Access Control Mistakes You Should Avoid

Trusting Third Parties

In today's world, digital security is becoming increasingly important. Access control is just one aspect of a company's data security system, and it's critical that you understand how to use it properly. In this article, we'll look at five common access control mistakes you should avoid.

One mistake you should always avoid when it comes to access control is trusting third-party companies with your sensitive data. Logins and passwords are typically required to access digital resources, and relying on outside companies for these can pose serious risks. It's best to limit third-party access to as few individuals as possible and have strong authentication measures in place.

Allowing Too Much Access

Another mistake to avoid is granting too much access to users. Providing access beyond what is necessary for a user to perform their job opens the door to potential security issues. Make sure to monitor user access levels regularly and adjust them as needed. A policy that requires approval from higher-level staff before granting permission to access different resources can help reduce the risk.

Emailing Credentials

You should never email or send credentials in plain text via any communication channel. Doing so can lead to the data being intercepted and used maliciously. Instead, you should use encryption to store and send your credentials. Additionally, ensure that all employees and contractors understand the importance of never sharing their logins and passwords.

Shared User Accounts

Using shared user accounts is another mistake to avoid. Not only does this make it difficult to track which individual accessed sensitive data, but it also increases the risk of unauthorised access if an account is compromised. Each employee should have their own unique login. This doesn't only identify activity but also makes it easier to revoke access when an employee leaves the organisation.

Disable User Accounts

Finally, make sure to disable user accounts when employees leave the company. This isn't only important for security reasons, but also for regulatory compliance. Disabling or deleting accounts immediately stops the possibility of unauthorised access after the employee has left the company.

In conclusion, access control is an important component of digital security, and making any of these mistakes can have serious consequences. Be sure to follow the steps outlined in this article to ensure that your system is properly secured.