1. Planning.

• Assessment
  Start by identifying who needs access, what resources they require, and the reason for access. Document existing access permissions and see if they can be reduced or removed. Consider the use of an entitlement discovery tool for enhanced visibility.
• Policy Creation
  Establish clear policies for granting and revoking access. Include guidelines for who can request access, under what circumstances, and how long it should last. For privileged roles, set a time limit.
• Source of Truth
  Sync your JIT access system with an Identity Provider (e.g., Okta, Google Workspace, Azure AD, OneLogin). This will serve as the definitive source for identities. Prioritise individual identities over shared accounts to improve authorisation control and audit accuracy.

2. Execution.

• Self-serve Access Requests
  Simplify the process by letting users make requests through the system, not individuals. Encourage adoption by integrating with IM platforms such as Slack or MS Teams. Ensure requests detail who’s asking for access, what resources/role they need, the duration, and the reason.

• Approval Process
  JIT access allows organizations to delegate approvals to individuals with business context. Resource owners and business unit managers often have more context than IT help desks. Use messaging platforms for quick responses and provide approvers with the necessary information to make informed decisions.

• Conditional Approval Workflows
  Incorporate your defined policies into workflows determining access permissions. Put these into workflows that decide who can access what and under which conditions. One effective approach is to use if-then conditions. IF identity group “X” request access to “Y”, then seek approval from “Z” and notify “M”.

• Integration
  Consider integrating JIT access with other IT and security systems for added flexibility; integrate with IT ticketing systems for automated access based on the ticket status, link with data classification systems to adjust policies based on data sensitivity. Ideally, have the ability to tag resources and group them together to streamline the process. Engage with on-call schedule software for automated approvals during emergencies. Utilize training systems to grant access based on training completion.
• Automated Provisioning and Deprovisioning
  Understand Power BI effectively to grant and revoke access within the service automatically. This component of JIT access is vital, reducing reliance on people having to find time. It allows for automated access revocation, which is at the core of JIT access and the principle of least privilege access (POLP). Ideally, manage all permissions in one place, rather than having to construct or handle an environment for each application in your organization.
• Access Methods
  For Power BI JIT Access, APIs are preferred due to their flexibility and real-time capabilities. However, a combination might be necessary, like using SAML for authentication, SCIM for user provisioning, and APIs for precise access control decisions.

3. Maintenance.

• Regular Audits
  Periodically verify access logs to guarantee JIT access is functioning as expected. Look for any unusual patterns or behaviors either directly or by sending the logs to your SIEM. Automate the user access review process to speed up evidence collection, delegate reviewers, and ensure your system adheres to relevant regulations or standards.
• User Training
  Inform users, especially those with privileged access, about the importance of least privilege, JIT Access, and its workings. Ensure users know how to request access when it's necessary.
• Feedback Loop
  Regularly review your JIT access procedures. Solicit feedback from both users and IT staff to identify improvement areas.

Following this structured approach will enable you to efficiently implement a resilient Just-in-Time Access system for Power BI.