CSPM – Least privilege principle in practice

Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM) is a framework designed to automate the identification and remediation of risks within cloud infrastructures, emphasizing the enforcement of the least privilege principle to enhance security. This approach overlaps with Cloud Infrastructure Entitlement Management (CIEM), a newer category that addresses identity and privilege control gaps in public cloud deployments. Both CSPM and CIEM are now part of the broader Cloud Native Application Protection Platform (CNAPP), which provides comprehensive coverage from workload validation to policy auditing. The principle of least privilege involves granting only necessary permissions to users and systems, reducing vulnerabilities to unauthorized access. Tools like Falco, an open-source runtime security engine, enhance threat detection by analyzing cloud environment activity logs, aiding in the identification of suspicious events such as unauthorized access attempts. The blog also highlights the importance of multi-factor authentication (MFA) and audit logging in cloud environments for maintaining a secure posture. Moreover, it discusses the significance of identity and access management (IAM) solutions in securely authenticating and authorizing access while emphasizing the need for proactive security measures, including image and configuration scanning, to prevent misconfigurations from reaching production environments. The text concludes by asserting that CSPM focuses on the control plane, advocating for a shift-left security approach that integrates early-stage security measures to prevent potential breaches and improve overall cloud security posture.