What Is Least Privilege?

Least privilege is the security principle of granting a user, application, service, or device only the permissions required to perform its assigned function and no more. Certification exams often present scenarios involving excessive access and ask which control would most effectively limit the resulting risk. An employee who only prepares reports should not have permission to modify payroll records, and a service account used to read a database should not be able to delete tables. Administrators should define roles carefully, separate standard and privileged accounts, review permissions regularly, and remove access when responsibilities change. Applying least privilege reduces the damage caused by mistakes, malware, compromised credentials, and malicious insiders while still allowing authorized work to continue. Produced by BareMetalCyber.com, where you’ll find more cyber audio courses, books, and information to strengthen your educational path. Also, if you want to stay up to date with the latest news, visit DailyCyber.News for a newsletter you can use, and a daily podcast you can commute with. And dont forget Cyberauthor.me for the companion study guide and flash cards!