How idax helps you reduce risk with better staff engagement
Why Entitlement Reviews Matter
Entitlement reviews should be at the core of cybersecurity, limiting insider access to sensitive systems and data
Yet, many entitlement reviews are failing, with managers overwhelmed, auditors frustrated, and organisations still vulnerable to insider threats. With over 80% of ransomware attacks stemming from insiders’ accidental, negligent, or malicious actions, current user access review methods aren’t offering the needed protection.
Why are these user access reviews failing? First, they inundate managers with countless access permissions to review without prioritisation, forcing rushed, superficial approvals. Second, managers lack essential information about the security risks each access poses, making it impossible to distinguish safe permissions from risky ones. Finally, user access reviews are viewed as tedious compliance tasks rather than valuable cybersecurity measures, further disengaging managers.
Three changes can improve entitlement reviews:
- Use AI to Reduce the Workload: AI can triage low-risk entitlements, leaving only high-risk cases for managers to review. This targeted approach streamlines user access reviews and prioritises security.
- Provide Managers with Relevant Data: Effective user access reviews require context. Managers need visibility into each access’s purpose and associated risks, allowing them to make informed, security-focused decisions.
- Engage Managers as Cybersecurity Partners: Instead of viewing user access reviews as a compliance task, organisations should treat managers as key defenders, providing feedback on the security impact of their work.
For measurable progress, organisations should track these KPIs:
- Removal Rate: Target a 15-20% removal rate for outdated access.
- Approve-All Rate: Keep this below 50% to ensure managers aren’t simply approving all access.
- AI Rate: Aim for AI to handle at least half of entitlements.
- Re-Request Rate: Keep below 10%, indicating that unnecessary access isn’t being repeatedly granted.
One idax client illustrates these principles in action. Before implementing idax’s AI-driven approach, this organisation had a 4% removal rate, 75% approve-all rate, and zero automation. After a transformation with idax, their removal rate rose to 12%, approve-all dropped below 50%, AI reviewed 54% of user access rights, and ignored entitlements fell to just 1%.
For organisations serious about fighting insider threats, entitlement reviews must change. At idax, we help turn ineffective entitlement reviews into proactive cybersecurity tools. To find out more listen to our recent podcast.
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Entitlement Reviews FAQ
An entitlement review is a systematic assessment of user access rights, ensuring employees have only the necessary permissions for their roles, adhering to the principle of least privilege. It aims to mitigate security risks, protect sensitive data, and maintain appropriate access controls. This process helps prevent security incidents, ensures compliance, and addresses issues like privilege creep and excessive permissions, ultimately strengthening an organisation's overall security posture.
Identity analytics is a specialised field that uses advanced data processing, including AI and machine learning, to analyse user identities and access patterns within organisations. It aims to enhance security, ensure compliance, and streamline identity management by providing insights for access control decisions, detecting threats, automating risk detection, reducing attack surfaces, and improving provisioning processes. This data-driven approach replaces manual methods with more efficient, automated solutions.
User access reviews should be conducted at least annually, but many experts recommend more frequent reviews, such as quarterly or semi-annually. The optimal frequency depends on factors like industry regulations, organisational complexity, employee turnover, and data sensitivity. High-risk systems may require monthly or weekly reviews. Organisations should tailor their approach based on their specific risk profile and compliance needs.
Identity Governance and Administration (IGA) is a comprehensive approach to managing user identities and access privileges. It combines governance and administration functions to enhance security, streamline processes, and ensure compliance. IGA encompasses identity governance, administration, automation, compliance, risk mitigation, integration with existing systems, and lifecycle management. It extends beyond traditional IAM, offering advanced features to meet complex regulatory and audit requirements in dynamic business environments.
