The database fell silent. What used to be a stream of automated queries had stopped, blocked by a new rule: service accounts would now operate under least privilege.
Least privilege service accounts are the simplest, most effective defense against unnecessary access. They run with only the permissions they need, and nothing more. This principle cuts the blast radius of any breach, stops lateral movement, and limits damage from both human error and malicious code.
A service account is not a person, but it acts on behalf of code, scripts, or systems. Without restrictions, that account can read, write, and delete across your infrastructure. Over time, these accounts often accumulate permissions they no longer need. Each excess permission is a door left open. Attackers know this. Auditors see it as a risk.
Implementing least privilege for service accounts means auditing every permission. Start by inventorying all service accounts in your environment. For each one, identify what resources they access and which actions they perform. Remove all permissions not tied to a current, documented need. Where possible, scope access to specific datasets, endpoints, or functions.