Access management is the practice of administering the access rights and roles of an organization’s users. It is a process that combines security strategies, tools and policies to ensure that “the right people can access the right resources at the right time”, as Gartner defines it.
Despite how important this process is, many companies are still unsure how to implement a functional, secure access management policy, and don’t know which tools are worth investing in.
That is why, in this article, we walk through the best practices for access management. Read on!
Access management best practices
An access management failure that ends up exposing internal credentials to a hacker can be far more dangerous than, say, a malware infection.
Here are the access management best practices to prevent that from happening:
1 – Create individual user accounts
One of the most common access management mistakes in organizations is allowing employees to share access instead of creating an account for each individual — sometimes with just one credential per team.
This practice reduces an administrator’s control over information security protocols. Instead, creating individual credentials and managing user access at the individual level is essential to mitigate the risk of insider threats.
2 – Require strong passwords
Another sometimes overlooked step is enforcing strong passwords. The main rules for a password to be considered strong are:
- At least eight characters;
- A mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and special characters;
- No dictionary words or numeric sequences;
- No reuse of previous passwords;
- Regular mandatory password updates.
3 – Use multi-factor authentication
Beyond strong passwords, using more than one authentication method is essential. Doubling or tripling authentication methods increases access security in the same proportion and makes access management easier.
There are many authentication methods beyond passwords, such as entering a one-time code generated by an app, QR code confirmation, security questions and even biometrics.
4 – Regularly review user accounts
Establishing a routine audit of user roles and privileges is one of the most important tasks in effective access management. You can schedule review cycles to examine each tool and repository and who has access to them.
It may seem like a long, time-consuming process to run regularly, but identity audits don’t have to be done manually: access management software can handle them.
5 – Invest in access management tools
Speaking of access management software, using technology tools is one of the best practices for a practical access management strategy that doesn’t consume too much of your IT and information security teams’ time.
Especially now that privacy laws such as the LGPD are in force, it is important to build a fail-safe access management policy, and that is only possible with tools that provide an overview of all users and their access rights and that automate security measures.
Build your access management with us
Effective access management is a big part of a well-run organization, and it is essential for LGPD compliance. But you can’t manage access effectively without the right software. That is why we offer our Access Management solution, which handles all access management with data protection as the priority. Get in touch to learn more.