A secure security system is based on two-factor authentication and user permissions. The ability to manage permissions for users is a crucial tool in reducing the possibility that malicious or accidental insider activity will occur, minimizing the effects of data breaches and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.
1. Reduce the risk of insider Threats
The principle of least privilege is a standard way to limit user access. This means that users should be granted only the privileges they need to perform their duties. This minimizes the impact of any illegal action that is performed by employees or third party vendors.
2. Minimize the Risk of a Data Breach
Many industries are governed by strict rules which require robust data protection practices. By managing user permissions, organizations can ensure compliance by ensuring that only authorized personnel have access to sensitive information.
3. Reduce the risk of third-party vendor activity
Many data breaches are the result of compromised credentials held by third-party vendors. Regularly reviewing and updating user permissions can help limit the risk of unauthorized access by third-party vendors.
4. Flexibility for Privilege Escalation
Role-based Access Control (RBAC) has become a common method of managing user access rights. It assigns specific rights based on roles that have been defined. These roles can be nested to allow for fine-grained access control. A senior physician, for instance, could have more privileges when it comes to viewing patient data than a junior physician. RBAC can also be set to require a two-factor authentication (2FA) even for certain roles to minimize the risk of unauthorised entry, even if passwords are compromised.