Least Privilege

Least Privilege (PoLP - Principle of Least Privilege)

The Principle of Least Privilege (PoLP) ensures users, systems, and applications get only the minimum access required to perform their tasks, reducing security risks.

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🔹 Key Principles

✅ Minimal Access – Users should only have necessary permissions.
✅ Time-Limited Access – Temporary access should expire after use.
✅ Separation of Duties – Prevents a single user from having full control.
✅ Regular Audits – Periodically review and remove unnecessary permissions.
✅ Restricted Admin Access – Root/Admin privileges should be minimal.

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🔹 Real-World Examples

🔹 AWS IAM: Use IAM roles instead of giving full access.
🔹 Linux Servers: Developers should have limited sudo access via the sudoers file.
🔹 Database Security: Grant read-only access to most users, write access to a few.

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🔹 Benefits

✅ Reduces Attack Surface – Limits exposure to security threats.
✅ Prevents Accidental Damage – Users can’t modify critical data.
✅ Minimizes Lateral Movement – Attackers can’t spread easily.
✅ Ensures Compliance – Meets GDPR, HIPAA, ISO 27001 standards.

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🔹 Implementation in Cloud & DevOps

🔹 Use IAM roles & RBAC for access control.
🔹 Restrict Kubernetes cluster access with RBAC policies.
🔹 Limit SSH access using Bastion Hosts.
🔹 Manage secrets using tools like HashiCorp Vault.

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