Every organization needs a solid plan for handling user accounts and permissions. The IAM-01 control from the Cloud Security Alliance provides guidance on establishing policies and procedures around identity and access management (IAM). By following IAM-01, you can ensure you have a consistent, secure approach to managing who has access to what in your environment.
Where did this come from?
This control comes from the CSA Cloud Controls Matrix v4.0.10 released on 2023-09-26. You can download the full matrix here: https://cloudsecurityalliance.org/artifacts/cloud-controls-matrix-v4
The Cloud Controls Matrix provides a comprehensive set of best practices for securing cloud deployments. IAM-01 falls under the Identity & Access Management domain.
For more background, check out these resources:
- Overview of AWS IAM: https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IAM/latest/UserGuide/introduction.html
- Azure AD documentation: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/active-directory/
- Google Cloud IAM: https://cloud.google.com/iam/docs/overview
Who should care?
- Security architects designing IAM systems and controls
- Compliance officers ensuring adherence to security standards
- IT managers responsible for access control processes
- Auditors validating the effectiveness of IAM practices
- Developers building apps that leverage cloud provider IAM
What is the risk?
Poor IAM practices can lead to:
- Unauthorized access to sensitive data and systems
- Privilege escalation allowing users to gain unintended permissions
- Difficulty investigating security incidents due to lack of audit trails
- Regulatory non-compliance for standards like SOC2, HIPAA, PCI-DSS, etc.
Consistently applying IAM-01 greatly reduces the likelihood of these adverse events. Well-defined policies ensure access is granted appropriately and reviewed regularly.
What's the care factor?
For most organizations, IAM should be a top priority. Compromised user accounts are a common attack vector. Implementing the practices in IAM-01 is foundational to your overall security posture.
