Google has announced the general availability of certificate-based access (CBA) in its Identity and Access Management portfolio. This feature aims to enhance account security and protect organizations from stolen credentials and cookie theft.
Stolen credentials are one of the most common attack vectors used by attackers to gain unauthorized access to user accounts and steal information. CBA enhances security by using mutual TLS (mTLS) to ensure that user credentials are bound to a device certificate before authorizing access to cloud resources.
One important aspect of CBA is its use of X.509 certificates as device identifiers, ensuring that only trusted devices can access sensitive resources. Even if an attacker compromises a user's credentials, account access will remain blocked as they do not have the corresponding certificate.
Moreover, this security approach extends beyond the initial login, evaluating every authorization request to further safeguard resource access. This is achieved through the certificate-based access control policy, which ensures that only legitimate users with the correct certificate are granted access.
Furthermore, CBA utilizes secure cryptographic storage such as TPMs and OS keystores for strong key protection, further enhancing the overall system security.
In conclusion, Google Cloud's launch of CBA provides another crucial layer of security by preventing account takeovers and protecting credentials. By incorporating CBA into their security strategies, organizations can bolster their data protection and maintain user trust.
