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Authentication & Authorization

Authentication and authorization are fundamental security controls that determine who can access a system and what actions they can perform. This document outlines the requirements and standards for implementing robust authentication and authorization as part of the Definition of Done.

Purpose

The purpose of these authentication and authorization requirements is to:

Verify the identity of users and systems accessing our applications
Control access to resources based on verified identities
Implement the principle of least privilege
Protect sensitive functionality and data from unauthorized access
Provide a consistent authentication and authorization approach across our applications

Authentication Requirements

Identity Verification

User identities must be verified through strong authentication methods
Multiple authentication factors should be used for sensitive systems or operations
Authentication credentials must be protected in transit and at rest
Account creation and verification processes must include identity validation steps
User identities must be unique within the system

Password Requirements

Minimum password length of 12 characters
Password complexity requirements must be enforced
Password history policies must prevent reuse of recent passwords
Secure password reset procedures must be implemented
Default passwords must be changed upon first use
Passwords must be securely hashed using strong algorithms (e.g., bcrypt, Argon2)
Plain text passwords must never be stored or transmitted

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

MFA must be available for all user accounts
MFA must be mandatory for administrative accounts and users with elevated privileges
MFA must be mandatory for accessing sensitive data or performing critical operations
Multiple MFA options should be available (e.g., app-based tokens, hardware tokens, SMS)
MFA implementation must follow industry best practices and standards

Session Management

Session identifiers must be randomly generated and unique
Session timeouts must be implemented (idle and absolute)
Sessions must be invalidated on logout
Sessions must be regenerated after authentication
Session data must be securely stored
Concurrent session controls should be implemented as appropriate

Authentication Failure Handling

Account lockout mechanisms must be implemented
Temporary lockouts should be used after multiple failed attempts
Failed authentication attempts must be logged
Clear error messages must be provided without revealing sensitive information
Notification of suspicious authentication activity

Authorization Requirements

Access Control Models

Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) should be implemented for most applications
Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) should be considered for complex permissions
Mandatory Access Control (MAC) may be required for highly secure systems
The chosen access control model must be consistently applied

Principle of Least Privilege

Users must be granted the minimum privileges necessary for their role
Default access should be "deny all"
Temporary privilege elevation should be used when needed (just-in-time access)
Privilege separation should be implemented for critical operations
Regular privilege reviews must be conducted

Authorization Checks

Authorization checks must be performed at the resource level
Authorization must be verified for every request
Authorization checks must be enforced on the server side
User interfaces should adapt based on authorization (hiding unavailable options)
Direct object reference protection must be implemented
Authorization bypass attempts must be logged and monitored

Administrative Access

Administrative access must be strictly controlled
Separate accounts should be used for administrative vs. regular activities
Administrative actions must be logged and auditable
Emergency access procedures must be defined and controlled
Privileged access management solutions should be used for sensitive environments

Identity and Access Management (IAM)

Centralized Authentication

Authentication should be centralized when possible
Single Sign-On (SSO) should be implemented across applications
Identity provider integrations should follow security best practices
Federation standards (SAML, OAuth, OpenID Connect) should be used correctly

User Lifecycle Management

Comprehensive processes for user onboarding, changes, and offboarding
Regular access reviews and certifications
Automated deprovisioning when users leave or change roles
Self-service capabilities for non-sensitive operations
Segregation of duties in IAM administration

Authorization Governance

Clear ownership of authorization policies
Documented approval processes for access changes
Regular review and validation of authorization rules
Automated testing of authorization controls
Auditing and compliance reporting

Definition of Done Criteria

For authentication and authorization to meet the Definition of Done, the following criteria must be satisfied:

Authentication mechanisms comply with defined requirements
Authorization model is appropriate for the application's needs
All resources are protected by proper authorization checks
Authentication and authorization are tested thoroughly
Privileged operations have additional security controls
Authentication and authorization are centrally logged
Access controls are documented and reviewed