilize least privilege access software to set up a framework in a few steps:
- Identify sensitive resources: Determine which data, systems, and applications need protection.
- Assess user and process privileges: Review current access levels and revoke unnecessary privileges.
- Define user roles: Create roles like “admin,” “standard user,” and “guest” to assign appropriate privileges.
- Implement access controls: Use authentication, authorization, strong passwords, and MFA to secure access.
- Monitor access: Log and review access to detect and respond to incidents.
- Regularly review and update privileges: Ensure privileges remain appropriate and adjust as needed.
By following these steps, organizations can implement least privilege access, reducing security risks, improving system protection, and achieving compliance.
Ready to implement a least privilege access system? Request a demo and let one of our experts walk you through ConnectWise Access Management today.