4 Slack Security Best Practices
Like any other messenger app, Slack carries risks of data breaches, which can sometimes be significant.
Of course, the app prioritizes security and equips users with tools to protect their workspaces. However users should keep in mind that no system is completely threat-proof.
Consider the vast amount of data stored indefinitely, combined with relatively weak encryption and easy integration with third-party apps… This makes Slack a valuable target for hackers.
Common threats include leaked credentials and phishing attacks 😱
Need an example?
Here is the million-dollar question to ask every employee:
Are you 100% sure that no one in your company has ever shared sensitive information like passwords or even credit card numbers?
The security of your Slack environment is critical. It ultimately relies on the safeguards set by administrators, users’ awareness, and good cybersecurity practices, including:
- Monitoring and managing access
- Maintaining security standard compliance (with regular updates)
- Revoking access for external users as well as employee offboarding checks
This is quite a standard approach for any SaaS used within a company.
But regarding the sensitive information available in Slack and its status of privileged target for hackers, we recommend four security best practices to enhance your Slack workspace access security:
1/ Implement SSO or use 2FA
Prioritize the Single Sign-On (SSO) authentication method. It allows users to authenticate their login via a centralized identity provider like Microsoft, Google or Okta.
SSO eliminates the need for managing multiple passwords and enhances workspace security by verifying users through a trusted third-party identity system.
If your company doesn’t have an SSO (yet), or doesn’t want to pay the slack plans to access it, you can still use the Two-Factor Authentication (2FA).
2FA strengthens Slack security by requiring users to verify their login twice before accessing the workspace. This added layer ensures that, even if a password is compromised, unauthorized users still can’t access the Slack environment. Quite reassuring!
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2/ Disable Inactive Slack Accounts
Routinely reviewing and deactivating accounts for former employees, contractors, or others who no longer need access is essential to maintaining Slack security. Promptly removing inactive users reduces the risk of unauthorized access through unused accounts.
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3/ Control Slack Bots and Apps
Slack bots and apps can enhance your work experience, but it's important to monitor their usage and settings. For efficiency, consider restricting access to pre-approved bots and apps, or implement a system for approving new ones.
- Pre-Approved Apps: Limit the use of bots and apps to those that have been vetted and approved by your organization
- Monitoring and Auditing: Periodically review the list of installed bots and apps
- User Permissions: Assign permissions based on user roles within the organization. For example, limit the ability to add new bots and apps to administrators or designated team members. Also control what each bot and app can access and do within your Slack workspace.
- Deactivation and Removal: If a bot or app is no longer needed or is suspected of misuse, have a process in place to temporarily disable it until further review. Ensure there is a clear procedure for removing bots and apps that are no longer required.
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4/ Activate Slack Guest Accounts
Guest accounts in Slack are designed to allow external collaborators, such as freelancers, contractors, or partners, to access specific parts of your Slack workspace without granting them full user privileges. This approach offers several benefits:
- Controlled Access: Guests can be assigned to specific channels
- Temporary Collaboration: Once the guest's involvement is no longer needed, their access can be easily revoked
- Cost-Effective: Guest accounts typically come at a lower cost
- Enhanced Security: limited permissions reduce the risk of accidental data breaches or unauthorized access.
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Is this enough?
Slack isn’t the only target for hackers.
Can you tell how many apps are used within your company? If yes, multiply that number by the number of users. Keep in mind, only one compromised access is enough to cause a data leak.
The good news is that identity and access management isn’t as tough as it may sound. Security and IT teams have a wide range of tools and can rely on their teammates' common sense to help mitigate this cybersecurity risk.
FAQ
All the questions you can have
Difference between a data breach and a data leak
Regulation Authorities don't make any difference between a data breach and a data leak. Literally, a data breach is a successful attack on data by an external, unauthorized entity, and a data leak is unauthorized and accidental. But the fact remains that they are as serious as each other
How does Single Sign-On (SSO) work?
SSO is an authentication process that allows a user to access multiple applications or systems with a single set of login credentials (usually a username and password). Instead of requiring users to remember and enter separate usernames and passwords for each application or service they use, SSO enables them to log in once, and then they can access multiple services or resources without the need to repeatedly authenticate themselves.
Here's how SSO typically works:
- The user logs in to an identity provider (IdP) or an SSO system.
- Once authenticated with the IdP, the user is issued a token or session cookie that represents their authenticated state.
- When the user tries to access other applications or services that are integrated with the same SSO system, the token or cookie is used to grant access without requiring the user to log in again.
SSO offers several benefits, including improved user experience, enhanced security (as users can have stronger and more complex passwords since they only need to remember one set), and simplified identity and access management for organizations.
Popular SSO protocols and standards include Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML), OpenID Connect, and OAuth, which facilitate the secure exchange of authentication and authorization information between the identity provider and the service providers.
Define Two-factor authentication (2FA) and Multi-factor authentication (MFA)
Two-factor authentication (2FA) necessitates users to authenticate their identity using two distinct methods before they can gain access to an account or computer system. One common example of this is combining a password with a code that is sent to the user's phone.
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is a security measure that requires users to provide multiple forms of identification or authentication to access a system, account, or application. MFA enhances security by adding additional layers of verification beyond just a username and password. Typically, these additional factors can include something the user knows (like a password), something the user has (such as a mobile device or smart card), and something the user is (biometric data like fingerprints or facial recognition). By requiring multiple factors, MFA significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized access, making it a crucial component of modern cybersecurity.