Benefits:
Enhanced Security Posture: Strict control over remote privileged actions and data access significantly hardens systems against unauthorized activity. It helps prevent hackers who might compromise remote connections from wreaking havoc within your network.
Reduced Risk of Breaches and Data Loss: Limiting the number of users authorized for remote privileged activities minimizes the attack surface should a remote connection or user account be compromised.
Improved Compliance: Aligning with NIST 800-171 3.1.15 is often a contractual mandate for organizations handling CUI, especially those within the Defense Industrial Base (DIB). Compliance demonstrates security commitment to clients and partners.
Streamlined Remote Operations (When Done Right): While this control might seem restrictive on the surface, a well-executed authorization process can ensure that legitimate remote IT administration and support can occur smoothly, while simultaneously bolstering security.
Accountability:
Senior Management: Policy Development: Senior management defines clear and comprehensive policies for remote access and privileged command execution. These policies specify who is authorized to perform these actions, the specific commands allowed, and conditions under which they can be used. Oversight: Senior management regularly reviews and enforces adherence to these policies, ensuring security practices are followed. They hold accountable those who violate the provisions.
IT Security Team: Implementation: The IT security team translates policies into technical, procedural, and administrative controls. They configure systems to limit remote access, log all privileged command uses, and implement multi-factor authentication. Monitoring: They proactively monitor for unauthorized remote execution or suspicious attempts, alerting senior management and escalating incidents as needed.
System Owners: Access Control: System owners define the authorized users and specific privileged commands allowed on their systems, aligning with the organization's policy. Collaboration: They work closely with the IT security team to enforce access controls and report potential security breaches.
Individual Users: Compliance: Every user is trained on and responsible for following the policy. This includes understanding allowable remote access and command usage restrictions. Reporting: Users are trained to immediately alert the IT security team regarding any suspected unauthorized remote access or command use, or unusual system behavior.
Implementation:
Robust Authorization Process: Develop an authorization procedure outlining the required steps, approval levels, and factors considered (purpose, duration, sensitivity of actions).
Privileged Access Management (PAM) Solutions: Leverage PAM tools to streamline authorization requests, workflow, logging, and session monitoring. These provide advanced controls for managing privileged accounts and actions.
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Enforce MFA for all remote access, especially those involving privileged activities. This adds a significant layer of protection if a user's password is compromised.
Network Segmentation: Isolate systems containing highly sensitive CUI to limit the potential impact should a remote connection be breached.
Remote Access Monitoring: Implement tools to monitor remote sessions in real-time, enabling you to spot and terminate suspicious activity.
User Training: Educate users, especially those with privileged access, about the dangers of remote threats, including phishing and social engineering attacks that might lead to compromised credentials.
