Which control practice is most effective against internal threats to confidential information?

Which control practice is most effective against internal threats to confidential information?

• A. Strong data encryption.
• B. Role-based access control (RBAC).
• C. Digital certificate-based access.
• D. Signed confidentiality agreements.

Answer: (B)

Role-based access control (RBAC) is highly effective against internal threats to confidential information because it ensures that individuals have access only to the information and resources necessary for their specific roles within an organization. This minimizes the risk of unauthorized access or misuse of sensitive data by restricting permissions based on job functions and responsibilities. Implementing RBAC helps create a clear separation of duties and enforces the principle of least privilege, whereby employees are given the minimum level of access required to perform their tasks. This approach not only limits exposure to confidential information but also provides an audit trail for accountability. In the event of an internal threat, organizations can track who accessed what information and when, making it easier to identify potentially malicious actions. While strong data encryption, digital certificate-based access, and signed confidentiality agreements are important components of an overall security strategy, they do not specifically address the issue of restricting access based on an individual's role. Encryption protects data, while digital certificates verify identity, and confidentiality agreements establish legal obligations. However, none of these practices alone can effectively control access and mitigate risks related to internal threats as directly and robustly as RBAC can.

Role-based access control (RBAC) is highly effective against internal threats to confidential information because it ensures that individuals have access only to the information and resources necessary for their specific roles within an organization. This minimizes the risk of unauthorized access or misuse of sensitive data by restricting permissions based on job functions and responsibilities.

Implementing RBAC helps create a clear separation of duties and enforces the principle of least privilege, whereby employees are given the minimum level of access required to perform their tasks. This approach not only limits exposure to confidential information but also provides an audit trail for accountability. In the event of an internal threat, organizations can track who accessed what information and when, making it easier to identify potentially malicious actions.

While strong data encryption, digital certificate-based access, and signed confidentiality agreements are important components of an overall security strategy, they do not specifically address the issue of restricting access based on an individual's role. Encryption protects data, while digital certificates verify identity, and confidentiality agreements establish legal obligations. However, none of these practices alone can effectively control access and mitigate risks related to internal threats as directly and robustly as RBAC can.