Protecting the Future of Digital Identities
In recent years, digital identities have gained popularity and have been implemented by many national governments to serve as the basis of our modern digital society. In the near future, we can expect digital identities to be further adopted across governments and their use expanded for a range of purposes, including voting, passports and banking. One country at the forefront of using digital identities is Estonia which recently, in March 2023, saw internet voting surpass traditional voting for the first time since its implementation in 2005.
For example, in the EU, there are ongoing efforts to implement touchless travel using digital identities and digital wallets. This would allow individuals to travel to other countries without the need for physical documents or passports.
While this would drastically alter the way in which we travel, there are concerns regarding the over-collection of personal data by governments, as they may not require all the information they are gathering. This has led to concerns that government-issued digital identities could be a means of controlling citizens and spying on their daily activities.
However, with a successful program that emphasizes transparency and trust, digital identities can enable governments to become better providers of digital services. Trust is a critical element of digital identity and is determined by the accuracy of the attributes provided by the identity provider. Just like when meeting someone for the first time, trust is established based on the verification of identity attributes through a trusted intermediary, also known as a trust anchor.
Protecting Against Identity-Based Attacks
As we continue to see increasing reliance on digital identities in the modern world, individuals and organizations are becoming more vulnerable to identity-based attacks. To safeguard against these attacks, businesses and individuals need to adopt robust security measures that can protect digital identities.
1. Invest in Appropriate Solutions
While many organizations have spent considerable time and effort improving their identity and access management (IAM) capabilities, most existing IAM tools do not proactively monitor policy or configuration breaches in real-time.
IAM is focused on enhancing user authentication, which can actually increase the cybersecurity attack surface.
Identity threat detection and response (ITDR) is a relatively new cybersecurity field that addresses the gaps in IAM systems. ITDR offers advanced cybersecurity capabilities that detect and respond to identity-based attacks in real-time. It uses machine learning algorithms to identify anomalies and suspicious activities that could indicate an attack on digital identities. It can then respond to the threat by taking corrective measures, such as alerting security personnel or blocking the attack.
2. Implement MFA Everywhere
Passwords are one of the most common targets for attacking identities, so it is vital that organizations ensure passwords are not the only security control for critical systems, applications or privileges. Attackers can easily leverage weak, default, stolen or otherwise compromised passwords, and this is especially dangerous when these passwords are used across multiple accounts.
Organizations must make sure to add security controls such as multifactor authentication (MFA) to ensure that only authorized users are granted privileged access. MFA should include a combination of authentication factors such as passwords, security tokens and biometric data to ensure a higher level of security. It should be required not only at system login but also at several points of privilege elevation if required to re-verify the user’s identity and privileges.
Security vulnerabilities are constantly changing, as are authentication mechanisms. It is important that organizations conduct regular security audits and reviews to identify vulnerabilities and ensure that MFA is implemented correctly. They should also be sure to keep up with the latest MFA technologies and trends to stay ahead of evolving threats.
3. Adopt a Least-Privilege Approach
Implementing least privilege in an organization can reduce the risk of insider threats, limit the impact of malware attacks and facilitate compliance with regulations such as GDPR and HIPAA.
Least-privilege access is an integral part of the zero-trust security model and involves a risk-based security approach. The traditional “trust but verify” approach that organizations have relied on, based on implicit user trust and clear boundaries, is no longer sufficient. To ensure identities are protected, organizations must implement a “never trust, always verify, and enforce least privilege” approach to privileged access, whether from within or outside the network.
Least privilege is not a one-time implementation but an ongoing process that requires regular review and updates to ensure its effectiveness. When implemented effectively, a least-privilege approach reduces the possibility of exposing several privilege escalation paths, reduces the risk of security breaches and ensures organizations stay within regulations.
The Future of Digital Identities
In the future, digital identities will be more portable and interoperable, enabling individuals to use them across multiple platforms and services. This will reduce the need for easily stolen or copied physical forms of identification as well as requiring multiple usernames and passwords, making it easier and more convenient for individuals to access the services they need. It will also reduce the risk of identity theft and fraud, as digital identities will have modern security controls and techniques to make them difficult to steal and abuse.
As the use of digital identities continues to grow, the need for effective security measures will become even more critical. Governments and organizations should take action now to be prepared for this evolution of identity and access control.