How can you ensure that sensitive information is only accessed by authorized personnel? (2024)

Information classification is an important step when we need to define the level of access to sensitive information. Classifying information with labels such as public, sensitive, private, confidential helps us to define the appropriate security access control and to optimize resources to protect the information.

To ensure sensitive information is only accessed by authorized personnel, consider utilizing a mandatory or role-based access control scheme. With mandatory access control, access to sensitive data is controlled by specific labels. Each user is assigned a clearance that corresponds to various labels of data. For example, if someone is assigned clearance for Secret data, they are only able to access data with a label of Secret, but cannot access Top Secret data. For role-based access control, access to sensitive information is defined by the specific job role of a group of users. For example, only those assigned to a payroll job role can view sensitive employee salary data.

Role-Based Access Control: Implement RBAC to assign permissions based on job roles and responsibilities. Define access levels and privileges according to the principle of least privilege, granting only necessary permissions to perform specific tasks.Multi-Factor Authentication :Enforce MFA to add an extra layer of security. Require authorized personnel to provide multiple authentication factors (such as passwords, tokens, biometrics) to access sensitive information.Identity and Access Management Solutions: Use IAM solutions to manage user identities, credentials, and access rights centrally. Regularly review and update user access privileges based on job changes or requirementsEncryption: Encrypt sensitive data at rest and in transit.

You can ensure only those individuals with the need to know have access to data by building a data classification system. It could be based on the sensitivity and integrity of the data, think top secret, secret, classified..... This is the ranking used by the federal government, see executive order 13526. You could also use a model more focused on commercial usage that's based on confidentiality and use labels such as confidential, private, sensitive or public. You can use as many or as few labels as you want in private industry. My advice would be to start with fewer labels rather than more. As an example, CISA and others use the traffic light protocol, red, yellow, green. Three basic categories that's easy to understand.

Mostly information or data is lying around, importantly it (data) needs to be discovered and classified first to begin with. Once this step is done then we can define a policy for levels of access l.

This all starts with Multifactor authentication (MFA). MFA is the most basic version of a Conditional Access policy in the Microsoft world, and access to apps and data will only be successfully authenticated and authorized if a user can satisfy an MFA prompt and provide a second form of authentication. Preferably, this will be via the MS Authenticator App, or via a FIDO2 token. SMS should be avoided as these messages can be intercepted and represent a risk to the MFA process.

Implementing robust authorization and authentication is paramount for safeguarding systems and data. Ensure strong authentication methods like Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) to fortify user verification. Password policies should demand complexity, and regular updates. Employee education on password hygiene is crucial. This step not only secures individual access but acts as a fundamental barrier against unauthorised entry.Grant users only essential permissions aligned with their roles. Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) is pivotal, tailoring access based on job functions. Regular audits of access logs and continuous monitoring fortify these controls, maintaining a vigilant stance against potential threats.

Enforcing access to classified material should be done in a manner where the identity of user cannot be repudiated. This can be done using MFA and user certificates for authentication. For authorization, it's important to establish a proper structure when doing RBAC that enforces least privilege with varying degrees of restrictions as classification go higher.For example, in some systems you would not want a sole admin to be able to create accounts and be able to assign a role. But it's also not practical to have 4 admins per system across the organization.

Educate and Train Users: Provide training and education to users on the importance of authentication and authorization, proper password management, and secure access practices.Implement Multi-Layered Security: Employ a layered security approach that combines authentication and authorization with other security measures, such as firewalls, intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS), and data encryption.

In the digital realm, confirming who's who and what they can do is paramount. Implementing robust authentication and authorization mechanisms is like having vigilant sentinels at every gateway, ensuring that only the right individuals gain entry and interact with sensitive data. This process goes beyond mere passwords; it encompasses an array of credentials, acting as a multi-layered security check. It's a dynamic defense line, adapting to evolving threats and ensuring stringent access control that aligns with the organization's meticulous security framework.

Nextcloud is an open source content collaboration platform that can be used to effectively manage access to data, ensure data encryption both during transit and while at rest. A second Nextcloud server can be used to allow backups or an external storage such as Amazon S3 (object storage) can be used. Enterprise-wide authentication is possible using LDAP.

To secure sensitive data, it is crucial to integrate encryption and backup strategies, Employ encryption tools like BitLocker, FileVault, or LUKS to enhance data security at the disk level. Choose cloud service providers that offer encryption both in transit and at rest; AWS KMS and Azure Storage Service Encryption stand out as reliable options. Implement end-to-end encryption protocols like HTTPS, TLS, or VPNs to ensure the secure transfer of data. Enhance database-level protection by encrypting databases using features such as Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) in Microsoft SQL Server. Ensure that backups are encrypted using tools like Veeam or Acronis, and make use of cloud backup services such as AWS S3 or Azure Backup

Implement encryption key management. Securely store encryption keys in vaults or HSM appliances. Restrict the number of individuals who can have access to the encryption keys. Follow the same strong password recommendations when defining encryption keys (length, combination of different character types). Encrypt backups (it can be achieved either by hardware or software). Always encrypt data-in-transit over any network.

Blockchain POV: use special codes (cryptography) to turn the data into a secret language that only certain people can understand. This way, even if someone sees the data, they can't understand it unless they're supposed to.

Encrypting and backing up data is the cybersecurity equivalent of securing a kingdom's treasure in a vault with a secret combination, and keeping a map to an undisclosed location. Encryption serves as an indecipherable cloak over your data, shielding it even if it falls into the wrong hands, while backups are your safety net, ensuring that data can be recovered and restored, should disaster strike. This dual strategy is about being prepared for the worst while safeguarding the present - a critical maneuver in the arsenal of data protection.

