As cybersecurity threats like malware and ransomware continue to evolve, safeguarding your company’s data remains critical. To keep unwanted attackers from accessing your network, ensure that your company’s identity-based security strategy is effective and up-to-date. To optimize your company’s identity-based protection, consider the following tips for success:
Authenticate All Users
IT system administrators should ensure that all users and/or bots are correctly authenticated for all applications and systems. The most common ways to validate users include username/password, certificate, multi-factor, biometric, and/or token authentication. While some organizations opt for Microsoft Active Directory (AD) and/or Azure Active Directory (AAD) to certify users, others unify logins across applications and systems to aggregate the authentication process. Ensure that your IT strategy incorporates correct, updated authentication for all users, programs, and networks.
Authorize Permissions Appropriately
Authorization involves setting appropriate parameters around user permissions after the user has been authenticated. These permissions are typically related to files, applications, and sharing abilities. Further, they are typically determined by a user’s location, circumstances, and role within the organization. This step requires a meticulous, detail-oriented IT approach, as errors in this step can create holes in a company’s security perimeter. If a user gains access to unauthorized material or if system administrators forget to terminate the access of an employee who has been released, attackers may be able to exploit these loopholes and gain access to your company’s network and confidential information.
Assign Administrators Accordingly
Having highly-trained, attentive administrators is important for executing identity-based security effectively. Equip your system administrators with appropriate protocols that lay out managerial tasks: assigning access, executing requests, and removing access. These tasks include role management, which means administrators must fully understand which employees require which permissions within the necessary applications and systems.
Audit Often
Auditing is often considered the most important step when administering identity-based security measures. Managers should regularly examine existing protocols and evaluate how system administrators and users are engaging with the processes. Optimal performance by both administrators and users ensures that your company’s data and sensitive information is secure. Auditors can also check that any compliance regulations are being followed and organizational best practices are being honored within the IT framework.
Streamline IT Support
To support your IT professionals responsible for authentication and authorization, ensure that they aren’t overly task-saturated. Frequently loopholes emerge when system administrators have too many tasks, and are rendered unable to adequately administer and maintain rigorous identity-based security protocols. Many small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) may not have more than one employee who handles IT – if this is true for your organization, then you may want to consider working with an experienced IT Managed Services Provider like Qnectus who can better assist with your company’s security needs.