Access control forms a core component of information and data security, providing a strong defense against cybercriminals. It verifies a user’s identity, authenticates them and grants them permissions. Broken access controls are a common cybersecurity vulnerability that exposes companies to attack.
Access Control
Acces’s control is verifying that a user is who they say they are and permitting them to access the system resources they need to do their job. Access control in cybersecurity is important since attackers can exploit authenticated credentials to gain entry into your network and steal data.
Many types of access control exist, including role-based authorization (RBAC) and attribute-based access control. RBAC is widely used in commercial and military systems. It assigns privileges based on roles rather than users and implements key security principles such as separating rights and least licenses. It differs from MAC, which gives benefits based on a user’s clearance level. With the rise of remote work, it’s important to ensure that employees have access only to the systems and data they need for their jobs. This prevents them from downloading nonpublic personal information or allowing hackers to use their keys to steal data. It also helps prevent malicious actors from using employee-owned devices when they leave your company.
A robust access control policy includes pre-admission and post-admission networking controls. Pre-admission controls evaluate a device or user’s request for entry into the network and only allow them in if they can meet the requirements of your security policies. Post-admission controls limit lateral movement within the network by requiring users to re-authenticate when they attempt to move from one zone of your network to another.
Authentication
Authentication is one of the most important aspects of access control. It ensures that users are who they say they are and stay within the confines of their privilege level. It also verifies that a user’s credentials are valid before they gain access to the system. This helps prevent cybercriminals from using hacking techniques to steal credentials and enter the system.
While authentication is essential, securing a network against unauthorized access isn’t enough. It can be circumvented by attackers, who can use tools like password cracking or phishing to steal login information or even the device itself. To protect against this, businesses should implement multifactor authentication (MFA), which adds another layer of security by requiring a second factor, such as a code or fingerprint. Additionally, they should enforce best practices for passwords by instructing users to use long passwords with letters, numbers, and special characters and to change them regularly.
Access control can also help prevent unauthorized access by preventing lateral movement. For example, it can restrict employees’ access to certain systems so they cannot access sensitive data from a public Wi-Fi network. This can help prevent the kind of attack that Target experienced in 2013. Additionally, it can ensure compliance with regulations such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and Service Organization Control 2 (SOC 2).
Access Permissions
Access permissions limit access to data based on an authorized user’s identity. They can prevent cybercriminals from accessing the system and stealing sensitive information. They also allow for a more flexible work environment,
such as accessing the system from different enabled devices and entry points. One of the biggest challenges with authorization is that it can be difficult to determine and perpetually monitor who gets access to what data resources, how they get that access, and when they get that access.
This can lead to security holes, such as when an employee leaves a company and still has access to their device that holds confidential information. Regular audits can help plug these holes and ensure that the least privilege is granted to users. Role-based access control (RBAC) is a popular access control model that restricts permissions based on the roles and positions of employees.
This makes it easier for administrators to manage permissions since they can assign roles to people rather than granting them individual access. This access control model is often used alongside MAC and DAC frameworks. Another popular access control mechanism is rule-based access control, which allows system administrators to create rules that govern access to system resources. This is a common method for managing access to data files and other objects in the system, such as network equipment and printers. It can be combined with RBAC and MAC to provide more comprehensive security controls.
Monitoring
A key access control component is monitoring, which helps identify suspicious activities. This can help thwart hackers, keep data safe, and prevent employee errors from causing security breaches. It can also detect malicious code that might have slipped through the cracks.
It also helps to protect against data leaks and other vulnerabilities. Several types of access control exist, including authentication, authorization, and monitoring. Authentication is the process of verifying someone’s identity, and it can be accomplished using various methods, including passwords, pins, security tokens, and biometric scans.
Authorization is granting permissions to users based on their authenticated identity. This can be done using several models, including role-based access control (RBAC) and attribute-based access control policies. Another form of access control is context-dependent, which limits what a user can do with the information they have been given. This includes preventing them from modifying files and other system resources they can access. It can also limit how applications interact with each other. This can be important for companies that need to meet SOC 2 compliance requirements and those that want to protect customer privacy. Access controls are essential to a robust cybersecurity posture, as human error accounts for many data breaches. Strict access control regulations increase employee understanding of proper cyber hygiene and make it harder for hostile actors to access your system.