1. Planning.

• Assessment
  Begin by identifying who necessitates access, the resources they need, and the rationale for access. Check existing access permissions and evaluate if any can be reduced or completely removed. An entitlement discovery tool could offer a clearer overview.
• Policy creation
  Establish explicit policies for granting and rescinding access. Include provisions detailing who is eligible to request access, under what conditions, and how long the access will last. For privileged roles, delineate time-bound limits.
• Source of truth
  Coordinate your JIT access system with an Identity Provider (IP) such as Okta, Google Workspace, Azure AD, OneLogin. The IP will serve as your definitive source for identities. Prioritize individual identities over shared accounts for superior authorization control and audit precision.

2. Execution.

• Self-serve access requests
  Simplify the process by enabling users to request access through the system, rather than through individuals. Increase uptake by integrating with IM platforms like Slack or MS Teams. Ensure requests state clearly who is requesting, the needed service/resource/role, duration, and reason.

• Approval process
  JIT access allows organizations to decentralize approvals to those with relevant business insight. Resource owners and business unit managers often understand context better than IT support desks. Use communication tools for quick responses, providing approvers with all necessary information to make an informed decision.

• Conditional approval workflows
  Embed your predefined policies into workflows to decide access permissions. Insert these into workflows that specify who can access what, and under which conditions, such as if-then clauses.

• Integrations
  Consider integrating JITA with other IT and security systems to provide more flexibility. Connect with IT ticketing systems for automatic access based on ticket status. Link with data classification systems to modify policies according to data sensitivity. Tag resources and bundle them together to streamline the process further. Collaborate with on-call scheduling software for automated approvals during emergencies. Use training systems to grant access based on training completion.
• Automated provisioning and destruction
  To efficiently grant and revoke access automatically within Terraform Cloud, familiarize yourself well with the platform. This is crucial for JIT Access as it reduces dependency on waiting for people to allocate time. It enables automated revoking of access, which lies at the heart of JIT access, embodying the principle of least privilege access (POLP). Ideally, you should manage all permissions centrally, eliminating the need to construct or manage an environment for each application in your organization.
• Access methods
  For Terraform Cloud JIT Access, APIs are the preferred choice due to their flexibility and real-time ability. However, a combination might be necessary, for instance using SAML for authentication, SCIM for user provisioning and APIs for accurate access control decisions.

3. Maintenance.

• Regular audits
  Regularly inspect access logs to ensure JIT access is functioning as intended. Search for any anomalies or unusual behavior either directly or by feeding the logs into your SIEM. Automate the user access review process to accelerate evidence collection, appoint reviewers, and ensure your system complies with any relevant industry regulations or standards.
• User training
  Teach users, especially privileged ones, about the significance of least privilege, JIT Access, and its workings. Ensure users are aware of how to request access when needed.
• Feedback loop
  Regularly review your JIT access protocols. Solicit feedback from users and IT personnel to understand potential areas for improvement.

Following this methodical approach, you'll efficiently implement a robust Just-in-Time Access system for Terraform Cloud.