Why Emergency Access Needs Governance – Not Just Speed
Emergency or break-glass access is vital for resolving critical issues quickly, but without proper governance, it can become a serious security risk. Unchecked elevated access may be abused, leave no audit trail, or violate compliance requirements. By applying governance—time-limiting emergency access, recording all activity, and enforcing approval workflows—organizations strike the right balance between speed and control. This ensures urgent problems are solved without introducing long-term vulnerabilities.
Emergency access—also known as break-glass access—is essential when critical issues must be resolved quickly. But granting unchecked emergency access can create huge risks if not governed properly.
The Risks of Ungoverned Emergency Access:
- Abuse of Privileges: Elevated access can be misused intentionally or unintentionally.
- Lack of Visibility: Without monitoring, you don’t know what actions were taken.
- Regulatory Gaps: Auditors expect controls around privileged access.
Governance for Emergency Access:
- Time-Bound Access: Automatically revoke elevated access after a short window.
- Audit Trails: Record all activity for accountability.
- Approval Workflows: Ensure emergency access is granted only with oversight.
Bottom Line:
Speed is important in emergencies, but governance ensures that elevated privileges don’t become permanent security liabilities.