This control focuses on securing access to organizational systems and data by implementing clear, consistent IAM practices. Access decisions are based on defined roles, responsibilities, and a need-to-know basis. Controls include secure user authentication, account lifecycle management, access provisioning and de-provisioning, and regular access reviews. Leveraging automation and centralized identity systems can streamline access management, reduce errors, and simplify compliance efforts.
Implementation Suggestions:
Access Assignment and Role Management
Define standard roles and associated access permissions based on business needs.
Use Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) or Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) to assign access based on roles or contextual attributes.
Require documented approval from managers or system owners before granting access.
Review and update roles and permissions regularly, especially after role changes or terminations.
Use segregation of duties (SoD) principles to prevent conflicting access.
Authentication and Credential Security
Require Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for privileged accounts, remote access, and sensitive systems.
Use context-aware MFA where applicable, based on risk signals like location or device.
Enforce password complexity, expiration, and secure storage policies.
Implement password management tools to generate and manage unique, strong credentials.
Replace default credentials during system setup.
Account Lifecycle Management
Establish workflows for account creation, modification, and deactivation with appropriate approvals.
Automate provisioning and de-provisioning to reduce manual errors and delays.
Identify and remove inactive or orphaned accounts promptly.
Remote Access and SSO
Secure remote access using encrypted connections like VPNs or secure tunneling.
Apply endpoint protection for remote devices.
Implement Single Sign-On (SSO) to simplify authentication and reduce credential fatigue.
Combine SSO with MFA for enhanced protection.
Monitor SSO and remote access activity to detect unauthorized use.
Monitoring and Auditing
Conduct regular audits of access rights, authentication methods, and IAM configurations.
Test MFA and SSO systems periodically to confirm effectiveness.
Use centralized IAM tools to track access changes and support compliance reporting.
Limit access to privileged accounts to authorized individuals only, and enforce robust controls to protect against misuse. Implement continuous monitoring and auditing of privileged account activities to detect any unauthorized actions, reducing the risk of security breaches and data loss.
Implementation Suggestions:
Enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all privileged accounts.
Use a centralized PAM solution to manage and track privileged access.
Establish approval workflows for granting, modifying, or revoking privileged access.
Implement session logging and recording for privileged account activities to provide an audit trail.
Regularly review and update the list of users with privileged access to ensure it remains current and aligned with job responsibilities.
This includes capturing detailed log data to identify security events, detect anomalies, and support investigations of potential incidents. User activity logs provide a comprehensive audit trail, helping maintain security, compliance, and accountability by tracking user behavior and access patterns.
Implementation Suggestions:
Log key user activities, such as logins, file access, data modifications, and administrative actions.
Use automated tools to analyze logs in real-time for detecting anomalies or suspicious behavior.
Securely store logs to prevent tampering and ensure they are available for compliance audits or incident investigations.
Implement role-based access to logs to protect sensitive data and maintain confidentiality.
Regularly review and archive logs according to the organization’s data retention policies.