Role Based Access Control: A Practical Guide

An unprecedented hack that compromised more than 16 billion login credentials highlights the urgent need for industry leaders to adopt a role-based access control cybersecurity posture. Likely orchestrated by hackers loosely known as “Infostealers,” the massive data theft puts security professionals on notice.

“This is not just a leak – it’s a blueprint for mass exploitation. With over 16 billion login records exposed, cybercriminals now have unprecedented access to personal credentials that can be used for account takeover, identity theft and highly targeted phishing. What’s especially concerning is the structure and recency of these datasets – these aren’t just old breaches being recycled. This is fresh, weaponizable intelligence at scale,” Cybernews researchers stated.

The incident also captured the attention of the mainstream media, trending on traditional outlets such as CBS News, Forbes and the Associated Press. When these media sources start running hacking news, it’s serious. If there’s any positive to be salvaged from this unfortunate event that could impact billions, it’s that companies can answer the wake-up call by fortifying their cybersecurity defenses. One of the top deterrents to login abuse involves identity management through role-based access control (RBAC).

What is RBAC?

By restricting user entry into areas of a network that store sensitive and valuable information, access control models limit potential damage, exposure and theft. Each legitimate user works within the parameters of their login profile. The staff member, team leader or third party can only view and leverage digital assets required to perform tasks associated with their responsibilities. Should someone need additional data or an application, the user simply sends a quick request that an administrator can approve or deny.

Businesses can also adopt access control software that provides highly refined identity management opportunities. For example, a particular staff member may need to review sensitive documents from time to time. The information in these reports may be classified or involve a vital private-sector trade secret. In this case, a role-based access control system could allow the user to view such data in read-only mode. This seemingly subtle adjustment prevents editing, modifications and downloads, thereby stymying the efforts of hackers to pilfer off critical material.

In terms of connecting this identity management system to the devastating 16 billion login credentials theft, hackers would face the same restrictions when misappropriating a username and password, if they get that far.

Core Elements of Access Control Models

Implementing a refined role-based access control system requires the support of highly skilled cybersecurity professionals. However, the basic tenets of this identity management structure are fairly straightforward. There are three core components included in access control models.

Users

These are the staff members, executives, entities and other stakeholders who business leaders deem suitable to log into the network and utilize data. They are typically issued usernames and passwords to access digital assets.

Roles

Each login profile is linked to a particular job or task. For organizational and efficiency purposes, a company may create groups or categories that reflect the roles of users. Roles may include classifications such as administrator, editor, production or vendor. Each grouping normally has access to many of the same digital assets. Depending on need and company security policy, the details of individual roles may differ.

Permissions

The assignment of permissions proves to be an essential part of the identity management cybersecurity defense. Company leaders normally work with department heads and a cybersecurity professional to define and implement limits on group and individual profiles. These access limits allow people and entities to carry out their primary responsibilities without interruption. The restrictions placed on access also hamstring hackers should they learn a staff member’s username and password and overcome other obstacles.

Types of RBAC Models

It’s important to keep in mind that one-size-fits-all cybersecurity models often fall short. The RBAC identity management system utilizes three basic options that can be refined to meet the demands of individuals. These are the three fundamental access control models worth considering.

Core RBAC Model

The core model puts the basic elements in place to establish a role-based access control posture. It has the bandwidth to function as a standalone option while also serving as a bedrock to build more intricate options. Like other RBAC models, it adheres to the following principles.

• Role Assignment
• Role Authorization
• Permission Authorization

Hierarchical RBAC

Much like the zero trust architecture touted by the federal government, RBAC models operate under the assumption that perimeter defenses have failed when burglars have entered the digital premises. As a fallback position, the Hierarchical RBAC model seeks to minimize any immediate damage, theft or malware infection while the threat actor is being expelled. Because this model segments access to sensitive and valuable data, it inherently reduces the available attack surface.

The hierarchical system utilizes tiered permission with lower profiles having access to non-essential or sensitive data. Higher-tiered profiles are allowed incremental admission, with the top of the inverted pyramid enjoying wide-reaching permissions. This is an example of a hierarchical RBAC model.

• Guest Users are Given Only Limited Permissions
• Regular Users Receive Modestly Expanded Permissions
• Power Profiles Earn More Permissions than Guests and Regular Users.
• Administrators Enjoy the Widest Range of Permissions and Digital Access.

You may have gleaned from this inverted pyramid approach that the model practices the least privilege philosophy. The people who log in to your network can only reach items necessary to complete tasks or conduct company oversight.

Constrained RBAC

The Constrained RBAC standard adopts the principles of the Core and Hierarchical models. It adds the ability to separate relationships between user duties. When implementing a Constrained RBAC model, separations generally fall into the following.

Static Separation of Duty

This option does not give an individual exclusive roles. That means someone cannot serve as their own supervisor by making a company decision and also approving it. Purchaser profiles are good examples of static separation of duty. It’s unlikely a leadership team would empower a buyer to broker and approve their own deal.

