Implementing Least Privilege

Implement Least Privilege

Contributed by: Vishakha Sadhwani

Difficulty level: Intermediate

Are you new to the cloud, a career changer, or an engineer eager to level up? Or perhaps you’ve built your business on the cloud, but you’re wondering if your systems are truly secure?

Get ready to dive into the exciting world of cloud security! In this series, you’ll unlock the secrets to protecting your valuable data and systems in the ever-evolving digital landscape. I’ll cover the challenges, best practices, essential tools, and techniques, and we’ll even explore the booming advances in this field. Whether you’re just starting or looking to expand your expertise, this is your launchpad to a secure cloud future! 🛡️

This first shortcut in the series helps you address the question, How can you create a security model where trust is never assumed but always verified in your cloud infrastructure? Let’s dive in and discover how to safeguard your piece of the cloud!

The Core Idea

Least privilege is a security principle, or you can think of it as a best practice, that involves giving your employees the exact keys they need to do their jobs—and nothing more. In the cloud, this means granting users, applications, and systems only the access or permissions necessary to function. No extra access, no unnecessary privileges. Why? Because the fewer permissions someone has, the less damage they can accidentally cause or the less a hacker can exploit if credentials are compromised.

How It Works ...