While service accounts often enhance productivity and perform essential automated functions for organizations of all sizes, if left unchecked they can pose a serious security hazard. In 2023, as many as 94% of organizations were found to have a lack of visibility into their service accounts, highlighting the prevalence and potential severity of this vulnerability. Service accounts frequently have excessive privileges, are overlooked, and do not adhere to appropriate password security protocols. As time passes, many of these formerly active service accounts fall into dormancy, rendering them prime targets for malicious actors.

Members are encouraged to conduct a review of their services accounts and implement the following recommendations, as appropriate. Below, we share some of the key methods for ensuring your service accounts are adequately tracked, audited, and secured:

• Implement Least Privilege Access: Every service account should be configured with the principle of least privilege, meaning that it should only have access to the systems and data necessary for its specific role. This minimizes the risk of unauthorized access or data breaches. Regularly reviewing access controls can further ensure compliance with this principle, allowing organizations to adjust permissions as roles and requirements evolve.
• Conduct Regular Audits: Regular audits involve systematically reviewing service accounts to identify any that are overprivileged, inactive, or unnecessary. This process helps organizations detect potential security vulnerabilities and ensure that only essential accounts are active. Audits should include checking the permissions assigned, the accounts' usage logs, and cross-referencing with existing business processes to ensure alignment with current operational needs.
• Establish Clear Ownership: Assign clear ownership for each service account, designating specific individuals or teams responsible for the oversight and management of the account. This accountability ensures that there is someone to track the purpose of the account, regularly review its activity, and ensure security measures are enforced. Ownership can help foster a sense of responsibility and encourage proactive management of service accounts.
• Monitor Account Activity: Employ identity security solutions that provide continuous monitoring capabilities to assess both user and service account activities. By leveraging advanced tools that include behavioral analysis, organizations can detect anomalies in account usage, such as unusual access patterns or attempts to elevate privileges. Real-time alerts can facilitate rapid responses to potential threats, reducing the window of opportunity for attackers.
• Remove Redundant Accounts: Regularly assess service accounts for redundancy to eliminate those that are no longer needed or whose functions have been replaced by newer accounts. By removing unused or overlapping accounts, organizations can streamline their systems, reduce potential attack surfaces, and lower the likelihood of security vulnerabilities stemming from unnecessary access points.
• Implement Password Security Protocols: Develop and enforce robust password security measures for service accounts. This includes regular password changes, enforcing complexity requirements (such as length and character variety), and implementing automated password rotation where feasible. Additionally, ensuring that service accounts do not share credentials can help contain security breaches should an account be compromised.
• Educate Security Teams: Shift the security culture within the organization to recognize the importance of addressing internal vulnerabilities, including dormant accounts. Educating security teams on emerging threats and the specific risks associated with service accounts fosters a proactive approach. This may include training on best practices for managing service accounts and fostering collaboration among teams to enhance overall security posture.

Service accounts are useful but can pose significant security risks if unmanaged. Organizations should implement strategies like least privilege access, regular audits, active monitoring, and strong password protocols. Proactive management of these accounts enhances security and protects sensitive data. For more insights into securing service accounts, visit Help Net Security.