In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, business owners often find themselves caught off guard by unexpected IT challenges that can threaten their operations. For those whose infrastructure is vulnerable or lacks digital maturity, the stakes are even higher. Cyber threats loom large, and the need for robust protective measures is more critical than ever. One such measure that is increasingly gaining prominence is the establishment of “break-glass” or “emergency” accounts, a vital component in your cybersecurity strategy.
The Need for Break-Glass Accounts
Imagine a scenario where your entire network is inaccessible due to a multifactor authentication failure or an administrative lockout. It’s a chilling thought, isn’t it? This is precisely where break-glass accounts come into play. These are backup access accounts that bypass normal authentication protocols, ensuring that you can regain control of your system when other avenues are blocked. The concept is simple: in case of an emergency, you break the glass and access these accounts to restore order quickly.
While break-glass accounts are designed for situations where all else fails, their implementation is not just about having a fallback. It’s about ensuring business continuity and minimizing downtime and recovery costs in the face of unforeseen disruptions. This approach maintains a secure and compliant process, allowing the most targeted individuals within the company to avoid using a global admin account for everyday operations.
Key Considerations and Best Practices
It’s essential that business owners maintain ownership and control over these accounts, irrespective of which IT Managed Service Provider (MSP) they engage. This ownership is crucial, not only for ensuring immediate access during emergencies, but also for maintaining autonomy over your IT infrastructure. Here are some best practices:
- Implement Cloud-Only Accounts: Break-glass accounts should be cloud-only to prevent any inadvertent sync or deletion from on-premises systems. They must be excluded from all Conditional Access policies to ensure accessibility during emergencies.
- Assign Global Administrator Roles: These accounts must have permanent Global Administrator privileges. This does not mean regularly using these accounts but rather having them ready to perform decisive actions when necessary.
- Securely Store Credentials: The credentials for these accounts should be stored securely, preferably divided into parts and kept in fireproof safes spread across various locations to protect against physical threats.
- Continuous Monitoring and Testing: Regularly monitor the use of these accounts and conduct routine access checks to ensure they remain functional and secure.
- Documented Emergency Procedures: Develop and maintain a current procedure guide. This guide should detail when and how these accounts should be used, ensuring that your team is prepared to act swiftly and correctly during a crisis.
Cloudience Client Ownership Model
We believe that clients should maintain full control and ownership of their IT systems and should not be at the mercy of any IT service provider, ensuring both autonomy and security in managing their technological infrastructure. We advocate for transparent and direct access to all critical aspects of your IT systems. This empowers you to manage, modify, and secure your resources without unnecessary dependencies on external service providers. By doing so, you can avoid potential pitfalls associated with vendor lock-in or excessive reliance on third-party maintenance.
Our Client Ownership Model focuses on providing the necessary tools, knowledge, and support to ensure you can operate independently while still having access to expert assistance when needed. This model not only fosters a sense of ownership but also enhances your ability to swiftly adapt to changes and mitigate any risks associated with IT management. With Cloudience, you are always in control, with the peace of mind that comes from knowing your systems are both secure and fully manageable by your own team.
The Need for Expert Guidance
While these steps can greatly enhance your cybersecurity posture, the intricacies of setting up and managing break-glass accounts effectively can be daunting without the right expertise. This is where the expertise of a partner like Cloudience becomes invaluable. By working with seasoned professionals, you can ensure that your emergency access measures are not only well-implemented but are also aligned with your broader security strategy.
Are you prepared for the unexpected? Or could your business be at risk of operational standstills? If you’re unsure or need assistance in establishing robust break-glass accounts, reach out to Cloudience. Our experts are just a call away, ready to provide comprehensive assessments and tailor recommendations that keep your business resilient in the face of IT emergencies. Your peace of mind is our priority, but the first step is yours to take. Are you ready?
Our dedicated support team at Cloudience is on standby to help any new customers facing issues with their systems.
If you are encountering any problems or require assistance, please reach out to us at info@cloudience.com or by phone at +1 602-93CLOUD. We are here to ensure your business continues to operate smoothly.