IAC-51: Compliance As Code (CAC) Least Privileges
Mechanisms exist to restrict Control Assurance Automation (CAA) automated identities to: (1) Provide read-only, least-privilege access; and (2) Prohibit write and/or administrative permissions.
Control Question: Does the organization restrict Control Assurance Automation (CAA) automated identities to: (1) Provide read-only, least-privilege access; and (2) Prohibit write and/or administrative permissions?
Capability Maturity Model
Level 0 — Not Performed
Practices are non-existent, based on the inability to demonstrate an implemented and operational capability. A reasonable person would conclude the control is not being performed.
Level 1 — Performed Informally
Identification & Authentication (IAC) domain capabilities are ad hoc and inconsistent. Capability criteria associated with this control may include: ▪ Policies, standards & procedures associated with IAC domain capabilities provide limited coverage due to the depth and breadth of the existing documentation. ▪ Identity & Access Management (IAM)-related activities are decentralized (e.g., a localized/regionalized function) and uses non-standardized methods to implement secure, resilient and compliant practices. ▪ IAM controls are primarily administrative in nature (e.g., policies & standards) to manage accounts and permissions. ▪ IT and/or cybersecurity personnel identify and implement IAM cybersecurity and data protection controls that are appropriate to address applicable statutory, regulatory and contractual requirements.
Level 2 — Planned & Tracked
Identification & Authentication (IAC) capabilities are requirements-driven, but are not standardized across the entity (e.g., local/regional level consistency). Capability criteria associated with this control reasonably expect the following criteria to exist: ▪ Policies and standards associated with IAC domain capabilities are formally documented and centrally-managed by the entity. ▪ Standardized Operating Procedures (SOP) associated with IAC domain capabilities are documented and maintained by process owners. ▪ IT and/or cybersecurity personnel work with business stakeholders and process owners to appropriately scope and reasonably implement cybersecurity and data protection controls associated with IAC domain capabilities to address applicable statutory, regulatory and/or contractual requirements for Technology Assets, Applications, Services and/or Data (TAASD). ▪ Identity & Access Management (IAM)-related controls are primarily administrative and preventative in nature (e.g., policies, standards and procedures & guidelines) to enforce Logical Access Control (LAC). ▪ IAM may be a defined function (e.g., team or department) or assigned as an additional duty to existing IT and/or cybersecurity personnel to implement Role Based Access Control (RBAC) practices for the management of user, group and system accounts, including privileged accounts. ▪ A directory services technology is used to centrally manage identities and permissions with RBAC. Due to technical or business limitations, asset/process owners are empowered to operate a decentralized access control program for their specific Technology Assets, Applications and/or Services (TAAS) that cannot be integrated into directory services.
Level 3 — Well Defined
Identification & Authentication (IAC) capabilities are standardized across the entity for applicability to People, Processes, Technologies, Data and/or Facilities (PPTDF) to ensure consistency for Technology Assets, Applications, Services and/or Data (TAASD). Capability criteria associated with this control reasonably expect the following criteria to exist: ▪ Policies and standards associated with IAC domain capabilities are formally documented and centrally-managed by the entity's Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) team, or similar function. ▪ Standardized Operating Procedures (SOP) associated with IAC domain capabilities are well-documented and kept current by process owners. ▪ An Identity & Access Management (IAM) team, or similar function, is appropriately staffed and supported to implement and maintain IAC domain capabilities. ▪ Technology is leveraged to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of IAM operations (e.g., directory services, Authenticate, Authorize and Audit (AAA) solution). ▪ The entity's Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) team, or similar function, works with business stakeholders and process owners to appropriately scope and reasonably implement cybersecurity and data protection controls associated with IAC domain capabilities to address Minimum Compliance Requirements (MCR) (e.g., applicable statutory, regulatory and/or contractual requirements) and Discretionary Security Requirements (DSR) (e.g., entity-required controls).
Level 4 — Quantitatively Controlled
Utilize SCR-CMM Level 3 criteria definitions: ▪ There are no defined Level 4 criteria, since it is reasonable to assume a quantitatively-controlled process is not necessary to operationalize this control. ▪ While it may be possible to develop “metrics-driven” capabilities for this control, the criteria would be organization-specific to define.
Level 5 — Continuously Improving
Utilize SCR-CMM Level 3 or Level 4 (if available) criteria definitions: ▪ There are no defined Level 5 criteria, since it is reasonable to assume a continuously-improving process is not necessary to operationalize this control. ▪ Level 5 capabilities should be considered “world-class” where the control builds on Level 4 capabilities, but are continuously improving through Artificial Intelligence (AI) and/or Machine Learning (ML) technologies. ▪ While it may be possible to develop responsive capabilities for this control through the use of AI and/or ML technologies, the criteria would be organization-specific to define.
Assessment Objectives
- IAC-51_A01 Control Assurance Automation (CAA) automated identities are granted read-only permissions limited to the resources required for control validation.
- IAC-51_A02 Control Assurance Automation (CAA) automated identities are prohibited from holding write and/or administrative permissions on the Technology Assets, Applications and/or Services (TAAS) they assess.
- IAC-51_A03 requests for permissions beyond read-only access for a Control Assurance Automation (CAA) automated identity are denied or, where an exception is granted, are documented, risk-assessed and approved.
- IAC-51_A04 permissions assigned to Control Assurance Automation (CAA) automated identities are reviewed at a defined frequency to confirm they remain read-only and least privilege.
Evidence Requirements
- E-IAC-15 Control Assurance Automation (CAA) Identity & Credential Management
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Documented evidence of the inventory, ownership, least-privilege (read-only) scope and credential lifecycle management for Control Assurance Automation (CAA) automated identities (service accounts, API keys, OAuth grants).
Identity & Access Management
Technology Recommendations
Micro/Small
- Read-only roles or API scopes for any compliance integrations
- No administrator credentials used in scripts
Small
- Dedicated read-only service accounts for compliance tooling
- Cloud read-only/audit roles (e.g., AWS SecurityAudit, Entra Global Reader)
Medium
- Least-privilege roles for CAA identities
- Annual permission review
- Cloud IAM access analysis (e.g., AWS IAM Access Analyzer, Entra Permissions Management)
Large
- Identity Governance & Administration (IGA) enforcing read-only roles for CAA
- Cloud Infrastructure Entitlement Management (CIEM)
- Automated detection of privilege escalation on service accounts
Enterprise
- Enterprise CIEM / IGA with least-privilege enforcement for non-human identities
- Policy-as-code preventing write/admin grants to CAA identities
- Continuous entitlement monitoring