You're faced with a client demanding immediate access permissions. How do you navigate this security dilemma?

Urgent access request is an exception, have to dealt as assumed breach scenario, while simultaneously validating the authenticity of the request and explore secure time bound limited privilege access may be granted if the request is genuine.

Demand for immediate access can be a red flag in the cybersecurity world. Is the request legitimate? What access is in the question and what is the chain of command? I have seen adversaries imitating genuine users and demanding access showing urgency.

Managing client expectations while delivering a client centric outcome can be challenging. However in saying that, mature security policies and adopted practises should help guide the principle steps to ensure the best outcome without putting parties at risk. Unfortunately side stepping compliance regulations should never be negotiable or bypassed

é essencial e ao mesmo tempo desafiador manter um equilíbrio entre atender às necessidades do cliente e garantir a seguran?a dos dados, em grande parte do tempo seguran?a e facilidade est?o em lados opostos. Penso que a comunica??o transparente, a avalia??o cuidadosa dos riscos e a conformidade/ades?o a políticas internas s?o fundamentais para navegar por esse dilema de forma resolutiva.

In my opinion we should be first understanding the requirement of urgent need of access. This will help us to know about the identity of the person who is asking for access and authorisation. As being part of Cyber security confirmation is always better than assumptions. We shall be very clear in informing them about the process duration and the possibility of delay.

La verificación de identidad es un paso crucial para garantizar que las solicitudes de acceso provienen de fuentes legítimas. Utilizar métodos robustos como la autenticación multifactor (MFA) y otras técnicas puede significativamente mejorar la seguridad. Aquí hay un ejemplo detallado: Autenticación Multifactor (MFA) - Qué es MFA: MFA requiere que los usuarios proporcionen dos o más factores de autenticación independientes antes de obtener acceso. Estos factores pueden incluir algo que saben (contrase?a), algo que tienen (token físico o dispositivo móvil) y algo que son (biometría). - Ventajas: MFA agrega una capa adicional de seguridad, reduciendo el riesgo de acceso no autorizado incluso si una contrase?a es comprometida.

You can ask the customer or the one requesting if this is an urgent request and if so, who is their manager so that we can get that access granted. Also explain that its for security reasons to protect the company and themselves due to spoofing emails or spam emails requesting access. After reaching out to the manager for approval and if approval is granted, you want to make sure that they get the correct access by asking their manager what access they need in order to do their job and if the request is correct for the proper access to a folder or network drive. That way everything is secure in the proper way.

I would say this above all else... insider and outsider threats could take advantage of a high pressure request. Follow established procedures to verify who the requestor is and verify the request as legitimate. All the other parts can be worked out afterwards.

Multi Factor authentification is the minimum. If you can, use a bastion, like that you can check in live and Replay what was done.

La verificación de identidad sin duda es importante, pero la misma suele estar resuelta por el proceso de autenticación del sistema. (Ej: Una autenticación contra un directorio activo con un MFA activo). Ahora lo que en este punto me parece muy importante es poder discernir que el usuario que solicita los permisos este relacionado con la tarea solicitada, a lo que voy es que una persona del departamento comercial, no debería pedir permiso para modificar registros contables, por citar un ejemplo extremo.

I faced a situation like this where a client demanding immediate access, the first thing I did was to assess the risks involved. it includes consideration of how and which the sensitive data or systems the client wanted to access. Furthermore, the role of client within the organization and the rising impact in case of unauthorized access occurred. To make sure that granted access is in line within organization's risk tolerance, The evaluation process really sets the foundation the rest of the process.

Approach: Analyze potential security risks associated with granting immediate access. Action Steps: Assess the sensitivity of the data or systems involved. Consider the potential impact of unauthorized access on the organization.

Be aware of the identify validation to ensure that immediate access is granted appropriately and the requestor's manager is aware and approves as well to minimize the risk. Ensure that documentation regarding the data that access is being requested is up-to-date and is classified/categorized regarding the security level for your organization.

Evaluar los riesgos asociados con la concesión de acceso inmediato es un paso esencial para garantizar que las decisiones tomadas no comprometan la seguridad de la organización. Este proceso implica identificar, analizar y mitigar los posibles riesgos. Identificar Recursos Críticos: Determinar qué activos (datos, aplicaciones, sistemas) están involucrados en la solicitud de acceso. Valor del Activo: Evaluar la importancia y el valor de los activos en términos de su impacto en el negocio. Tipos de Amenazas: Identificar posibles amenazas como malware, accesos no autorizados, errores humanos, o ataques internos y externos. Vulnerabilidades Existentes: Analizar vulnerabilidades conocidas en los sistemas y aplicaciones involucradas.

Oh you're evaluating the risks of giving me immediate permissions? Well, the risks arent that bad. I would minimize the perceived risk of giving me access. How the systems are critical but not highly sensitive in terms of security. I'd stress the immediate positive impact of giving me access, highlighting how quickly the issue could be resolved. I would reassure you that all actions will be logged and monitored (they wont) and that I'm fully prepared to comply with any follow-up security reviews or audits. I'd invoke accountability. I will claim to take full responsibility for any consequences. I'm answering this with the perspective of someone who shouldn't be given access, trying to get it anyways.

Restricting access rights is essential for maintaining network security while accommodating client needs. Grant limited or temporary access with clear expiration periods to ensure safety. Explain to the client that these measures protect sensitive data and mitigate risks. Full access can be granted after a thorough review process. This approach balances security with functionality, preventing unauthorized access and potential breaches, while still addressing the client's immediate requirements. Implementing strict boundaries safeguards the network and ensures a controlled, secure environment.

