4 steps to stronger access control management

If your Windows network contains sensitive data, then your organization needs stronger access control.

The demand for secure access poses a serious challenge to IT professionals. IT teams must balance network security with users' need for quick and easy access to systems and information, no matter where they work.

To do this, IT needs to apply strong access controls. It's the only way to restrict access to information and systems to authorized users. 

Why authorized users represent a great risk

However, the greatest risk to any organization comes from authorized users themselves.

Firstly an authorized user on the network might not be who they say they are. External attacks attempt to exploit enterprise identity systems to compromise the credentials of legitimate users and gain access.

Secondly an authorized user on the network might also be a disgruntled employee doing authorized things but for malicious purposes.

According to IBM's Cost of a Data Breach Report, the global average cost of a data breach is $4.45 million.

So how do we identify suspicious behavior from employees or malicious access from phished, stolen, or shared credentials and put a stop to it?

Control and respond to secure authorized user logins

On a Windows network, native Windows controls simply don’t cut it.  But with a layered defense strategy and the supporting technology of UserLock, you can guarantee that users are who they say they are, far beyond what native Windows features can offer.

With four simple steps, you can efficiently combat insider threats and the risk of compromised credentials without frustrating your end-users.

1. Define an access policy

Instead of simply allowing everyone to log onto whatever they want, create and enforce a customized access policy that establishes and enforces who can logon when, from where, for how long, how often and how frequent.

Logins are the first line of defense in securing network access and therefore must be restricted and controlled across all session types. Transparent to the end user, this type of contextual access protection ensures employees remain productive and are not continually interrupted with additional security steps, for example tokens or smart-cards.

2. Enforce automated controls

Set controls to automatically close or lock user sessions or shut down workstations that are out of compliance with company access policies. An attempt to use compromised credentials from outside the designated area and/or devices is out rightly stopped — before damage is done.

3. Get real-time insights

Monitor and respond to network access in real-time. Schedule instant alerts triggered by predetermined access events (e.g., access denied, specific user etc.). Patterns of unusual activity may point to employees who are likely to commit a cyber crime. The ability to interact instantly with a suspect session, to lock the console, log off the user, or even block them from further logons helps ensure security at the logon.

4. Use comprehensive reports

Centralize and archive all access events occurring on your Windows systems. This step will facilitate and ease the burden of performing accurate, detailed IT forensics in the event of a security breach.