Security Spotlight: Least Privilege Access

A SOC 2 report can demonstrate to your customers and stakeholders that your company is implementing the best data security practices. In order to achieve SOC 2 compliance, you should have these practices in place as part of your organizational processes and internal controls. This security spotlight focuses on the principle of least privilege, which can be a useful tool in your company’s overall security strategy.

What is Least Privilege Access?

The principle of least privilege requires that each person in an organization is only granted the permissions they need to perform their job duties. This minimizes the number of individuals with access to sensitive systems and applications, such as cloud infrastructure and source code repositories.

By minimizing the number of people with privileged accounts, you minimize the number of credentials that could be stolen and used for cyberattacks. Minimizing the number of ways that attackers can get into your system is known as reducing the attack surface, and it is the primary reason for using least privilege access.

Least Privilege Access and SOC 2

The use of least privilege access is one of the many points of focus in a SOC 2 examination. By ensuring that access to sensitive systems and applications is appropriately limited to select, authorized individuals, your organization will be better prepared to undergo a SOC 2 examination.

Helping You Get There…

If you would like to learn more about least privilege access or other security best practices, connect with a member of Boulay’s Risk Advisory Team today.