Zero Standing Privileges

What are standing privileges?

Standing privileges refer to the permissions or access rights granted to users or accounts on a system that persist even when not actively used. They typically include elevated permissions such as administrator or root access. Standing privileges are often set by default in many systems for convenience but can pose security risks.

Risks of standing privileges

Having standing privileges can lead to various security risks and vulnerabilities:

• Increased potential for unauthorized access: Hackers can exploit standing privileges to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data such as APIs. Ensuring API security measures is essential in preventing unauthorized access and protecting sensitive information from malicious actors.
• Heightened risk of privilege escalation: Once inside a system, attackers can exploit standing privileges to access higher levels of control, allowing them to carry out more extensive attacks.
• Difficulty in tracking and auditing: With standing privileges in place, monitoring and auditing user activities become challenging, making it harder to detect and respond to security breaches.

Zero standing privileges

Zero standing privileges (ZSP) is a security model that aims to mitigate the risks of standing privileges by eliminating them. A strong security approach can ensured by effectively managing secrets in zero trust architecture.

In the ZSP model, users receive access privileges only when required for specific tasks or functions. Once these tasks are completed, the privileges are promptly revoked, leaving users with no ongoing permissions. This proactive approach significantly reduces the potential attack surface and lowers the risk of unauthorized access or privilege escalation.

How to implement zero standing privileges model

Implementing the zero-standing privileges (ZSP) model is crucial for enhancing security while maintaining simplicity in access control. Here’s how to do it in a straightforward manner:

• Adopt the principle of least privilege: Only grant users the minimum access to secrets they need to fulfill their roles. Avoid giving blanket permissions and instead assign specific access based on job functions.
• Use role-based access control (RBAC): Organize users into roles with predefined permissions aligned with their job duties. This simplifies access management by assigning permissions according to user roles rather than individual attributes.
• Implement just-in-time (JIT) access: Provision temporary access privileges to users only when required for specific tasks. Once the task is completed, automatically revoke access to minimize the risk of unauthorized access.
• Utilize privilege elevation: Grant temporary elevated privileges when users need to perform tasks beyond their standard access level. Ensure users operate with minimal privileges by default and obtain elevated access only when necessary.
• Implement continuous monitoring and auditing: Track user activities and manage secrets in real time to mitigate security incidents while maintaining compliance with security policies.
• Educate users on security practices: Raise awareness among users about the importance of adhering to access policies and reporting suspicious activities. Empower users to play an active role in maintaining security within the organization.

Problems with the zero standing privileges model

While the zero-standing privileges model offers significant security benefits, it may pose challenges, such as the hidden costs associated with mismanaged secrets. Look at some of the challenges:

• Operational complexity: Managing access on a just-in-time basis can introduce complexity, especially in large-scale environments with numerous users and resources.
• Potential for disruption: Temporary access restrictions may impede user productivity, particularly if access requests are not promptly fulfilled or there are delays in revoking privileges after tasks are completed.
• Overhead for administration: Implementing and maintaining ZSP requires careful planning and ongoing administration to ensure adequate access control without hindering business operations.

Why choose Entro?

Entro offers a complete secret management solution designed specifically for security teams, providing visibility and protection for secrets across all realms, including vaults, code, CI/CD pipelines, and more. With continuous secrets scanning and anomaly detection capabilities, Entro enables security teams to monitor and protect secrets proactively, minimizing the impact of security breaches.

While the ZSP model lays the groundwork for secure secrets management, integrating Entro into the equation elevates secrets protection to new heights. With its advanced features and capabilities, Entro empowers organizations to proactively identify, prioritize, and rectify secret risks, guaranteeing their security posture in an ever-changing threat landscape.