Dynamic Access Controls and Zero Trust for Privileged Access: A Real-World Approach
- Pravin Raghvani MSc
- Jul 24
- 5 min read
This blog post explores how Dynamic Access Controls (DAC) aligned with Zero Trust principles revolutionise privileged access management, offering a significant improvement over traditional ticket-based authorisation methods. We'll delve into real-life use cases to illustrate how DAC, with its incorporation of business logic, adaptive access, and workflow integration, helps organisations strive for near-zero unauthorised changes, a goal often unattainable with legacy systems.
The Limitations of Traditional Ticket-Based Privileged Access
Traditional privileged access management (PAM) often relies heavily on a ticket-based system (e.g. ServiceNow). A user requests elevated privileges, a ticket is generated, and upon approval, the user gains access. While this approach provides a basic level of control, it suffers from several limitations:
Static Permissions: Once a ticket is approved, the user typically receives a fixed set of permissions for a defined period. This doesn't account for changing circumstances or the principle of least privilege. The user might have more access than they need, increasing the attack surface.
Lack of Context: Ticket approvals are often based on limited information. The system might not consider the user's current role, the specific task they need to perform, or the sensitivity of the data they're accessing.
Limited Auditability: While ticket systems provide an audit trail of access requests and approvals, they often lack detailed information about what the user did with their elevated privileges.
Manual Processes: Ticket-based systems often involve manual approvals, which can be time-consuming and prone to human error.
No Continuous Validation: Once access is granted, there's typically no continuous validation to ensure the user's actions remain within the scope of the approved request.
These limitations make traditional ticket-based PAM vulnerable to insider threats, accidental misuse of privileges, and external attacks that exploit compromised accounts.
Dynamic Access Controls: A Zero Trust Approach to Privileged Access
Dynamic Access Controls (DAC) offer a more robust and granular approach to privileged access management, aligning with the core principles of Zero Trust:
Never Trust, Always Verify: DAC continuously verifies the user's identity, device posture, and the context of their access request before granting privileges.
Least Privilege: DAC grants only the minimum necessary privileges required to perform a specific task, and only for the duration of that task.
Assume Breach: DAC assumes that a breach is inevitable and implements controls to limit the impact of a successful attack.
Microsegmentation: DAC restricts access to specific resources and applications based on the user's role, the sensitivity of the data, and other contextual factors.
Continuous Monitoring and Response: DAC continuously monitors user activity and automatically responds to suspicious behaviour.
DAC achieves this through a combination of:
Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC): ABAC uses attributes of the user, the resource, and the environment to make access decisions. For example, a user might be granted access to a specific server only if they are a member of the "Database Administrators" group, are accessing the server from a corporate-managed device, and are located within the corporate network.
Policy Engines: Policy engines enforce access control policies based on ABAC attributes. These policies can be centrally managed and updated to reflect changing business requirements.
Workflow Integration: DAC integrates with existing IT workflows, such as change management and incident response, to automate access requests and approvals.
Adaptive Access: DAC dynamically adjusts access privileges based on real-time risk assessments. For example, if a user's device is detected to be compromised, their access privileges might be automatically revoked.
Just-in-Time (JIT) Access: DAC grants temporary privileges only when they are needed, and automatically revokes them when the task is complete.
Real-World Use Cases
Let's examine some real-world use cases to illustrate the benefits of DAC over traditional ticket-based PAM:
Use Case 1: Emergency Patching of a Critical Server
Traditional Approach: An IT administrator requests elevated privileges to patch a critical server. A ticket is generated and approved, granting the administrator full administrative access to the server for a specified period.
DAC Approach: The administrator initiates a patching workflow. The DAC system verifies the administrator's identity, checks the server's vulnerability status, and confirms that the patching process is approved. Based on these attributes, the system grants the administrator temporary, limited privileges to execute the patching script. The system continuously monitors the patching process and automatically revokes the privileges once the patching is complete. If the patching process deviates from the approved script, the system automatically terminates the process and alerts security personnel.
Benefits:
Reduced attack surface by granting only the necessary privileges for the specific task.
Automated approval process based on predefined policies.
Real-time monitoring and response to prevent unauthorised actions.
Improved auditability with detailed logs of all actions performed.
Use Case 2: Database Administrator Accessing Sensitive Data
Traditional Approach: A database administrator requests access to a database containing sensitive customer data. A ticket is approved, granting the administrator full access to the database.
DAC Approach: The database administrator attempts to access the database. The DAC system verifies the administrator's identity, checks their role, and assesses the sensitivity of the data they are trying to access. Based on these attributes, the system grants the administrator limited access to only the specific data they need to perform their task. The system also masks sensitive data fields to prevent unauthorised viewing. The system continuously monitors the administrator's activity and alerts security personnel if any suspicious behaviour is detected.
Benefits:
Reduced risk of data breaches by limiting access to sensitive data.
Improved compliance with data privacy regulations.
Enhanced security posture by continuously monitoring user activity.
Use Case 3: Third-Party Vendor Accessing Internal Systems
Traditional Approach: A third-party vendor requests access to internal systems to perform maintenance. A ticket is approved, granting the vendor full access to the systems for a specified period.
DAC Approach: The third-party vendor attempts to access the internal systems. The DAC system verifies the vendor's identity, checks their contract terms, and assesses the risk associated with their access request. Based on these attributes, the system grants the vendor temporary, limited access to only the specific systems they need to perform their maintenance tasks. The system also restricts the vendor's access to specific times and locations. The system continuously monitors the vendor's activity and alerts security personnel if any suspicious behaviour is detected.
Benefits:
Reduced risk of data breaches and security incidents caused by third-party vendors.
Improved compliance with vendor risk management policies.
Enhanced security posture by continuously monitoring vendor activity.
Achieving Near 0% Unauthorised Change
By implementing DAC aligned with Zero Trust principles, organisations can significantly reduce the risk of unauthorised changes and strive for near 0% unauthorised changes. This is achieved through:
Granular Access Control: DAC provides granular control over access privileges, ensuring that users only have the minimum necessary access to perform their tasks.
Continuous Monitoring and Response: DAC continuously monitors user activity and automatically responds to suspicious behaviour, preventing unauthorised changes from occurring.
Workflow Integration: DAC integrates with existing IT workflows, automating access requests and approvals and reducing the risk of human error.
Adaptive Access: DAC dynamically adjusts access privileges based on real-time risk assessments, preventing unauthorised access in response to changing circumstances.
Conclusion
Dynamic Access Controls, when implemented with a Zero Trust mindset, offer a significant improvement over traditional ticket-based privileged access management. By incorporating business logic, adaptive access, and workflow integration, DAC enables organisations to achieve a more secure and compliant environment, reducing the risk of unauthorised changes and striving for near 0% unauthorised change. Embracing DAC is a crucial step for organisations seeking to strengthen their security posture and protect their critical assets in today's increasingly complex threat landscape.
