Access controls refer to the techniques put into place to regulate who or what can access resources in an IT environment. Implementing strong access controls helps ensure that if an account were to be compromised, the damage is contained to only that which the specific user could access.  

Not only are they a core concept in most security strategies, demonstrating satisfactory access controls is usually a central requirement for meeting your company’s Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) requirements as well as qualifying for comprehensive cyber insurance coverage. As such, not only does enforcing appropriate access controls help prevent a data breach, it can also help you avoid regulatory fines and penalties, improve incident response in the event of a data breach, and ensure better insurance coverage.