Access logs should be regularly audited to monitor user activity and proactively identify potential unauthorized access attempts. This proactive approach can help detect and mitigate security incidents before they cause any data breach.In addition to regular audits, organizations should implement continuous monitoring systems that provide real-time visibility into system activity. These tools can analyze logs, network traffic, and application performance data to detect anomalous behavior that may indicate a security incident. Lastly, by combining regular audits with continuous monitoring, organizations can create a comprehensive security strategy that effectively protects sensitive information.

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Audit logs in the M365 world, and Activity Explorer are important ways of monitoring data activity, and sign in and audit logs will show authentication and access activity. Create alerts for appropriate roles so these can be analyzed and actioned as required.

Audit trails need to be established from the start where the custody of the asset is tracked across its lifecycle. This can be paper card check/signout log, signed forms of delivery and custody transfer, signed email chain ...When designing the RBAC for your information systems, AUDIT roles are needed to restrict access to the audit mechanisms and data to other admins on the system. Lastly, you need to establish regular audit and reviews throughout the lifecycle of the asset.

- Are you monitoring access? - Is it someone's job to challenge given access?- Are you monitoring access given to service accounts and APIs as well?

In this step, it is also important to implement guard rails, create alerts, and monitor for any drift to atypical usage patterns and any unusual, unexpected, and suspicious activities performed on the protected data.

Security is as strong as its weakest link. End users happens to be that link. The fact users are the source where the data transforms into information, it is extremely important to make users periodically aware of the possible threats that they might encounter and how to deal with them. Only with a regular training and scenario based testing an organisation can create a resilient workforce, making the infosec chain stronger.

User Awareness training should start from day one for all Employees (Like in Induction / Initial training led by HR Team) This will help understand the importance of sensitive information specific to that organisation and employees should be clearly educated about security best practices.

User awareness is key to success here. Training and simulations that can be generated with tools like KnowBe4 and M365 E5 will help to identify users who need the most help and guidance to improve their awareness of threats like phishing and other types of social engineering.

While end users may be the weakest link in the security chain, users are also the first and often a strong line of defence. Users have the ability to use their intelligence and context to identify attempts by malicious actors to infiltrate systems through social engineering that often leads to more direct attacks. Strengthening the user base by improving their ability to develop secure code, identify patterns of malicious behavior, report out of place events and act swiftly to contain damage and restore services in the event of an attack are invaluable to organizations of any size. Making the content relevant to user roles and delivering it in a format compliant with today's attention span is key to creating a purposeful impact.

Simulate Attacks and Phishing Exercises: Conduct simulated attacks and phishing exercises to test users' awareness and response capabilities. Provide feedback and reinforce learning through these practical exercises.Foster a Culture of Cybersecurity: Promote a culture of cybersecurity within your organization, encouraging open communication, collaboration, and continuous learning among all employees.

Today many in security are concerned with "0-days", and while a true concern and something to take into consideration when building segmentation and separation into your security design, having worked in the space for over a decade it is easily the things you did not fix yesterday who statistically is most likely to end up hurting you.Most understand the cost saving of "shift left" in SDLC now, but the same apply to network security in the perspective that a system hardened and maintained is an incident that does not happen. Efficient vulnerability management is a good cost saver for security.

Patch management is tough if there's no asset registry or people don't know which asset to perform the updates first as well as considering the risk/impact of not patching.

Implement access control measures, like strong authentication and role-based access controls, to restrict access to sensitive data. Regularly update and patch systems to close vulnerabilities that could be exploited to bypass these controls. This includes not just operating systems, but also applications and network infrastructure. Best to use automated tools to track and apply updates promptly. Additionally, conduct regular security audits and penetration tests to identify and address any weaknesses in your systems. By keeping systems up-to-date and controlling access, you significantly minimise the risk of unauthorised access to sensitive information.

Regular checks and updates are equally important, check everything to make sure there are no weak spots, just like a regular health check-up.

Scanner de Vulnerabilidades ou pentest para mitigação de ameaças. Os dados hoje são essências para qualquer negócios, Além de manter o sistema atualizado é ideal sempre executar uma varredura a fim de encontrar brechas no local de armazenamento. essa ação preventiva e pró ativa pode prevenir problemas maiores.

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IAAA – Identification - Authentication - Authorization - Accountability.Ensure above Principles are implemented along with the concepts of separation of duties , Need to know . Embedded them in your Information Security Policy.

It's highly recommended to cover the confidential information in wolf urine or another apex predator from the office to mark it as restricted, make it clear as to its ownership, and put fear into opportunistic thieves or the weaker employees that cannot safeguard the data themselves.

The most useful decisions that I made for protecting accesses and generate the correct right (need to know) are:1. Zero trust Policy (no exceptions)2. Updated information between all managers, HR and technical deparments (state of the art)3. Need to know (no exceptions)4. Root/Domain admin asigned to a people, not distributed in the technical departments.5. Take a look to the developers repositories

Use encryption: Encryption can be used to protect sensitive information at rest and in transit. This helps to ensure that the information cannot be accessed by unauthorized individuals.Regularly review and update security policies: It is important to regularly review and update security policies to reflect changes in the threat landscape and your organization's needs.Conduct regular security awareness training: Security awareness training helps to educate users about the latest cybersecurity threats and how to protect themselves. This training should be conducted on a regular basis.

One thing I found helpful is a decentralized approach to access management. Start by identifying owners of applications and services that store sensitive information. The owner defines a high-level approach of providing access to their assets. Work with owners to identify asset administrator. Administrator will handle daily operations and assign necessary permissions. Educate asset owners and admins about least-privilege. Provide owners with technology to manage access to their applications and services. This way you ensure that sensitive information is only accessed by authorized personnel and access is provided with minimal delays. Additionally, you will strengthen the security culture through active participation of owners and admins.