Though cybersecurity measures are getting more advanced as the industry, and technology overall, evolve, cyber attacks are getting increasingly more effective and impactful as well. And, with high-profile breaches making headlines more often than we'd like, the pressure is on to put in place measures like Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) and Single Sign-On (SSO). There's only one problem: These measures are not foolproof, and, even if they were, they aren’t enough to keep your organization fully protected. Without effective Identity Governance and Administration (IGA), you're essentially putting good locks on your doors, but leaving your valuables lying around in plain sight. Let's dive into why this happens and how to close the gap.
The Benefits and Limitations of MFA and SSO
First off, let's take a moment to recognize the strengths of MFA and SSO. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) makes it harder for unauthorized people to log in by requiring extra verification, like a one-time code or a biometric scan. Single Sign-On (SSO), on the other hand, simplifies life for employees, giving them the convenience of logging in once to access multiple systems. Less password fatigue, fewer sticky notes with passwords on desks—win-win, right?
Well, sort of. Both MFA and SSO do a great job of keeping unauthorized users out. They’re fantastic at preventing your standard brute force attack or password spray. But once someone has access—whether it’s a legitimate employee whose credentials have been stolen, or an insider with nefarious motives—MFA and SSO don’t have much to say about what happens next. In other words, these tools don’t limit what an attacker can do once they’re inside the network. They’re excellent bouncers, but if someone gets through, they’re free to roam as they please.
Why Identity Governance and Administration (IGA) Is Crucial
This is where Identity Governance and Administration (IGA) comes in. IGA isn’t just about verifying who someone is; it’s about managing what they should be able to access, and for how long. Think of IGA as a digital steward. It ensures that your users—whether employees, contractors, or partners—have just enough access to get their job done, and not an inch more.
Without effective IGA, your MFA and SSO strategies can only do so much. An attacker who manages to compromise someone’s credentials gets all the privileges that come with that identity. But with IGA in place, you can better control and monitor that access, ensuring it’s always appropriate. When roles or responsibilities change, IGA tools help make sure that people aren’t accidentally left with access to sensitive areas they no longer need.
Least Privilege Access and RBAC: Limiting the Blast Radius
There’s an old saying in cybersecurity: assume breach. If we assume that sooner or later, an attacker will find a way in, the next best thing is to limit what they can do once they're there. This is where concepts like least privilege access and Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) come into play.
Least privilege access means giving users only the permissions they absolutely need—nothing more, nothing less. It’s a simple but powerful way to minimize risk. When you limit access, you limit the damage that an attacker can cause if they compromise an account. Imagine an intruder gets into a house but finds that all the rooms are locked, except for one small closet. That’s essentially what least privilege does: it keeps the blast radius small.
Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) takes this a step further by grouping users according to their job functions and assigning permissions accordingly. Instead of managing permissions for individual users (which gets unwieldy quickly in large organizations), you manage roles. If an attacker compromises a user in a specific role, their access is limited to only what that role permits. By containing privileges within clearly defined roles, RBAC makes it much harder for attackers to move laterally across your systems.
How Clarity Security Helps
If you’re thinking, “Okay, this all makes sense, but where do I even start?”—you’re not alone. Effective IGA requires ongoing attention, and that’s where solutions like Clarity Security come into play. Clarity Security helps automate and streamline the identity governance process, making sure that your identity management practices are aligned with business needs and security best practices.
10 Minute Access Reviews: Not only can you automate your user access reviews with Clarity, but you can use Clarity's robust number of review filters to review only the data that needs reviewing-- and not an ounce more. Bonus: The platform's native RBAC enables your team to automate things like birthright access, so you're no longer relying on your team to determine access on a case-by-case basis.
Real-Time Visibility: With Clarity, you get real-time visibility into who has access to what, and whether it’s appropriate. And, because of the company's focus on complex and hybrid environments, this system transparency even extends to access granted through nested groups and federated access. This insight is crucial for identifying risky access before it becomes a problem.
Easy Policy Enforcement: Clarity automatically detected access of least privilege for quick review and implementation. Additionally, with SoD reviews, teams can assess and manage access to find and prevent Separation of Duties conflicts.
Risk Detection: Using machine learning, Clarity can identify unusual access patterns and flag potential threats. This means you can take action before a compromised identity becomes a full-blown incident.
Conclusion: MFA and SSO Are Just the Start
MFA and SSO are important tools in your cybersecurity toolkit, but they’re not the whole story. To truly protect your organization from identity-related threats, you need a comprehensive approach that includes strong identity governance. By embracing IGA, least privilege access, RBAC, and solutions like Clarity Security, you can dramatically reduce the impact of any breach and ensure that your cybersecurity defenses are more than just a sturdy front door.
Ready to learn more about how Clarity Security can help you protect your organization from identity threats? Get in touch today and see how we can make identity management easier and more secure.
