Reserved for emergencies, breakglass access allows authorized employees to bypass normal access controls to gain immediate access to critical systems
Breakglass access is a type of emergency access that allows authorized personnel to bypass normal access controls in order to gain immediate access to critical systems or data in the event of an emergency or crisis situation.
Breakglass access is typically reserved for situations where access to critical resources is required urgently, and normal access controls cannot be used, such as when a system is down or when there is a security breach. The term "breakglass" refers to the practice of breaking a glass barrier to access a fire alarm or emergency equipment, similar to the concept of breaking through normal access controls.
Breakglass access is considered a last resort and is typically reserved for a limited set of individuals who have been authorized to use it. It is also subject to strict auditing and monitoring to ensure that it is only used in appropriate circumstances.
In general, there are a few best practices:
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