What type of access does the principle of least privilege advocate for?

The principle of least privilege is a security concept that advocates for users and systems to be granted the minimum level of access necessary to perform their tasks. This approach helps to reduce the risk of accidental or malicious misuse of access rights. By limiting privileges, it minimizes potential damage from an attack or an error, as it restricts users and processes from accessing sensitive information or critical systems that are not required for their specific role.

For example, if a user only needs to access a particular database to perform their job functions, they should not have permissions to access other databases or systems where they could inadvertently make harmful changes or expose sensitive information. This principle is fundamental in reducing the attack surface and is often a core component in effective security policies.