What does the principle of least privilege refer to in an organization?

The principle of least privilege refers to the practice of granting users, applications, or systems the minimum levels of access—or permissions—necessary to perform their required tasks. This concept is pivotal in cybersecurity, as it minimizes the risk of unauthorized access or damage by limiting what an entity can do within an information system.

By ensuring that individuals or processes only have access to the information and resources essential for their job functions, organizations can effectively reduce the attack surface. If a user account gets compromised, the damage potential is constrained to the privileges that account possesses, thereby upholding the security and integrity of the entire network.

The other options relate to different security concepts. Integrity validation concerns the assurance that data has not been altered or tampered with, while due diligence typically involves the thoroughness and responsibility shown in assessing potential risks or conducting business practices. The "need to know" principle also emphasizes restriction but is more about controlling access to sensitive information based on the necessity of that information for an individual to perform their job. However, "least privilege" encompasses a broader approach, specifically focusing on the access rights assigned.