🔒 Unveiling Access Control Gaps: Insights from the Field 🔒

As an #IAM engineer, architect, and leader, I've navigated the challenging waters of audits from a unique vantage point.

Here are the top five #accesscontrol deficiencies I've encountered, highlighting #critical areas for improvement based on #industry #standards and my experiences:

1. 𝐖𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐦𝐬: The reliance on single-factor authentication, mainly passwords, leaves organizations vulnerable. It's high time we embrace Multi-Factor Authentication (#MFA) to add a critical layer of security.

2. 𝐈𝐧𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐜 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰𝐬: From my position, I've seen the fallout of overlooked access rights reviews firsthand. The persistence of excessive privileges and orphan accounts is a stark reminder of the necessity for vigilant oversight.

3. 𝐋𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 (𝐒𝐨𝐃): Observing deficiencies in SoD controls has highlighted their importance in preventing unauthorized transactions and breaches, emphasizing the need for a well-structured approach to duties within organizations.

4. 𝐏𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐬: Managing and securing privileged accounts has been a cornerstone of my role. The consequences of inadequate oversight are profound, underscoring the need for comprehensive strategies to mitigate risks.

5. 𝐈𝐧𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬: Through my experiences, I've witnessed the challenges posed by outdated, incomplete, or unenforced policies, driving home the importance of robust and clear procedures in safeguarding digital assets.

My journey has not just been about confronting these challenges but about learning and adapting strategies to mitigate them effectively.

It's about fostering a #culture of security that anticipates and mitigates #risks before they manifest into breaches.

Let's leverage our collective experiences to strengthen our IAM #frameworks, ensuring they're not just #compliant, but resilient and responsive to the evolving #cybersecurity landscape.

#iam #identityaccessmanagement #identityandaccessmanagement #audit #compliance #soc2 #sox #pcidss #iso27001 #cybersecurity #informationsecurity #infosec #identitysecurity

Author: Pankaj BC (https://www.linkedin.com/in/pankaj-bc-cissp-ccsp-550949159/)