Least Privilege
Access Control
Grant users and services only the minimum permissions required to do their job. Implementing least privilege access reduces blast radius from compromised accounts, limits insider threats, and is a cornerstone of Zero Trust security.
Why Least Privilege Is Critical
Over-privileged accounts are the number one cause of breach escalation. A single compromised account with excessive permissions can destroy your entire environment.
Involve compromised privileged accounts with excessive permissions
Reduction in attack impact when least privilege is properly implemented
Fewer incidents from misconfigurations and human error with restricted access
Access Control Models
Choose the right model for your organization
Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)
Assign permissions to roles (e.g., Developer, Manager, Auditor), then assign users to roles
Pros:
- Easy to understand
- Scales well
- Centralized management
Cons:
- • Role explosion risk
- • Less granular than ABAC
Best For:
Most organizations, SaaS platforms, Enterprise applications
Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC)
Policies based on attributes (user department, data classification, time of day, location)
Pros:
- Very granular
- Dynamic policies
- Context-aware
Cons:
- • Complex to implement
- • Harder to audit
- • Requires robust policy engine
Best For:
Highly regulated industries, Multi-tenant systems, Zero Trust environments
Just-In-Time (JIT) Access
Temporary elevated permissions granted on-demand for specific tasks, then automatically revoked
Pros:
- Minimizes standing privileges
- Full audit trail
- Reduces attack window
Cons:
- • Requires workflow automation
- • May slow emergency response
Best For:
Production access, Privileged operations, Contractor access
Implementation Roadmap
Implement least privilege access step-by-step
Audit Current Permissions
1-2 weeksDocument who has access to what, and identify over-privileged accounts
Tasks:
- Export all user accounts and their assigned roles/groups
- Document permissions for each role (systems, applications, data)
- Identify all admin/privileged accounts (local admin, domain admin, root, etc.)
- Flag service accounts and their permissions
- Review cloud IAM policies (AWS, Azure, GCP)
- Identify dormant accounts (not used in 90+ days)
Define Roles & Permissions
1 weekCreate a role-based access model aligned with job functions
Tasks:
- Group users by job function (Developer, DevOps, Support, Finance, etc.)
- Define minimum permissions needed for each role to do their job
- Create separate roles for read-only vs. write access
- Establish privileged roles (Admin, Security, DBA) with extra scrutiny
- Document approval workflow for access requests
- Define maximum permission duration (e.g., JIT access expires after 8 hours)
Remove Excessive Permissions
2-3 weeksRevoke unnecessary access and consolidate to defined roles
Tasks:
- Phase 1: Remove local admin rights from standard users (use privileged access workstations instead)
- Phase 2: Revoke production access from developers who no longer need it
- Phase 3: Remove dormant accounts and disable unused service accounts
- Phase 4: Migrate custom permissions to standard roles
- Communicate changes 1 week in advance with clear justification
- Provide self-service access request process for exceptions
Implement Just-In-Time Access
2-4 weeksReplace standing privileges with on-demand, time-limited access
Tasks:
- Select JIT access platform (Azure PIM, AWS IAM Access Analyzer, CyberArk, HashiCorp Boundary)
- Identify high-risk roles to migrate first (production access, database admin, etc.)
- Configure approval workflows (manager + security team for critical access)
- Set maximum session duration (4-8 hours for production, 1 hour for emergency)
- Enable MFA requirement for JIT access elevation
- Integrate with ticketing system to link access to change requests
Automate Provisioning & Deprovisioning
1-2 weeksSync access with HR systems to grant and revoke automatically
Tasks:
- Integrate identity provider with HR system (Workday, BambooHR, etc.)
- Automate account creation on hire (assign to default role based on job title)
- Automate account disabling on termination (within 1 hour of HR notification)
- Implement role changes on job transfer (remove old role, add new role)
- Set up notifications for manual steps (e.g., hardware token return)
- Test provisioning workflow with sample hire/fire scenarios
Regular Access Reviews
QuarterlyContinuously validate that access remains appropriate
Tasks:
- Quarterly: Managers review team member access and certify or revoke
- Monthly: Security team audits all privileged accounts
- Weekly: Review new access requests and approvals
- Annually: Full access recertification for all users
- Revoke access not re-certified within 30 days
- Track metrics: % of access reviewed, % of access revoked, time to revoke
Access Control Best Practices
✅ Default deny, explicit allow
Why: Deny all access by default. Only grant permissions that are explicitly requested and approved.
✅ Separate duties (segregation)
Why: Don't let the same person approve and deploy code. Prevents single-person fraud.
✅ No shared accounts
Why: Every user gets their own account. Enables full audit trail and accountability.
✅ Time-bound access for sensitive operations
Why: Production access should expire after 4-8 hours. Emergency access expires after 1 hour.
✅ Break-glass procedures for emergencies
Why: Document emergency access process with post-incident review. Don't skip security for speed.
✅ Automate access reviews
Why: Manual reviews are error-prone. Use tools to automate certification and revocation.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
❌ Granting admin rights "temporarily" that never get revoked
✅ Solution: Implement automatic expiration. JIT access forces time limits and prevents permission creep.
❌ One role per user (role explosion)
✅ Solution: Use role hierarchies. A "Senior Developer" role should inherit "Developer" permissions.
❌ No approval workflow for access requests
✅ Solution: Require manager + security team approval for privileged access. Self-service only for standard roles.
❌ Service accounts with excessive permissions
✅ Solution: Service accounts should be scoped to specific resources. Use managed identities where possible.
❌ Access reviews become rubber-stamp exercises
✅ Solution: Make it easy to revoke. Show usage data (last login, last action). Default to revoke if manager doesn't respond.
Privileged Access Management Tools
Platforms for implementing least privilege and JIT access
Measure Your Access Control Success
Track these metrics to ensure least privilege is working