Mastering Zero Standing Privileges: Principles, Benefits, and Implementation Strategies

 Zero Standing Privileges (ZSP)

Zero Standing Privileges (ZSP) is a privileged access management (PAM) strategy that removes all permanent or always‑on access rights from users and systems. Instead of having ongoing privileges, identities receive temporary, just‑in‑time (JIT) access only when needed, for only as long as necessary, and only after verification.

According to CyberArk, ZSP “advocates for the removal of all persistent privileges for users” and grants access only when temporary authorization is approved. Keeper Security similarly defines ZSP as removing all permanent access and requiring users to request temporary access for each task.

This approach is a natural evolution of Zero Trust and least privilege.

1. What Standing Privileges Are

Standing privileges are ongoing, always‑available access rights assigned to human or machine identities. These privileges exist even when the user is not actively performing administrative tasks.

Examples include:

• Domain admin accounts
• Cloud IAM roles with broad permissions
• Service accounts with persistent access
• SaaS admin roles

CyberArk notes that standing privileges exist across hybrid and multi‑cloud environments and pose a significant risk if compromised.

2. Why Standing Privileges Are Dangerous

Standing privileges dramatically increase the attack surface. If an attacker compromises an account with standing privileges, they can:

• Steal credentials
• Move laterally
• Escalate privileges
• Access sensitive systems
• Exfiltrate data

Keeper Security highlights risks such as privilege creep, where users accumulate more access than necessary over time, and privilege escalation, where attackers exploit compromised accounts to gain additional access.

This aligns with the Zero Trust “assume breach” mindset.

3. What Zero Standing Privileges Actually Do

ZSP eliminates all permanent entitlements. No user or system has built‑in access to anything, not even basic admin functions.

Instead, ZSP enforces:

Just‑In‑Time (JIT) Access

Temporary access is granted only when needed and automatically removed afterward. StrongDM explains that JIT generates new credentials for each request and destroys them once the task completes.

Continuous Identity Verification

Users must authenticate and justify access every time.

Ephemeral Privileges

Access rights are valid only for minutes or hours, not for days or months.

Auditability

Every access request is logged, reviewed, and traceable.

4. How ZSP Works (Step-by-Step)

A. User Requests Access

They specify:

• What system do they need
• Why do they need it
• For how long

B. Identity Verification

• Multi-factor authentication (MFA), device posture checks, or risk scoring.

C. Just‑In‑Time Provisioning

• A temporary role, token, or credential is created.

D. Time‑Bound Access

• Users perform the task within a limited window.

E. Automatic Revocation

• Credentials expire or are destroyed.

F. Full Audit Trail

• Every action is logged for compliance and forensics.

5. ZSP vs. Least Privilege

Strong DM explains the difference clearly:

• Least Privilege: Users have only the minimal standing access needed for daily tasks.
• Zero Standing Privilege: Users have no standing access; all requests are JIT.

ZSP is stricter and more secure.

6. Benefits of Zero Standing Privileges

A. Massive Reduction in Attack Surface

• No standing privileges = nothing for attackers to steal.

B. Stops Lateral Movement

• Attackers can’t pivot without persistent privileges.

C. Eliminates Privilege Creep

• Access is temporary and purpose‑bound.

D. Strong Alignment with Zero Trust

• “Never trust, always verify” becomes operationalized.

E. Better Compliance

Auditable, time‑bound access supports:

• SOX
• HIPAA
• PCI DSS
• FedRAMP
• ISO 27001

F. Cloud Security

• Dynamic cloud environments benefit from ephemeral access rather than static IAM roles.

7. How Organizations Implement ZSP

A. Privileged Access Management (PAM) Tools

Modern PAM platforms automate:

• JIT access
• Credential rotation
• Session recording
• Approval workflows

B. Identity Governance

• Define who can request what and under what conditions.

C. Automation

• Access is granted and revoked automatically.

D. Policy Enforcement

Rules define:

• Access duration
• Required approvals
• Allowed systems

E. Continuous Monitoring

• Detect anomalies and revoke access instantly.

8. Challenges and Considerations

A. Cultural Resistance

• Admins are used to persistent access.

B. Workflow Changes

• Teams must adapt to requesting access.

C. Tooling Requirements

• It requires PAM, IAM, and automation integration.

D. Legacy Systems

• Older systems may not support ephemeral access.

Final Thoughts

Zero Standing Privileges is one of the most potent modern security strategies. It eliminates the risks associated with always‑on access, enforces Zero Trust principles, and dramatically reduces the blast radius of credential theft.

It’s not just a best practice; it’s becoming a necessity in cloud‑first, identity‑centric environments.