Cyber Word of the Week: Least Privilege

The principle of least privilege is a foundational cybersecurity concept designed to limit access rights for users, accounts, and processes to only what’s absolutely necessary to perform their duties. This minimizes the potential impact of both accidental and malicious threats.

Why Does Least Privilege Matter?

Implementing least privilege correctly can:

• Reduce the attack surface available to threat actors
• Limit the damage caused by compromised accounts
• Prevent insider threats from accessing sensitive systems they don’t need
• Support compliance with data protection and cybersecurity regulations

Least Privilege Example:

At Company XYZ, Sally works in the marketing department. Under least privilege, she doesn’t have access to the accounting system because she doesn’t need it to do her job. If Sally’s account were ever compromised, the attacker wouldn’t be able to reach financial records with her current access. This can stop attackers or force them to try other avenues, which will hopefully slow them down enough to be identified and revoke access to prevent further compromise.

Final Thoughts

Least privilege is an essential part of a defense-in-depth strategy. By controlling access at every level, you reduce risk and strengthen your organization’s overall security posture.