What is the security discipline that ensures a user is given no more privilege than necessary to perform their job?

The principle of least privilege is a foundational concept in cybersecurity that emphasizes limiting users' access rights to the minimum level necessary to perform their job functions. This approach is crucial for reducing the risk of accidental or deliberate misuse of sensitive data and systems. By ensuring that users only have access to the resources essential for their tasks, organizations can mitigate potential security threats, such as data breaches or unauthorized access to critical systems.

The principle of least privilege fosters a more secure environment by minimizing the attack surface. If a user’s account is compromised, the potential damage is contained, as the attacker can only access the limited set of permissions assigned to that user. This practice also helps in maintaining compliance with regulations that govern data protection and privacy.

While the need-to-know principle relates to providing access based on necessity, it often works in conjunction with the principle of least privilege. Role-based access control organizes permissions based on user roles but is inherently guided by the principle of least privilege. Lastly, while segregation of duties is another important control mechanism to prevent fraud and error by dividing responsibilities among different individuals, it does not directly address the issue of minimizing privilege for individual user accounts. Thus, while all of these concepts are important in the context of security, the principle of least privilege specifically