Privileged Access Misuse in IAM Configurations
Definition
Misconfigured IAM allows privileged access misuse, with 62% of breaches involving such incidents stemming from improper provisioning and excessive privileges. Former employees retain shadow access, and overpermissioned users enable data theft or system damage. This recurs due to lack of regular access reviews and automation.
Key Findings
- Financial Impact: Average breach cost from 62% of incidents tied to privileged misuse
- Frequency: Weekly - tied to ongoing access accumulation and employee turnover
- Root Cause: Improper provisioning practices and orphaned accounts from manual lifecycle management
Why This Matters
This pain point represents a significant opportunity for B2B solutions targeting Computer and Network Security.
Affected Stakeholders
System Administrators, HR Managers, Security Analysts
Deep Analysis (Premium)
Financial Impact
$1.5M-$5M from insider data theft (payment card data exfiltration); $500K-$2M PCI-DSS fines for access control violations; $1M-$3M class action settlement (customer data breach); $2M-$8M from operational downtime • $1.5M-$5M from vendor data theft; $500K-$2M PCI-DSS fines; $1M-$3M customer notification; supply chain disruption ($2M-$8M) • $1.5M-$5M from vendor data theft; $500K-$2M PCI-DSS fines; $1M-$3M customer notification/settlement costs; supply chain disruption ($2M-$8M)
Current Workarounds
Developers share API keys via Slack; stored in GitHub (exposed); manual credential rotation tracking in shared docs; undocumented service account assignments • Excel spreadsheets for access inventory; manual spot-checks; email-based approval chains; undocumented privilege assignments • Excel tracking of vendor access; manual email reminders for review; undocumented shared accounts; informal verbal access removal
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Methodology & Sources
Data collected via OSINT from regulatory filings, industry audits, and verified case studies.
Related Business Risks
Excess Licensing Costs from Stale IAM Accounts
Revenue Leakage from IAM-Related Configuration Faults
GDPR Fines from IAM Access Control Failures
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