What is the concept of least privilege in security?

• A. Giving all users administrative access
• B. Granting users only the access necessary to perform their tasks
• C. Allowing unrestricted access to resources
• D. Limiting access to only a few trusted individuals

Answer: (B)

The concept of least privilege is centered on the principle that users should be granted only the minimum level of access necessary to perform their job functions. This approach enhances security by reducing the potential attack surface; if a user's account is compromised, the attacker would have limited access, thereby minimizing the potential damage. By ensuring that users do not have unnecessary permissions, organizations can prevent accidental or intentional misuse of sensitive data and system resources.

In a practical sense, implementing least privilege means carefully assessing the permissions required for each role within an organization and ensuring that users are assigned specifically tailored access rights. This may involve regularly reviewing access permissions, revoking rights that are no longer necessary, and employing security measures such as user activity monitoring.

While some of the other choices discuss access rights, they promote a more permissive approach which can lead to security vulnerabilities and excessive risk exposure. These alternatives do not align with the foundational security principle of least privilege, making them unsuitable.