What is Just Enough Privilege (JEP)?

Just Enough Privilege (JEP) is a security practice that limits access rights to the bare minimum required for users and systems to perform their tasks. Often used interchangeably with the term just enough access, this principle minimizes the risk of unauthorized access, data breaches and misuse of sensitive information by reducing the attack surface.

JEP applies not only to human users but also to Non-Human Identities (NHIs), such as service accounts, scripts and automated workloads, which often require elevated privileges. Enforcing JEP for both human and non-human entities is a critical component of modern zero trust and Privileged Access Management (PAM) strategies.

Just-in-Time (JIT) access vs just enough privilege

Although Just-in-Time (JIT) access and just enough privilege both aim to reduce security risks and enhance control over privileged access, they differ in scope and application.

JIT access is time-bound, providing users with elevated permissions only when needed and for a limited duration. It’s commonly used for high-risk, short-term tasks such as emergency troubleshooting or administrative actions. Once the task is completed, access is automatically revoked, minimizing the window of exposure.

In contrast, JEP is role-based, granting users or systems the minimal level of access required to perform their regular duties. This access is typically permanent and continuous, without time restrictions, and aligns with the Principle of Least Privilege (PoLP). As long as the user’s role remains unchanged, their access stays consistent.

Together, JIT and JEP serve complementary functions: JEP limits what users can access, while JIT limits when they can access it.

How just enough privilege works

Just enough privilege starts with a thorough audit of user permissions to identify accounts with unnecessary, excessive or outdated access. This initial step ensures that privileges are aligned with current job roles and helps eliminate over-permissioned users who may pose security risks.

Next, organizations define role-based access levels based on the principle of least privilege, granting users and systems access only to the resources needed for their job functions. Access control policies are then created to enforce these limitations and are implemented through PAM solutions to help enforce consistency and streamline access provisioning.

Maintaining JEP requires continuous monitoring and regular reviews as roles change. Identity and Access Management (IAM) tools, along with Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems, support ongoing enforcement, anomaly detection and auditing.

By applying and maintaining JEP, organizations reduce the risk of unauthorized access and privilege abuse or misuse, while ensuring access remains aligned with shifting roles or business needs.

Who needs just enough privilege?

Just enough privilege isn't just for people; it applies to any identity that can access systems, including automated processes, service accounts and third-party integrations. By limiting access to only what's necessary, organizations reduce the attack surface and minimize the risk of misuse.

Here are some examples of where JEP makes a critical difference:

IT administrators: IT admins often require broad access to manage infrastructure, but full privileges across environments can introduce risk. JEP enforces task-specific access by granting only the minimum permissions necessary to perform a given task.
DevOps teams: DevOps roles typically require access to CI/CD pipelines, configuration tools and runtime environments. With JEP, their access is scoped to the tools and systems they directly manage, reducing potential lateral movement or damage from compromised credentials.
Security teams: Security teams need deep visibility into systems, but not unrestrained access. JEP allows them to investigate threats, pull logs and monitor activity without exposing sensitive data or administrative controls.
Third-party vendors: Temporary access is often granted to outside partners, but without proper controls, this can open the door to long-term exposure. JEP ensures vendors only access what they need, for the duration they need it.
Support staff: Customer support and internal help desks need access to user accounts and troubleshooting tools, not full backend systems. JEP restricts them to only the systems required for resolving issues, preserving security while maintaining efficiency.
Service accounts: Service accounts are often over-permissioned and under-monitored. Applying JEP means granting only the specific permissions needed for the job, such as reading from a database or writing to a specific log, and nothing beyond that.
APIs and application integrations: Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) frequently exchange data between systems. Without JEP, they may have full access across environments. JEP limits its scope to only the endpoints and data types required for its function.
Automation scripts and bots: Scripts and bots handle routine tasks like backups, deployments or alerts. These often run with elevated privileges by default. JEP enforces minimal access, reducing the impact if a script is compromised or misbehaves.

The benefits of just enough privilege

There are several benefits to implementing JEP, including that it eliminates standing access, minimizes the impact of data breaches and strengthens organizations’ security posture.

Eliminates standing access

JEP eliminates standing access, which means users are not granted longstanding or unnecessary access to systems or data they don’t need. Instead, access is granted only when required for a specific task and is immediately revoked upon completion of that task. This approach reduces the risk of unauthorized access since there is no permanent, unmonitored access that could be exploited. By ensuring users only have access when necessary, JEP minimizes security threats like data breaches and privilege misuse.

Minimizes the impact of breaches

JEP reduces the impact of data breaches by limiting the amount of access anyone has at any given time. If a breach occurs, the cybercriminal’s ability to move laterally within a network or access sensitive data is restricted because users have access only to certain resources for specific tasks. This reduces the scope of potential damage, preventing cybercriminals from gaining more control over critical systems or information.

Strengthens security posture

An organization’s security posture improves by implementing JEP since unauthorized access and privilege escalation are prevented. Granting users access only to what is necessary to perform their tasks limits opportunities for cybercriminals to access sensitive systems. If an account is compromised, the restricted access makes it more difficult for cybercriminals to reach additional resources.

Improves operational efficiency

JEP improves operational efficiency by ensuring that users have access only to what is necessary, simplifying management and reducing unnecessary complexity. By limiting permissions, organizations can better streamline workflows, reduce administrative overhead and avoid wasting resources on managing excessive access. This approach allows teams to work more efficiently without scrambling to deal with unnecessary permissions or security risks associated with over-permissioned users. JEP also frees up IT and security teams to focus on more pressing tasks rather than constantly monitoring permissions.

Adheres to compliance

Organizations can adhere to compliance and data protection requirements through JEP. By enforcing least-privilege access, JEP reduces the risk of unauthorized data access, making it easier to meet security requirements and regulations like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). JEP also gives organizations control over who can access specific data, ensuring access is closely aligned with compliance standards.