Achieving Least Privilege in Multi-Cloud Environments

This whitepaper discusses the implementation of the Principle of Least Privilege in multi-cloud environments, focusing on Cloud Infrastructure Entitlement Management (CIEM). It outlines the challenges organizations face as they transition from on-premises to cloud-based systems, particularly regarding identity security. The document details how the increasing number of identities, both human and machine, complicates access management and increases security risks. It emphasizes the need for automation in managing access privileges to ensure that identities have only the necessary permissions to perform their functions. The whitepaper also identifies barriers to achieving a least privilege posture, such as lack of visibility across cloud platforms, contextual usage data, and the challenge of balancing security with productivity. Furthermore, it critiques traditional Identity Access Management (IAM) solutions, highlighting their limitations in monitoring and managing entitlements effectively. The paper concludes by presenting CIEM as a solution to enhance identity governance and reduce security risks in cloud environments.