According to a study by Gartner, 85% of organizations are expected to embrace the cloud-first principle by 2025. The cloud first approach also introduces unique challenges for implementing an effective Zero Trust model, as resources are often distributed across multiple providers and environments. Ephemeral just-in-time (JIT) access is one approach that can help organizations achieve Zero Trust in the Cloud.
What is Ephemeral JIT (just-in-time) access?
Ephemeral JIT access refers to the practice of granting users temporary access to resources only when they need it to perform their jobs, and revoking that access when it is no longer necessary. This approach eliminates the need of standing privileges which is a common approach adopted by organizations leveraging traditional Privileged Access Managment solutions. The JIT access provides a granular level of access control, and limits the potential impact of a security breach.
Here are some steps that organizations can take to achieve Zero Trust in the Cloud with ephemeral JIT access:
Implement identity and access management:
Organizations should implement a strong identity and access management (IAM) framework to ensure that only authenticated and authorized users can access Cloud resources. IAM capabilities should include passwordless authentication where possible or at a minimum multifactor authentication along with strong password policies.
Use JIT access:
Organizations should adopt ephemeral JIT access which enforces temporary access of granting access to resources and data only when they need to perform activities in the Cloud. JIT access also removes the administrative overhead and complexity of managing user access. JIT enables organizations to remove standing privileges which also provides increased compliance by providing a granular level of control over user access.
Monitor and analyze access activity:
With JIT access, organizations benefit with an audit trail of privileges at the granular level including the ability to analyze past activity. Organizations should also adopt an organizational monitoring and analysis framework to detect and respond to potential security incidents. This framework should include log monitoring, threat detection, and incident response procedures.
Use micro-segmentation:
Micro-segmentation refers to the practice of dividing a network into smaller, isolated segments. By implementing micro-segmentation, organizations can limit the potential impact of a security breach, and reduce the risk of lateral movement within the network.
By implementing the steps above, organizations can move towards achieving Zero Trust in the Cloud with ephemeral JIT access. This approach provides a strong security posture that can help protect sensitive Cloud resources and data, while also enabling efficient and effective access management with zero standing privileges.
Connect with us to learn how you an achieve Zero Trust in the Cloud with ephemeral JIT access.
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