Definition
The principle of least privilege, or PoLP, dictates that any user, program, or process should only have the minimum necessary permissions to perform its intended function. This security concept operates by granting only the essential access rights required for a task, preventing unauthorized actions or data breaches. Implementing least privilege is crucial for minimizing the attack surface and containing potential damage if an account or system is compromised. For instance, a database administrator account should not possess the same broad system access as a standard user account. This differs from role-based access control where roles might have broader permissions than strictly needed for a single task, though PoLP can be applied within RBAC. You will encounter least privilege concepts on CompTIA Security+, CySA+, and CISSP certifications.