Principle of Least Privilege
The Principle of Least Privilege (PoLP) is a fundamental security concept that dictates users, processes, or systems should only have the minimum level of access or permissions necessary to perform their intended functions. It aims to reduce the attack surface and limit potential damage from security breaches, errors, or malicious activities by restricting unnecessary privileges. This principle is widely applied in access control, system design, and software development to enhance security and compliance.
Developers should learn and apply this principle to build secure systems, especially in environments handling sensitive data or critical operations, such as financial services, healthcare, or cloud infrastructure. It helps prevent privilege escalation attacks, reduces the impact of compromised accounts, and aligns with security best practices like zero-trust architectures and regulatory requirements (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA). Implementing PoLP can also simplify auditing and maintenance by minimizing overly permissive access.