Description

This curriculum spans the design, implementation, and governance of authentication systems across hybrid environments, comparable in scope to a multi-phase internal capability program addressing identity and access management in alignment with ISO 27001’s evolving control set.

Module 1: Aligning Authentication Controls with ISO 27001:2022 Annex A Updates

Select whether to map authentication controls to Annex A 5.7 (Threat Intelligence), A.5.23 (Information Security for Use of System Utilities), or A.8.9 (Access Control) based on organizational risk appetite.
Decide whether to treat multi-factor authentication (MFA) as a baseline control or a risk-dependent enhancement under A.8.9 and A.8.10.
Assess whether cloud identity providers (IdPs) require inclusion in the Statement of Applicability (SoA) under A.5.23 and A.8.16.
Determine if legacy systems without MFA support necessitate compensating controls documented in the risk treatment plan.
Integrate authentication logging requirements with A.8.15 (Monitoring Activities) and A.5.27 (Monitoring, Review, and Change Management).
Coordinate access control policy updates with HR and IT departments to reflect Annex A.8.9 role-based access rules.
Evaluate whether biometric authentication systems trigger compliance obligations under A.5.37 (Privacy and Protection of Personally Identifiable Information).
Map federated identity mechanisms to A.8.9 and A.8.10, ensuring trust boundaries are defined in access agreements.

Module 2: Risk Assessment for Authentication Mechanisms

Conduct threat modeling for remote access systems to determine if SMS-based one-time passwords (OTPs) are acceptable or require replacement with authenticator apps or FIDO2 tokens.
Quantify the risk of password spraying attacks against externally exposed web applications and justify investment in phishing-resistant MFA.
Assess the impact of shared account usage in operational technology (OT) environments and decide whether to allow exceptions with audit trail enhancements.
Document risk acceptance for systems where MFA implementation would disrupt critical manufacturing processes.
Perform attack surface analysis on API endpoints to determine if OAuth2 client credentials require mutual TLS or short-lived tokens.
Compare the residual risk of using knowledge-based authentication (KBA) for account recovery versus introducing identity proofing workflows.
Validate that risk assessments for privileged access workstations (PAWs) include credential theft scenarios and justify Just-In-Time (JIT) access.
Review third-party access patterns to determine if vendor accounts require time-bound authentication tokens with automated revocation.

Module 3: Designing Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) Frameworks

Define role hierarchies for ERP systems that separate financial transaction initiation from approval, enforcing segregation of duties.
Map IAM roles in cloud platforms (AWS IAM, Azure AD) to business job functions and ensure role definitions are reviewed quarterly.
Implement least privilege access for database administrators by splitting backup, restore, and schema modification privileges into discrete roles.
Configure emergency access accounts (break-glass accounts) with multi-person control and require post-use audit reviews.
Establish naming conventions for service accounts to distinguish them from human identities and enforce machine credential rotation.
Integrate RBAC with HR systems to automate provisioning and deprovisioning based on employment status changes.
Design access review workflows that require business owners to attest to continued need for elevated privileges every 90 days.
Implement attribute-based access control (ABAC) rules for dynamic access decisions in hybrid cloud environments using context such as location and device posture.

Module 4: Implementing Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) at Scale

Select between FIDO2 security keys, TOTP apps, and certificate-based authentication based on user population and device management capabilities.
Configure conditional access policies in identity platforms to enforce MFA for external access but exempt internal network zones.
Deploy MFA for administrative console access (e.g., Microsoft 365, AWS Console) with fallback mechanisms disabled to prevent downgrade attacks.
Integrate MFA with legacy mainframe applications using reverse proxy solutions that support SAML or OIDC.
Plan for MFA token distribution logistics, including secure delivery methods for hardware tokens to remote employees.
Implement MFA bypass procedures for critical systems during outages with time-limited overrides and mandatory post-event review.
Configure phishing-resistant MFA (e.g., FIDO2) for all privileged accounts as per NIST 800-63B and ISO 27001 best practices.
Monitor MFA adoption rates and identify departments with high opt-out rates for targeted training and support.

