What is the principle of least privilege?

The principle of least privilege is an essential security concept that focuses on minimizing the access rights granted to users, applications, and processes. Specifically, it states that individuals and systems should only be given the minimum levels of access necessary to perform their specific tasks or functions. By limiting access in this way, the risk of unauthorized use, data breaches, and other security incidents is significantly reduced.

This principle is foundational in cybersecurity practices because it helps to control and limit potential damage if an account is compromised. For instance, if a user's account is breached and they only have access to certain files or functions within a system, the attacker is similarly constrained and cannot access more sensitive areas that exceed the user's permissions.

Implementing the principle of least privilege can involve practices such as regular auditing of user rights, using role-based access controls, and continuously adjusting permissions as roles or requirements change. This dynamic management of access rights ensures that users or systems do not retain excessive access permissions longer than necessary, thereby enhancing the overall security posture of an organization.