7 Game Changing Habits to Adopt for Improved Access Control

The reason most organizations struggle to maintain effective access control is because they lack the necessary habits and practices to ensure security. This happens because many companies underestimate the importance of access control or fail to implement effective strategies. In this blog post, we are going to walk you through seven game changing habits that you can adopt to improve access control in your organization.

Habit 1: Regularly Review Access Privileges

• Regularly reviewing access privileges is essential for maintaining data security.
• By reviewing access privileges, you can prevent unauthorized access and reduce the risk of data breaches.
• According to the 2020 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report, 30% of all data breaches involved insider threats.
• Improved access control ensures that only authorized individuals have appropriate access to sensitive data.
• Neglecting to review access privileges can result in outdated permissions and potential security vulnerabilities.
• Tip: Set up a regular review process, removing access for employees who have changed roles or left the organization.
• Example: Joe, an IT manager, reviews access privileges quarterly, ensuring that only relevant employees have access to confidential client information.
• Takeaway: Regularly reviewing access privileges is crucial for maintaining a secure environment.

Habit 2: Enforce Strong Password Policies

• Enforcing strong password policies is key to preventing unauthorized access.
• Weak passwords are easy targets for hackers, posing a significant security risk.
• According to a survey by Verizon, 81% of data breaches involve weak, stolen, or reused passwords.
• Strong password policies ensure that access credentials are difficult to crack, enhancing access control.
• Failing to enforce strong password policies exposes systems to password-related attacks, compromising security.
• Tip: Implement password complexity requirements, two-factor authentication, and regular password updates.
• Example: Mary, the HR manager, enforces a password policy that requires a combination of uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and special characters.
• Takeaway: Enforcing strong password policies is crucial for protecting sensitive data.

Habit 3: Implement Role-Based Access Control

• Implementing role-based access control enhances access control efficiency and effectiveness.
• Role-based access control ensures that users only have access to the resources necessary for their job responsibilities.
• IDC research found that 33% of surveyed organizations that suffered a data breach had inadequate or no role-based access controls.
• Role-based access control minimizes the attack surface, reducing the risk of unauthorized access.
• Failing to implement role-based access control can lead to users having unnecessary access privileges, increasing the potential for data breaches.
• Tip: Identify different roles within the organization and assign access privileges accordingly.
• Example: Sarah, an IT administrator, implements role-based access control, granting employees access privileges based on their respective job responsibilities.
• Takeaway: Implementing role-based access control improves access control efficiency and reduces security risks.

Habit 4: Regularly Update Software and Firmware

• Regularly updating software and firmware is essential for maintaining a secure access control system.
• Updates often include security patches and bug fixes, addressing vulnerabilities that can be exploited.
• According to the National Vulnerability Database, 60% of successful data breaches are a result of unpatched vulnerabilities.
• Regular updates ensure that the access control system remains resilient against evolving threats.
• Neglecting to update software and firmware leaves the system exposed to known vulnerabilities, increasing the risk of unauthorized access.
• Tip: Enable automatic updates whenever possible to ensure timely installations of security patches.
• Example: Mark, the system administrator, regularly checks for software and firmware updates, promptly installing them to maintain a secure access control system.
• Takeaway: Regularly updating software and firmware is vital to safeguarding the access control system.

Habit 5: Conduct Regular Security Awareness Training

• Regular security awareness training plays a crucial role in improving access control.
• Employees are often the weakest link in access control, unintentionally compromising security through social engineering or lack of awareness.
• The 2020 Data Breach Investigations Report revealed that 85% of successful data breaches involved human error.
• Proper training empowers employees to identify and respond appropriately to potential security threats, strengthening access control.
• Ignoring security awareness training leaves employees vulnerable to social engineering attacks and increases the chances of unauthorized access.
• Tip: Provide regular training sessions that cover various security topics, such as phishing awareness, password management, and data handling best practices.
• Example: Lisa, the security officer, conducts monthly security awareness training sessions where employees are educated on the latest threats and prevention techniques.
• Takeaway: Regular security awareness training helps employees become the first line of defense against unauthorized access.

Habit 6: Implement Multi-Factor Authentication

• Implementing multi-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security to access control systems.
• Single-factor authentication, such as passwords alone, is increasingly vulnerable to hacking techniques.
• A Microsoft study found that multi-factor authentication blocked 99.9% of automated attacks.
• Multi-factor authentication significantly raises the bar for unauthorized access attempts, enhancing access control.
• Reliance solely on passwords increases the risk of successful unauthorized access, especially in the face of brute-force attacks.
• Tip: Implement multi-factor authentication methods, such as SMS codes, biometric scans, or authentication apps, to strengthen access control.
• Example: David, the IT director, implements multi-factor authentication across all company systems, requiring employees to provide a code from an authentication app alongside their passwords.
• Takeaway: Implementing multi-factor authentication provides an additional layer of security, making unauthorized access significantly more challenging.

Habit 7: Regularly Monitor Access Logs and Audit Trails

• Regularly monitoring access logs and audit trails is crucial for detecting and mitigating access control issues.
• Monitoring access logs allows for the early detection of suspicious activities or unauthorized access attempts.
• IBM's Cost of a Data Breach Report revealed that companies that detected and contained a breach in less than 200 days saved an average of $1.2 million.
• Timely monitoring and auditing provide insights into potential security breaches and aid in maintaining access control effectiveness.
• Neglecting to monitor access logs and audit trails increases the risk of undetected unauthorized access, prolonging the exposure to potential threats.
• Tip: Utilize security information and event management (SIEM) tools to monitor access logs continuously and set up alerts for suspicious activities.
• Example: Alex, the security analyst, regularly reviews access logs, quickly identifying and investigating any anomalies to ensure the integrity of access control.
• Takeaway: Regularly monitoring access logs and audit trails is essential for maintaining a proactive approach to access control.

In conclusion, adopting these seven game changing habits will significantly improve access control in your organization. By regularly reviewing access privileges, enforcing strong password policies, implementing role-based access control, updating software and firmware, conducting security awareness training, implementing multi-factor authentication, and monitoring access logs and audit trails, you can take proactive measures to enhance security, reduce the risk of unauthorized access, and protect sensitive data. Embracing these habits will ultimately lead to a more secure environment and safeguard your organization's valuable information.