Module 5: Securing Password Policies and Credential Management

Replace periodic password expiration with compromise-based reset policies using breach detection services.
Implement password screening tools to block known compromised passwords at point of change.
Enforce minimum password length of 12 characters with complexity requirements aligned with NIST guidelines.
Disable LM and NTLM authentication protocols in Active Directory environments and migrate to Kerberos or modern auth.
Deploy privileged access management (PAM) solutions to vault and rotate shared administrative passwords automatically.
Configure service accounts to use managed identities or certificate-based authentication instead of static passwords.
Implement secure self-service password reset (SSPR) with at least two verification methods, excluding SMS for high-risk roles.
Conduct regular audits of password policy compliance across directory services, databases, and network devices.

Module 6: Federated Identity and Single Sign-On (SSO) Integration

Select SAML 2.0 or OIDC as the primary federation protocol based on application vendor support and security requirements.
Negotiate identity provider (IdP) and service provider (SP) metadata exchange processes with third-party vendors for B2B integrations.
Configure IdP-initiated and SP-initiated SSO flows for cloud applications with appropriate relay state validation.
Implement IdP clustering and failover mechanisms to ensure high availability of authentication services.
Define attribute release policies to minimize data sharing, transmitting only required claims (e.g., email, role) to applications.
Enforce TLS 1.2+ and certificate pinning for all federation endpoints to prevent man-in-the-middle attacks.
Integrate SSO with on-premises applications using reverse proxy or agent-based solutions that support header-based authentication.
Monitor federation trust relationships for certificate expiration and renegotiate agreements before renewal deadlines.

Module 7: Privileged Access Management (PAM) for Administrative Accounts

Deploy just-enough-privilege (JEP) models for database and server administrators using time-bound access grants.
Implement session recording and keystroke logging for all privileged access to critical systems with tamper-resistant storage.
Integrate PAM solutions with ticketing systems to enforce break-glass access only with valid incident tickets.
Configure approval workflows for elevation requests, requiring peer or manager authorization for temporary admin rights.
Isolate privileged accounts from standard user accounts with separate directories or identity tenants.
Enforce MFA for all privileged sessions, including local console access, using hardware tokens or biometrics.
Rotate privileged account passwords after each use using automated vaulting mechanisms.
Conduct quarterly access reviews for privileged roles and decommission unused or orphaned accounts.

Module 8: Monitoring, Logging, and Incident Response for Authentication Events

Aggregate authentication logs from directory services, firewalls, and cloud platforms into a centralized SIEM with normalized event formats.
Configure alerts for repeated failed logins from diverse geographies within a short time window indicating credential stuffing.
Define log retention periods for authentication events based on regulatory requirements and forensic needs (minimum 12 months).
Implement immutable logging for privileged access sessions to prevent tampering during investigations.
Correlate authentication failures with endpoint detection and response (EDR) data to identify lateral movement attempts.
Conduct red team exercises to test detection capabilities for pass-the-hash and golden ticket attacks.
Establish incident playbooks for compromised credentials, including forced password resets, session termination, and device isolation.
Perform quarterly log coverage audits to ensure all critical systems are sending authentication events to the SIEM.

Module 9: Third-Party and Vendor Access Governance

Require vendors to use customer-managed identity federation instead of shared credentials for system access.
Implement time-bound access tokens for third-party support personnel with automatic expiration after maintenance windows.
Enforce MFA for all external user accounts, including contractors and partners, regardless of access level.
Conduct access reviews for vendor accounts quarterly and require business owners to re-approve continued access.
Isolate third-party network access using zero trust network access (ZTNA) solutions instead of traditional VPNs.
Negotiate contract clauses that mandate compliance with the organization’s authentication standards for vendor systems.
Monitor vendor authentication patterns for anomalies, such as after-hours access or access from unexpected countries.
Decommission third-party accounts immediately upon contract termination and verify removal through access logs.

Module 10: Continuous Improvement and Audit Readiness

Conduct annual internal audits of authentication controls using checklists aligned with ISO 27001 Annex A.8.9 and A.8.10.
Perform penetration testing of authentication interfaces, including SSO gateways and MFA enrollment portals.
Update the Statement of Applicability (SoA) to reflect changes in authentication technologies or risk landscape.
Review access control policies annually with legal, compliance, and business unit representatives.
Measure control effectiveness using KPIs such as MFA adoption rate, failed login trends, and time to revoke access.
Document exceptions to authentication policies with risk acceptance forms signed by business owners and CISO.
Prepare evidence for external auditors, including access review reports, PAM session logs, and conditional access policies.
Integrate authentication control improvements into the organization’s continual improvement process (Clause 10.2 of ISO 27001).