Knew this one but stumbled a bit trying to make it sound more sophisticated than it is.
Start with a clear, concise definition of the principle of least privilege (PoLP). Then, explain its importance in system design and security, and provide concrete examples of how it can be implemented in practice. Finally, discuss trade-offs and how to balance security with usability.
Pro tip: Emphasize that PoLP is not just about security but also about reducing blast radius and improving system resilience. Mention how Google implements PoLP internally (e.g., Borg's job-level isolation) to show alignment with the company's practices.
State that PoLP means giving users, processes, or systems only the minimum permissions necessary to perform their tasks, and no more.
Discuss how PoLP reduces attack surface, limits damage from breaches, and simplifies auditing and compliance.
Give concrete examples such as role-based access control (RBAC), IAM policies, container permissions, and API scopes.
Acknowledge challenges like increased complexity, potential for over-restriction, and the need for dynamic privilege management.
Explain how PoLP influences architecture decisions, such as microservices with isolated permissions, and zero-trust security models.
AI-generated suggestions, not part of the candidate's original notes. May be inaccurate — verify before relying on them.