Application Access Governance

Application access governance are the processes and procedures a company implements to manage and monitor the access that employees, contractors, partners, and third-party service providers have to its applications.

The goal of an application access governance system is to ensure that only authorized individuals have access to specific applications and data. It grants these privileges based on the person’s job responsibilities, level of authority, risk factors, and other relevant criteria.

Implementing application user access management requires a collection of tools and technologies working together. This includes authentication and authorization protocols, data protection technology like encryption, identity and access management (IAM) platforms, and periodic access review.

Application access management is critical because it allows businesses greater control over their applications’ use.

Unrestricted application access can be a significant security risk for companies, increasing the chance that malicious users will access sensitive data or perform illegal actions. Without this safeguard, it becomes easy for hackers to install and execute malware in the system.

An application governance model can prevent this by limiting access to only pre-approved software and data. Such access can only be granted based on criteria like role or risk profile and can be easily revoked if suspicious activity is detected.

One of the key benefits of application access governance is enhanced application and data security. By controlling who has access to what app, businesses can reduce the risk of data breaches, cyberattacks, and other security threats.

These access governance solutions also improve efficiency, ensuring employees have the right level of access to the right applications and data for the right amount of time. And, by reducing the likelihood of data breaches, access governance solutions can help prevent data recovery fees, penalties, and lawsuits. Furthermore, limiting access means you can reduce software license fees and subscription costs (in the case of SaaS).

Another benefit is compliance. Many businesses are mandated by data regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). Access governance can help organizations comply with these by ensuring that sensitive data is restricted only to those authorized to access it.

But the best benefit of all is an improved reputation. Automated access governance solutions help prevent breaches that could damage consumer faith, leading to decreased revenue. Access governance also demonstrates to stakeholders that you take data security seriously.

There are a few common stumbling blocks to implementing an effective application security model.

The chief challenge is a lack of visibility. Organizations might not always have a clear line of sight into who has access to what applications and data.

Another is complexity, as access governance involves multiple technologies, policies, and procedures that must work seamlessly. Designing an effective access governance model for larger organizations can be especially tricky.

Finally, user management. Ensuring people can use the applications they need for their job while limiting unnecessary access is a complex balancing act.

The good news is that you can mitigate most of these challenges with the proper application access governance program.

Access governance starts with a clear policy outlining access control requirements for all applications and data. This policy should then be communicated to all employees and stakeholders.

Once a policy is in place, you can use role-based access control (RBAC) to implement it. This allows you to assign people specific roles, giving them access to relevant resources. The approach can simplify access management and reduce the risk of errors.

You should also automate access provisioning and deprovisioning to update access when the user is onboarded or when they leave. This reduces the risk of orphaned accounts that attackers can easily compromise.

Finally, you should provide training and education to your employees. Explain the importance of access governance and how they could comply with relevant policies and procedures.