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December 8, 2023
SECURITY GUIDES
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Introduction
A common pitfall in cybersecurity is underestimating the power of user access control. Often, internal network vulnerabilities stem from inadequate management of user privileges, putting administrative accounts and network privacy at risk. As one of the Cyber Essentials’ Five Key Controls, user access control demands careful attention. This blog post will guide you through the essentials of user access control, helping you prepare for a Cyber Essentials assessment and achieve better configurations for user accounts across your devices.
Introduction:
- Underestimating the importance of user access control is a common pitfall in cybersecurity.
- Inadequate management of user privileges can lead to internal vulnerabilities, risking administrative accounts and network privacy.
User Access Control Essentials:
- User access control ensures accounts have minimum required permissions for accessing necessary software and resources.
- Applicable to both standard and high-level accounts, with controlled permissions such as configuring firewalls.
Risks of Inadequate Control:
- Insufficient user access control poses severe consequences, including downloading malicious files and potential misuse of account power.
- Standard user accounts, if compromised, can escalate threats to network confidentiality, integrity, and accessibility.
Managing User Access Control:
- Effective control begins with organised account management, including deleting or disabling unnecessary accounts.
- Steps include reserving administrative accounts for specific duties, limiting standard accounts to their functions, preventing unauthorised software use, and enforcing strong authentication policies.
Preparing for Cyber Essentials Assessment:
- Compliance with Cyber Essentials’ user access control requirements involves:
- Removing or disabling unnecessary account permissions.
- Implementing multifactor authentication, especially for administrator and service accounts.
- Restricting administrator accounts to administrative duties only.
- Requiring authentication for network access and documenting account creation and deletion processes.
- Enforcing strong password policies and documenting account permissions.
- Compliance with Cyber Essentials’ user access control requirements involves:
What is User Access Control and Why is it Crucial?
User access control is about ensuring user accounts have only the minimum required permissions to access necessary software and resources. This applies to both standard and high-level accounts. For instance, standard user accounts shouldn’t have permissions to configure device firewalls, and local administrator accounts should have controlled internet access.
The Risks of Inadequate User Access Control
The consequences of insufficient user access control can be severe, both internally and externally. An employee with excessive privileges may inadvertently download malicious files, upload sensitive data, or misuse their account’s power. Furthermore, standard user accounts are often more accessible to attackers than administrator accounts. If these accounts hold unnecessary privileges, the threat to your network’s confidentiality, integrity, and accessibility intensifies.
Managing User Access Control on Your Network
Effective user access control starts with organised account management. The first step is to delete or disable unnecessary accounts and clearly define roles for active ones. Follow these additional steps:
- Reserve local and domain administrator accounts solely for administrative activities.
- Limit standard user and service accounts to their specific functions.
- Prevent unauthorised accounts from running software or applications.
- Implement strong username and password policies, bolstered by multifactor authentication for administrator accounts.
- Document permissions and privileges for orderly and swift implementation.
- Assign administrative accounts and permissions to qualified and trustworthy individuals.
Preparing for a Cyber Essentials Assessment
Essentials’ user access control requirements:
- Remove or disable unnecessary account permissions.
- Implement multifactor authentication where possible, especially for administrator and service accounts.
- Restrict administrator accounts to administrative duties only.
- Require authentication for network application, device, or software access.
- Document the creation and deletion process for accounts.
- Enforce strong password policies and document account permissions.
Conclusion
Adhering to these user access control measures not only enhances your internal network’s cyber hygiene but also prepares your company for a successful Cyber Essentials assessment. Remember, effective user access control is a cornerstone of robust network security.
Daniel Phillips
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