Least privilege is how you survive normal mistakes

Least privilege assumes people are busy and credentials can be stolen. The security value is simple: if an identity can reach less, a compromise can damage less. That makes the control useful before, during, and after an incident. It reduces exposure up front, simplifies detection by making unusual access stand out, and makes response easier because responders can reason about what the account should have been able to do. Teams usually break this rule for speed. The result is hidden privilege inflation. Narrow-by-default grants, time-bound elevation, and regular review are what keep convenience from becoming silent overreach.

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