How can you protect your cloud-based automation workflows with access control policies?

1 What are access control policies?

Access control policies are rules that define who can do what with your cloud-based automation workflows. They can be based on factors such as user roles, permissions, groups, locations, devices, or time. Access control policies can help you enforce the principle of least privilege, which means that users only have the minimum level of access necessary to perform their tasks. This can reduce the risk of accidental or malicious changes, errors, or breaches in your workflows.

2 How to create access control policies?

To create access control policies, you need to first identify and classify your cloud-based automation workflows according to their sensitivity, complexity, and criticality. You also need to identify and categorize your users according to their roles, responsibilities, and needs. Then, you need to map out the actions that each user can perform on each workflow, such as view, edit, run, stop, or delete. You can use tools such as matrices, diagrams, or templates to document your access control policies.

3 How to implement access control policies?

To implement access control policies, you need to use the features and functions of your cloud-based automation platform. Depending on the platform, you may have different options and levels of granularity for setting up access control policies. For example, some platforms may allow you to apply policies at the workflow, folder, project, or organization level. Some platforms may also support role-based access control (RBAC), which means that you can assign predefined roles and permissions to your users based on their functions.

5 How to update and maintain access control policies?

To update and maintain access control policies, you need to regularly review and evaluate your cloud-based automation workflows and users. You should consider any changes or developments in your business processes, goals, or environment that may affect your workflows or users. You should also solicit feedback and input from your users and stakeholders on the effectiveness and usability of your access control policies. You should then make any necessary adjustments or improvements to your policies to ensure that they are aligned with your current needs and best practices.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?