Just-in-Time Access

Just-in-Time (JIT) access is a fundamental security practice where the privilege granted to access applications or systems is limited to predetermined periods of time, on an as-needed basis. This helps to minimize the risk of standing privileges that attackers or malicious insiders can readily exploit. Cybersecurity industry analysts recommend JIT access as a way of provisioning secure privileged access by minimizing standing access .JIT access to limit access to a specific resource for a specific timeframe. This granular approach mitigates the risk of privileged account abuse by significantly reducing the amount of time a cyber attacker or malicious insider has to gain access to privileged accounts before moving laterally through a system and gaining unauthorized access to sensitive data.

When your IT and business users are allowed standing (unlimited) access to privileged accounts, you introduce significant risks of compromise by cybercriminals or even accidental exposure. With standing access, you effectively give users an open window to critical data and resources. Should they give a password to another user or have their own password compromised, they will likely provide total control over a privileged account that would probably remain undetected by conventional cybersecurity safeguards.

How does Just-in-Time Access work?

For JIT access to work, the company defines the parameters of privileged access to reduce the attack surface. These are:

Location: Where users make use of privileges

Actions: What users do with their privileges

Time: When these privileges can be used

Just-in-time access gives you monitoring control to see who or what has access to which resource, what tasks they performed, and for how long.

So, after your company sets up a just-in-time access solution, how does it work?

Let’s say Ram, who is an end-user, needs privileged access to perform certain operational tasks. Here’s what the typical JIT workflow looks like:

• Ram requests privileged access to what he needs, which can be a network, server, or resource.
• The request goes through an approval process. This is best automated to reduce friction and simplify workflows. However, requests can be manually approved by the admin who has the right to accept or revoke the request for privileged access.
• Once approved, Ram is given the level of privilege he needs to perform the required task. This access only lasts as long as he needs to complete the task.
• After Ram has completed his task and logs out, his privileges expire or the account is disabled until he needs it again.

This JIT-enabled workflow reduces the attack surface since his privileges expire once his task is complete.

In a just-in-time access implementation, attackers can’t steal passwords since there are no standing privileged accounts. Even in cases where malicious users manage to compromise passwords to systems, JIT access mitigates the risk from this due to either the privilege or account being disabled.

What are the benefits of Just-In-Time Access??

There are several advantages of using a just-in-time privileged access solution to manage organizational processes and security.

1. Improves Cybersecurity Posture

2. Simplifies Access Workflow

3. Evaluate Tasks and Privilege Control

4. Enhances Compliance and Auditing

5. Defines Third-Party Access

6. Provides Credential Protection

7. Allows Automated System Tasks

8. Eases Management of Privileged Accounts

Reference Link:

https://www.cyberark.com/what-is/just-in-time-access/

https://delinea.com/what-is/just-in-time-access

https://saviynt.com/glossary/just-in-time-access/

https://www.strongdm.com/blog/just-in-time-access#:~:text=Reduces%20the%20Attack%20Surface,you%20reduce%20the%20attack%20surface.