Dynamic Separation of Duty

The dynamic separation of duty model allows users to assume seemingly conflicting roles. They are given dynamic separation that cannot take conflicting actions during one session. As a cybersecurity measure, eliminating single-session actions restrains insider threats as well as hackers who have breached the network.

Benefits of RBAC for Data Security and Regulatory Compliance

The ability to restrict access to valuable, sensitive and personal identifiable information ranks among the primary tenets of wide-reaching data security measures. The role based access control solution operates under a well-defined least privilege doctrine, placing company-wide restrictions. This approach to data protection minimizes threats from insiders and hacking gangs such as Infostealers.

Even if such miscreants got their grubby digital hands-on usernames and passwords that weren’t properly protected by a staff member, they would only be able to access information approved for that profile. Attempts to exceed segmentation restrictions would trigger alerts.

In other words, a malicious attack leveraging a single account does not give cybercriminals the ability to pilfer off trade secrets, Social Security numbers, banking information and personnel files, among others. These are ways access control models help meet or exceed compliance.

• Data Privacy Regulations: The identity management system helps businesses comply with the U.S. Department of Defense’s Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC), the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), among others.
• Industry Regulations: Sectors such as finance have specific regulations, including the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), which is designed to protect people who make purchases that call for providing personal identity and financial information. Implementing RBAC security infrastructure helps adhere to these and other industry-specific standards.
• Streamline Audit Accountability: Role based access control models deliver a clear and concise information trail that promotes transparency. Because company data and actions are far easier to track and analyze, the models simplify the workload of internal and external auditors. Nothing says accountability like demonstrating open, honest access to records of actions taken by companies.

In terms of organizational benefits, role-based access controls minimize the risk of hackers delivering malware, ransomware, spyware and brute force attacks. Those responsible for protecting digital assets and other company leaders will sleep easier knowing that determined measures are in place to guard the operation.

Step-by-Step RBAC Implementation

Integrating an RBAC identity management system alleviates the need to assign permissions on a case-by-case basis. To garner this time-efficiency benefit, thought leaders must partner with a third-party data security firm to recommend the right access control software and work closely with decision-makers to craft roles and assign permissions. These are the steps required to establish robust RBAC entry-point security.

Review Current Assets and Methods

Conduct a full review of the corporation’s digital resources. These include sensitive files, databases, applications, financial records and others valuable to the operation. Once your list has been compiled, evaluate the process involved in utilizing each digital asset. Then, look at who needs ongoing access.

Articulate Roles and Outline Permissive Needs

Make decisions about which class of users requires prompt, ongoing access to certain files. Create other groups that may need occasional access and those that warrant exclusion. Map out which groups are best served by having their roles crafted to obtain the items they utilize to complete tasks. A second group can be given as-needed permission that involves filing a request.

Install RBAC Access Software & Establish Roles

RBAC access software products tend to be user-friendly. Setting up login profile groups and permissions usually calls for remotely managed IT and cybersecurity expertise. Once installed, the application can be leveraged to define workgroups, assign roles and permissions and provide ubiquitous administrative oversight.

Regular Assessments

The importance of ongoing reviews and identity management adjustments cannot be understated. Like other safeguards, legitimate users will enter and exit the organization. The login credentials of outgoing users need to be retired. New hires will need to be outfitted with a suitable role and set of permissions. While all this movement transpires, changes in company duties and responsibilities may call for expanded authorizations. Periodic RBAC reviews support efficiency, accuracy, security and productivity.

Create a Governance Body

Establish a working group that makes decisions regarding groups, roles, permissions and forward-thinking RBAC policies. Consider crafting a document that articulates the procedures, best practices and underlying thinking behind the program. An objective and transparent approach speaks volumes to company values.

Pitfalls of Role Based Access Control

Business leaders sometimes have a visceral response when discussing role-based access control and identity management systems. That’s largely because they entail least privilege access, which translates into restricting team members. Add talks about accompanying “zero trust” architecture, and RBAC sounds like code for mistrust. This pitfall leads to some decision-makers moving forward with inferior cybersecurity measures. These are other landmines associated with RBAC.

Role Explosion

The term “role explosion” refers to operations that continue to tweak and refine individual network profiles. While well intentioned, this slippery slope blurs the initial categories or groupings that helped make the identity management system efficient. It’s prudent to avoid adding endless permissions because they give threat actors a wider berth.

Rigidity

Role based access control gained a reputation for inflexibility. Being rigid is a status that grew out of frustration from fast-growing organizations that wanted to continually add roles and permissions. Discovering they were stuck with their initial installation settings due to an unresponsive managed IT and cybersecurity provider, the blame seems to have fallen on the access control software. The solution is to work with a firm that meets the needs of its clients.

Contact Red River for Role Based Access Control Solutions

The RBAC system gives organizations a way to streamline least privilege cybersecurity methods and shore up point-of-entry defenses. The identity management approach simplifies the process of assigning roles and providing permissions to retrieve digital assets when needed.

At Red River, we understand the importance of protecting digital assets by implementing access management controls. We collaborate with companies to provide effective, scalable managed IT and cybersecurity consulting. Contact us today by calling or filling out our online form. Let’s get the process started!