What does the principle of least privilege ensure for security functions and accounts?

The principle of least privilege is a fundamental concept in security that ensures users, accounts, and processes are granted only the access necessary to perform their assigned tasks or functions. By limiting access rights, the principle significantly reduces the potential risk of unauthorized access to sensitive information or systems. This approach minimizes the attack surface by preventing users from having more privileges than they need, thereby promoting a secure environment.

In practice, implementing the principle of least privilege means conducting a thorough assessment of job roles and responsibilities, determining the precise permissions required, and ensuring that no additional access is granted. This methodology not only mitigates risks associated with internal threats but also helps contain the impact of external attacks, as compromising a user account with minimal privileges limits the potential damage.