Introductory Cyber Security | Module 3: Authentication, Authorization, and Privilege Management by Prakhar Chauhan | Learn Smarter
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Module 3: Authentication, Authorization, and Privilege Management

The chapter discusses the critical role of authentication and authorization in securing digital systems, emphasizing the necessity of strong authentication methods and the distinct yet complementary nature of authentication and authorization processes. It explores various access control models, including Discretionary Access Control (DAC), Mandatory Access Control (MAC), and Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), while also addressing the concept of privilege and the risks associated with privilege escalation in cybersecurity.

Sections

  • 1

    The Importance Of Strong Authentication

    Strong authentication is crucial in securing digital systems by verifying user identities and preventing unauthorized access.

  • 1.1

    Why Strong Authentication Is Paramount

    Strong authentication is crucial for establishing trust and security in digital systems by verifying identities and preventing unauthorized access.

  • 1.2

    Authentication Factors And Multi-Factor Authentication (Mfa)

    This section discusses the various authentication factors essential for verifying identity in digital systems, emphasizing the importance of multi-factor authentication (MFA) as a security measure.

  • 2

    Distinction Between Authentication And Authorization

    This section delineates the critical differences between authentication and authorization, clarifying their distinct roles in cybersecurity.

  • 2.1

    Authentication: The Identity Verification Stage

    Authentication is the essential process of verifying the identity of users, devices, or processes to ensure security within digital systems.

  • 2.2

    Authorization: The Permission Granting Stage

    Authorization involves determining the permissions for authenticated entities in a system.

  • 2.3

    The Interdependent Relationship

    Strong authentication is essential for effective authorization in security systems.

  • 3

    Importance Of Authorization And Access Control

    This section highlights the critical role of authorization and access control in maintaining security by enforcing the principle of Least Privilege.

  • 3.1

    Why Authorization Is Crucial

    Authorization is vital as it enforces the principle of least privilege, minimizes an organization's attack surface, and ensures compliance with regulations.

  • 3.2

    Access Control: Mechanisms For Authorization Enforcement

    Access Control manages how subjects interact with objects by enforcing authorization policies.

  • 3.3

    Access Control Models

    This section explains various access control models, including Discretionary Access Control (DAC), Mandatory Access Control (MAC), and Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), highlighting their principles, advantages, and disadvantages.

  • 3.3.1

    Discretionary Access Control (Dac)

    Discretionary Access Control (DAC) allows resource owners to grant and modify access permissions, offering flexibility and user-centric control.

  • 3.3.2

    Mandatory Access Control (Mac)

    Mandatory Access Control (MAC) is a strict access control model that enforces access decisions based on predefined security labels assigned to both subjects and objects.

  • 3.3.3

    Role-Based Access Control (Rbac)

    Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) is an access management model that assigns permissions based on roles rather than individual users, enhancing security and scalability in managing user access.

  • 4

    Privilege And Privilege Escalation

    This section provides an overview of computing privileges and the concept of privilege escalation, detailing their types, common causes, and potential impacts on system security.

  • 4.1

    Privilege

    This section covers the concept of privilege in computer security, including its definition, types, and the critical issue of privilege escalation.

  • 4.2

    Privilege Escalation

    Privilege escalation refers to cyberattacks where an attacker gains unauthorized access to resources typically protected by higher privilege levels.

  • 4.2.1

    Types Of Privilege Escalation

    This section outlines the two primary types of privilege escalation—horizontal and vertical—and discusses their implications in cybersecurity.

  • 4.2.2

    Common Causes And Mechanisms Of Privilege Escalation

    This section outlines the common causes and mechanisms that lead to privilege escalation, emphasizing software vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, and weak controls in digital systems.

  • 4.2.3

    Impact Of Privilege Escalation

    Privilege escalation attacks enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to higher-level privileges, leading to severe consequences for system compromise.

Class Notes

Memorization

What we have learnt

  • Robust authentication is vi...
  • Authentication and authoriz...
  • Understanding privilege esc...

Final Test

Revision Tests