16 analytics tests for user access controls
Amidst growing cyber risks, data security is a top priority for any organization — especially when it comes to sensitive details such as customer data, financial data and proprietary information.
One way to ensure your data remains secure is by implementing access controls analytics. This is a process that involves monitoring and analyzing who has access to what data, when they access it and for what purpose.
Types of Access Controls Analytics
Mature internal audit programs use data analytics to analyze vast amounts of data in a short amount of time and uncover valuable insights for the board.
The goal of access controls analytics in particular is to ensure that only authorized users have access to sensitive data and that their actions are monitored and recorded. This process can help prevent data breaches, data loss and unauthorized access to sensitive information.
Access controls analytics is essential for any organization that wants to keep its data safe. This helps prevent data breaches by monitoring user activity and identifying any suspicious behavior, and helps ensure compliance with data protection regulations such as GDPR and CCPA. Just as importantly, it protects sensitive data by limiting access to only authorized users.
Running analytics on these controls can be difficult, but the 16 most common tests we see are:
- Terminated Employee Access: Checks if terminated employees still have access to any systems or applications. If access is found, the organization can take measures to revoke the access and prevent any potential data breaches.
- MFA Token Inactive Employee: Checks if multi-factor authentication (MFA) tokens of inactive employees are still active. If they are active, the organization can take measures to deactivate them and prevent any potential security threats.
- Privileged User Listing: Checks the list of users who have privileged access to sensitive data or systems. The organization can review the list and ensure that only authorized users have access to these resources.
- User Access Appropriateness Review: Reviews user access to various systems and applications to ensure that they have access only to the resources they need to perform their job functions.
- Multiple Accounts: Checks if any users have multiple accounts. Multiple accounts can be used to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data or systems.
- Non-Expiring Accounts: Checks if any accounts lack an expiration date. Non-expiring accounts can be used to gain unauthorized access to systems or applications.
- Dormant Accounts: Checks if any accounts have not been used for a given period of time. Dormant accounts can be a potential security threat and should be deactivated or deleted.
- Off Hours Access / Activity: Checks for any user access or activity during off hours, weekends or holidays.
- Network Folder Access Review: Reviews user access to network folders to ensure that only authorized users have access to sensitive data.
- Inactive Login / Badge: Checks if any users have not logged in or used their badge for a given period of time. Inactive logins or badges can be a potential security threat and should be deactivated or deleted.
- Denied Access: Checks for any denied access attempts, which can be an indication of potential security threats or unauthorized access attempts.
- Off Hours / Weekend / Holiday Access: Checks for any user access during off hours, weekends or holidays. This can help identify potential security threats or unauthorized access.
- Multiple Replacement Badges / FOBs: Checks if any users have requested multiple replacement badges or FOBs.
- Badge Use on Paid Time Off: Checks for any badge usage during paid time off. This can help identify potential security threats or unauthorized access.
- Inactive Employee Badge Access: Checks if any inactive employees still have badge access to any systems or applications. If access is found, the organization can take measures to revoke the access and prevent potential data breaches.
- Irregular Access Pattern: Checks for any irregular access patterns or anomalies. This can help identify potential security threats or unauthorized access attempts.
Protect Your Most Sensitive Data with Analytics
Access controls analytics is an essential process for any organization that wants to keep its data safe.
By monitoring and analyzing user access to sensitive data, organizations can prevent data breaches, ensure compliance with data protection regulations and protect sensitive information from unauthorized access.
And not only can analytics technology protect your data — it also saves critical time and resources by automating repetitive tasks, which reduces the risk of human error. This helps to further improve overall data quality and accuracy, allowing you to do more with less — and without adding headcount.
If you’re wondering how to get started, our expert consultants can assist your team in implementing each analytic to save time and improve your confidence in applying user access controls.
Learn more about ACL Analytics and how this solution can help you deliver insights that drive strategic change.
