NIST CSF 1.1 and User Access Reviews
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is a department of the United States government dedicated to advancing innovation and improving the quality of life by working closely with industry and science. Previously discussed, the NIST created the voluntary Cybersecurity Framework (CSF), which reinforced an executive order issued in 2013 by President Barack Obama. The Framework was designed to enable a high level of risk management and response to cybersecurity threats organizations may face.
A widely accepted practice to enhance cybersecurity measures, access reviews are intended to limit access to sensitive information and data to only authorized users. Throughout regular access reviews, companies determine whether unauthorized access to information is occurring and eliminating that threat. Without access control measures, companies cannot ensure the sensitive data they are responsible for is kept safe from hackers and cybercriminals. With their importance in mind, what does an organization like the NIST think about access reviews?
As part of the NIST’s CSF, access reviews become incredibly important to maintaining a strong approach to cybersecurity. In section PR.AC-4 of the CSF, it is specified that access reviews should be conducted periodically to manage access permissions and authorizations. Another section, ID.GV-4 outlines risk management processes to manage cybersecurity threats., which includes conducting regular access reviews. Using this publication alone, it is clear that access reviews are key components to cybersecurity.
However, if the CSF does not paint a clear enough picture of the NIST’s stance on access review, they have stated that “Identity and access management is a fundamental and critical cybersecurity capability.” NIST’s goal is to ensure that “the right people and things have the right access to the right resources at the right time.” To do this, they are dedicated to researching emerging technologies, developing national and international standards for identity and access management, and modifying existing standards to help organizations protect themselves against cybersecurity threats.
By following the lead and standards set by organizations such as the NIST, companies can feel confident in their approach to addressing potential cybersecurity threats. Access reviews continue to be essential to information security, as they ensure that authorized users are the only ones who can access sensitive information. Without them, it would be possible for anyone to have access to the data and use it for criminal activities.
YouAttest for Access Reviews
Tools that help organizations quantify and automate the review process for any access policy changes. YouAttest is exactly this type of tool.
YouAttest 2.0 enables an enterprise to:
- Have multiple Reviewers: Business and System Reviewers
- Integrated RBAC for access and reviews when access policy changes occur
- Automatic Delegation of Business Managers
- Auto-Scheduling of reviews
- Reminders and Status of reviews
- Automated triggers on changes on key account groups and applications
- Full Reports
With consistent access policy changes, proper access policies enforced by a tool like YouAttest, organizations can strengthen their cybersecurity to mitigate the risk of hackers gaining access to sensitive information. By implementing a comprehensive policy to manage user access, data is protected by granting access to only necessary users. Additionally, by maintaining compliance regulations, organizations are protected from incurring steep fines and damages to their reputation.
YouAttest can not only be a valuable part of both your audit toolset and your IT Security arsenal of detective weapons.
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YouAttest is the only cloud-based IGA platform that deploys in minutes via application SSO to platforms like Okta. YouAttest demonstrated how YouAttest can help identify PAM attacks in its Special Webinar on securing SSO and SAML.
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