Least Privilege
Least Privilege is a security principle that dictates users, processes, or systems should only have the minimum level of access or permissions necessary to perform their legitimate functions. It aims to reduce the attack surface and limit potential damage from security breaches by restricting unnecessary privileges. This concept is fundamental in cybersecurity, software development, and system administration to enhance overall security posture.
Developers should apply Least Privilege when designing and implementing systems to prevent unauthorized access, data breaches, and privilege escalation attacks, such as in cloud environments, microservices architectures, or database management. It is crucial for compliance with regulations like GDPR or HIPAA, and for securing applications by minimizing the impact of compromised accounts or code vulnerabilities.