The Center for Internet Security (CIS) Controls emphasize effective management of user privileges, and Control 6.8 is all about implementing Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) to ensure users only have the access they need.

This safeguard involves defining, documenting, and maintaining access rights based on specific roles within your organization.

Here’s how it works:

• Define Roles: Identify the roles within your organization (e.g., HR Manager, IT Administrator, Sales Associate) and the access each role requires to perform its duties effectively.
• Document Access Rights: Clearly outline what systems, data, or tools each role can access. This documentation acts as your blueprint for granting and auditing permissions.
• Regular Reviews: Access control isn’t “set it and forget it.” Perform reviews of all enterprise assets to ensure that privileges are still authorized. At a minimum, this should happen annually, but more frequent reviews may be necessary based on organizational changes.

Why is this important? Role-Based Access Control minimizes the risk of privilege creep (when users accumulate excessive access over time) and reduces the potential for insider threats. It ensures that employees have the access they need—no more, no less—to perform their duties securely.

To recap, CIS Control 6.8 ensures your organization defines and enforces RBAC policies, reviews them regularly, and validates that all access privileges are authorized. This safeguard is key to maintaining strong access control and protecting your enterprise data.