Establecer límites es una parte fundamental de cualquier estrategia de seguridad cuando se concede acceso a sistemas o datos sensibles. Estos límites garantizan que los usuarios solo tengan acceso a los recursos necesarios para realizar sus tareas específicas, minimizando así el riesgo de comprometer la seguridadpor ejemplo: Menor Privilegio: Este principio implica que los usuarios solo deben tener los privilegios mínimos necesarios para desempe?ar sus funciones. Este enfoque limita la exposición a riesgos potenciales. Evaluación de Roles: Determinar y definir claramente los roles y responsabilidades de cada usuario. Asignar permisos basados en estos roles. Políticas Basadas en Roles: Crear políticas de acceso que se basen en los roles.

Once the client's need is validated and identity is verified, it is important to set clear boundaries on the access permissions. Define the scope of access, including which systems, applications, and data the client can access. Specify the duration of access, ensuring it is limited to the time necessary to complete the required tasks. Implement the principle of least privilege, granting only the minimum level of access required. This approach minimizes the potential impact of any security breaches and ensures that access is tightly controlled.

Lo mejor es siempre aplicar el principio de menor privilegio, para esto es importante conocer el sistema y entender el objetivo de la solicitud de acceso.

Approach: Implement access controls to minimize security risks. Action Steps: Grant only the minimum necessary permissions for the client to accomplish their task. Set time limits for the access, ensuring it is temporary and subject to review.

El acceso debe ser concedido con una ventana de tiempo acordada, esto nos permitirá ubicar en una linea de tiempo el log de las acciones del usuario al que concedemos el acceso.

Approach: Continuously monitor the client's activities to detect any suspicious behavior. Action Steps: Use security information and event management (SIEM) tools to track access logs and activities. Set up alerts for any unusual or unauthorized actions.

Use ferramentas de gerenciamento de eventos e informa??es de seguran?a (SIEM) para rastrear logs de acesso e atividades. Configure alertas para a??es incomuns ou n?o autorizadas.

After access is granted, it is critical to continuously monitor the client's activities to detect any unusual or unauthorized actions. Implement real-time monitoring tools that can track access patterns and generate alerts for suspicious behavior. Regularly review access logs and audit trails to ensure compliance with security policies. Automated monitoring systems can provide immediate notifications of potential security incidents, enabling a swift response. This proactive approach helps in mitigating risks and ensures that any misuse of access permissions is promptly addressed.

Wazuh is an open source siem. You can easily follow the actions executed on your network, firewall, servers, workstations, ...

Approach: Regularly review and adjust access permissions based on current needs and security policies. Action Steps: Conduct periodic audits of access permissions to ensure compliance with security protocols. Revoke access immediately after the client’s task is completed or if any suspicious activity is detected.

Aproxima??o: Revise e ajuste regularmente as permiss?es de acesso com base nas necessidades atuais e nas políticas de seguran?a. Etapas de a??o: Avalia??o de Permiss?es: - Verificar quais usuários têm acesso a quais recursos e se essas permiss?es ainda s?o necessária e apropriadas - Atualiza??o de Acesso: Modificar, adicionar ou revogar acesso com base nas necessidades atuais, mudan?as de fun??o dos usuários ou altera??es na politica de seguran?a. Conformidade: Assegurar que as permiss?es de acesso estejam em conformidade com as políticas internas da empresa e com regulamenta??es externas. Seguran?a: - Identificar e mitigar riscos de seguran?a, como acessos desnecessários ou excessivos que podem ser explorados por invasores.

Regularly reviewing access permissions is a key aspect of maintaining a secure environment. Conduct periodic reviews to reassess the necessity of the granted permissions. Revoke access that is no longer required or that exceeds the client's current needs. Implement a formal review process that involves multiple stakeholders, including IT security, management, and the client. This process ensures that access permissions are continually aligned with the client's role and responsibilities, and helps in identifying and addressing any potential security gaps.

Additional Tips: Documentation: Keep detailed records of the access request, verification process, and actions taken. Communication: Clearly communicate the security policies and rationale behind access controls to the client. Training: Ensure your team is trained to handle urgent access requests securely and efficiently. Escalation: Have a clear escalation process in place for resolving conflicts or higher-risk scenarios. Policy Review: Regularly review and update your access control policies to adapt to new security challenges and organizational changes.

Exemplo Prático*: - Dê um exemplo específico e detalhado de uma revis?o de acesso: - *Cenário do Exemplo*: "Por exemplo, na equipe de desenvolvimento, descobrimos que todos os desenvolvedores tinham acesso direto ao banco de dados de produ??o." - *A??o Tomada*: "Revisamos os acessos e restringimos esse privilégio apenas a administradores de banco de dados, implementando um processo de solicita??o para acesso temporário quando necessário." - *Resultado*: "Essa mudan?a reduziu significativamente os riscos de altera??es acidentais e melhorou a seguran?a do sistema." 5. *Resultados e Benefícios*: - Destaque os resultados e benefícios

Policy Reinforcement: Review and update access control policies if needed to prevent similar urgent requests from bypassing standard security procedures in the future. Least Privilege Principle: Ensure that temporary access is always granted based on the principle of least privilege, minimizing the level of access to only what is necessary for the task.

Assure User that you will give your a mediate attention and revert back shortly after documenting in detail what is needed, Then follow Policy process and communicate with need departments and action accordingly based company policy and procedures.