Endpoint Privilege Management: A Quick Guide

To maximize network security by leveraging ManageEngine Endpoint Central's Application Control, we have curated a list of expert-recommended application control policies.

1. Minimal application privileges to combat insider attacks

   While users across the enterprise require varied levels of application access privileges, unnecessary elevated privileges often pose a threat to data security within the organization, including insider attacks and targeted credential hacking.
   Enabling elevated privileges to the required users can be managed instantaneously by grouping applications that require elevated privileges. Based on the usage and the elevated access requirements, specific application groups can be mapped to the user groups. This approach - also known as the principle of least privilege - greatly reduces the chances of insider attacks in the enterprise.

2. Revoke local admin privileges from standard users or users who don't require them

   Admin credentials - the highest level of privileges within an enterprise, provide users with unrestricted access to critical data and systems. Granting admin credentials to users without proper precautions can put the enterprise's entire digital infrastructure at risk, in the event of an insider attack or through malicious threat actors.
   To keep such security risks at bay, it is recommended to limit access to admin credentials by creating a list of users who should retain their local admin privileges while removing privileges for all the other users.

3. Just-in-Time access - for unforeseen cases of elevated privilege requirements

   While elevated privileges should be kept in check, there might be certain incidents that require providing such access to standard or unrelated users.
   For instance, a sysadmin in the organization may need to perform a software installation or a system update that requires admin-level privileges on an end-user system. Since the end-user doesn't require admin-level privileges, this might turn out to be a roadblock.
   To tackle such instances, admins can deploy Just-in-Time access - a form of temporary elevated privilege management. With this functionality, elevated privilege access can be set for a specific window, and upon its completion, the elevated privileges would automatically be revoked.
   While this provides the optimal window and privileges for the required task completion, it also ensures that users aren't presented with permanent admin privileges, thereby reducing further chances of insider attacks.