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The principle of least privilege (PoLP) is a fundamental security concept that dictates that users should be given the minimum levels of access – or permissions – necessary to perform their job functions. This principle is applied across the board, from the systems that keep a company’s data secure, to the services and applications that process critical information every day.
In the context of Microsoft 365, the principle of least privileged access is baked into its architecture and governance protocols to ensure that users, applications, and services operate with the lowest level of access rights they need to accomplish their tasks. By doing so, an organization can minimize the potential damage from accidents, errors, or unauthorized use of its systems and data.
Take, for example, an employee in the human resources department. They may require access to personal information of employees to perform their duties, but they don’t need the same access as an IT administrator who manages the infrastructure of the whole company. So, the HR employee would be given rights to access certain documents and databases, but not to the underlying systems or the network configuration.
When it comes to applications, consider a cloud-based time tracking system. Under the least privilege model, this application would have enough permissions to read and write timesheet data, but it wouldn’t have the ability to access other unrelated systems, like email or document storage – reducing the risk of a compromised application leading to a broader data breach.
Within Microsoft 365, permissions are typically grouped into roles that correspond to common sets of responsibilities and tasks. Users are assigned to roles based on what they need to do. Below is an example of how permissions are segmented among roles:
Role | Permissions | Examples of Usage |
---|---|---|
Global admin | Full access to all features in all services. | Creating new user accounts, assigning roles to users, setting password policies. |
User | Limited permissions related to individual user tasks. | Accessing email, Teams, OneDrive for personal work-related activities. |
Exchange admin | Access specific to email and calendar service management. | Configuring mailboxes, handling email transport rules and data loss prevention policies. |
SharePoint admin | Permissions related to managing SharePoint sites. | Creating and managing site collections, configuring search settings, securing content. |
Implementing the least privileged access model within an organization typically includes:
Implementing least privilege can yield several benefits:
Despite the benefits, organizations may face challenges when implementing the least privilege principle:
Enforcing the principle of least privileged access, especially within an environment like Microsoft 365, creates a more secure and manageable IT infrastructure. By carefully assigning and regularly reviewing access permissions, organizations can protect their assets while still allowing their employees to be productive.
The principle of least privileged access dictates that users should be granted the minimum levels of access – or permissions – needed to perform their job functions.
C
The principle of least privilege means users should have only the essential access rights to perform their job functions and no more, to reduce the risk of misuse of permissions.
By limiting the access rights of user accounts, the principle of least privilege can mitigate the potential damage an attacker can do if they gain control of a user’s account.
C
An accountant should only have access to the systems and data necessary to perform their job, in line with the principle of least privilege access.
Permissions may need to be adjusted over time as job roles change or as services evolve, but always within the principle of least privilege access framework.
A
Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) is a method where access rights are granted according to the role a user plays within an organization, effectively implementing the principle of least privileged access.
The principle of least privilege access applies to all aspects of IT environments, including applications, systems, networks, and databases.
C
The principle of least privilege should be applied throughout the entire lifecycle of user access, from the initial account setup to ongoing management and auditing.
Every user should operate under the principle of least privilege, regardless of their access to sensitive data, to ensure overall system security.
A
Regularly reviewing and revoking permissions no longer required for a user’s job function is an essential best practice that enforces the principle of least privilege.
Privilege Access Management (PAM) solutions are designed to enforce the principle of least privilege by controlling and monitoring privileged account access within an organization.
The principle of least privileged access is the practice of granting users the minimum level of access needed to perform their job duties.
The principle of least privileged access helps to reduce the risk of data breaches and other security incidents by limiting the amount of damage that can be caused by a compromised user account.
Azure Active Directory Privileged Identity Management (PIM) is a feature that allows organizations to manage and control access to Azure resources and applications.
Azure Active Directory PIM allows organizations to grant users temporary, just-in-time access to specific resources and applications, which helps to minimize the amount of access a user has and reduce the risk of security incidents.
Some benefits of using Azure Active Directory PIM include increased security, improved compliance, and reduced administrative overhead.
Privileged Access Management in Office 365 is a feature that allows organizations to manage and control access to sensitive data and settings in their Office 365 environment.
Privileged Access Management in Office 365 allows organizations to restrict access to sensitive data and settings to only those users who need it, which helps to minimize the amount of access a user has and reduce the risk of security incidents.
Some features of Privileged Access Management in Office 365 include access reviews, privileged access policies, and activity reports.
An access review is a process that allows administrators to review and validate user access to specific resources and applications.
Privileged access policies are rules that allow administrators to control access to sensitive data and settings in their Office 365 environment.
Activity reports allow administrators to monitor user activity and identify potential security issues, which helps to reduce the risk of security incidents.
To implement the principle of least privileged access, an organization can use tools like Azure Active Directory PIM and Privileged Access Management in Office 365, as well as develop and enforce policies and procedures around user access.
Some best practices for implementing the principle of least privileged access include regularly reviewing and updating user access, using role-based access control, and using multi-factor authentication.
An organization can assess its current level of adherence to the principle of least privileged access by conducting a security audit or risk assessment, and by regularly monitoring and analyzing user activity.
Some potential risks of not implementing the principle of least privileged access include data breaches, theft of sensitive data, unauthorized changes to critical systems or settings, and loss of reputation or trust.
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