What does ‘least privilege’ help to prevent?

The concept of ‘least privilege’ is a foundational principle in information security that restricts user access rights to the bare minimum necessary to perform their job functions. By applying this principle, organizations can significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access to sensitive information.

When user accounts have only the permissions they need, it becomes much more difficult for malicious actors or unauthorized users to gain access to sensitive data. This approach not only limits the potential exposure of sensitive information but also minimizes the attack surface, as fewer accounts with elevated privileges mean fewer opportunities for exploitation.

While preventing excessive access privileges is related to the principle of least privilege and helps make sure that employees do not have more access than they need, the primary focus is on preventing unauthorized access to critical data. This is accomplished by ensuring that permissions are carefully managed and that users cannot access areas of the system that are not pertinent to their role. In this way, the principle of least privilege serves as an effective control against a range of security threats, reinforcing the protection of sensitive information.