अकाउंट और अकाउंट सुरक्षा

• An account is a record that stores information about a user, entity, or system, providing access and permissions to various resources and services.
• Account security involves the measures taken to protect these accounts from unauthorized access, misuse, and compromise.

Account Types

• User accounts are created for individual people, while system accounts are used for software processes/services.
• Privileged accounts have elevated permissions, like administrators, requiring extra security.
• Service accounts are non-human accounts used by applications/services to interact with the operating system, databases, and network resources.
• Guest accounts provide temporary access with limited privileges.

Authentication

• Authentication is the process of verifying the identity of a user or system attempting to access an account.
• Passwords are a common authentication method, requiring users to enter a secret word/phrase known only to them.
• Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) requires users to provide two or more verification factors.
• Biometrics uses unique biological traits like fingerprints or facial recognition for authentication.
• Certificates are digital documents used to verify the identity of a user, device, or service.
• Single Sign-On (SSO) allows users to authenticate once and access multiple applications/services without re-entering credentials.

Authorization

• Authorization determines what actions a user or system is allowed to perform after successful authentication.
• Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) assigns permissions based on a user's role within an organization.
• Access Control Lists (ACLs) define permissions for specific resources, specifying which users/groups have access.
• Least Privilege principle grants users only the minimum necessary permissions to perform their tasks.

Password Security

• Password policies enforce rules for password complexity, length, and expiration.
• Strong passwords should be long, use a mix of character types, and avoid common words or personal information.
• Password hashing stores passwords as irreversible cryptographic hashes, protecting them from being directly exposed if a database is compromised.
• Salting adds a random value to each password before hashing, making it more difficult to crack with precomputed tables (rainbow tables).
• Password managers securely store and generate complex passwords.

Account Recovery

• Account recovery mechanisms allow users to regain access to their accounts if they forget their passwords or lose access to their authentication methods.
• Security questions require users to answer pre-selected questions to verify their identity.
• Recovery email addresses allow users to reset their passwords via email.
• Recovery phone numbers enable password resets via SMS codes or phone calls.

Session Management

• Session management involves maintaining the state of a user's interaction with a web application or service across multiple requests.
• Session cookies are small text files stored on the user's computer to identify the session.
• Session IDs are unique identifiers assigned to each session, used to track the user's activity.
• Session timeouts automatically terminate inactive sessions after a period of inactivity, reducing the risk of unauthorized access.

Account Monitoring and Auditing

• Account monitoring involves tracking user activity and system events to detect suspicious behavior.
• Login attempts are logged to identify brute-force attacks or unauthorized access attempts.
• Access logs record which users have accessed which resources, providing an audit trail.
• Anomaly detection systems identify unusual patterns of activity that may indicate a compromised account.

Security Best Practices

• Regularly review and update account permissions to ensure users have appropriate access.
• Implement strong password policies and enforce multi-factor authentication.
• Educate users about phishing scams and other social engineering attacks.
• Monitor accounts for suspicious activity and investigate potential security incidents.
• Use auditing tools to track account usage and identify potential security vulnerabilities.
• Keep all software and systems up to date with the latest security patches.

Common Threats

• Brute-force attacks attempt to guess passwords by trying many combinations.
• Phishing attacks trick users into revealing their credentials through deceptive emails or websites.
• Social engineering manipulates people into divulging sensitive information or granting access to systems.
• Malware can steal credentials or grant unauthorized access to accounts.
• Credential stuffing uses stolen username/password pairs from data breaches to attempt to log in to other accounts.
• Account Takeover (ATO) is a type of fraud where cybercriminals gain access to user accounts and use them to commit fraud.

Regulatory Compliance

• Compliance with privacy regulations like GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) and CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act) requires organizations to implement strong account security measures to protect user data.
• Industry-specific regulations like HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) mandate specific security controls for protecting sensitive information.

Account Security Tools

• Identity and Access Management (IAM) systems centrally manage user identities and access permissions.
• Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems collect and analyze security logs to detect threats and security incidents.
• Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) monitor network traffic and system activity for malicious behavior.
• Vulnerability scanners identify security weaknesses in systems and applications.

Cloud Account Security

• Cloud providers offer various security features to protect accounts and data stored in the cloud.
• Identity Provider (IdP) federation enables users to use their existing credentials to access cloud resources.
• Cloud Access Security Brokers (CASB) monitor and control user activity in cloud environments.

Account Security Policies

• Account security policies define the rules and procedures for creating, managing, and securing accounts.
• Acceptable Use Policies (AUP) outline the permissible uses of accounts and systems.
• Incident response plans detail the steps to take in the event of a security breach or incident.

Passwordless Authentication

• Passwordless authentication methods eliminate the need for passwords, using alternative factors like biometrics, security keys, or one-time codes.
• FIDO2 is an open standard for passwordless authentication that uses cryptographic keys stored on a device.
• Biometric authentication uses fingerprint scanners, facial recognition, or other biometric sensors to verify identity.

Privileged Access Management (PAM)

• PAM solutions manage and control access to privileged accounts, reducing the risk of insider threats and external attacks.
• Just-In-Time (JIT) access grants temporary privileged access only when it is needed.
• Privileged session recording monitors and audits activity performed by privileged users.

Account Deprovisioning

• Account deprovisioning is the process of disabling or deleting accounts when they are no longer needed, such as when an employee leaves the organization.
• Orphaned accounts are accounts that are no longer actively used but have not been deprovisioned, posing a security risk.
• Automated deprovisioning systems can streamline the process of removing access rights.