What does the principle of separation of duties help to prevent?

The principle of separation of duties is essential in maintaining the integrity and security of an organization’s operations. By dividing roles and responsibilities among different individuals, this principle helps to mitigate the risks of fraud and errors during critical tasks. When a single person is responsible for multiple aspects of a task, it increases the likelihood of mistakes going unnoticed or of opportunities for malicious actions.

For instance, in a financial context, having one individual handle both the approval of transactions and the recording of those transactions can lead to unchecked fraud. If these responsibilities are split among different personnel, it creates a system of checks and balances that enhances accountability and oversight.

This principle does not directly address issues like user productivity, password fatigue, or redundant account creation, as those concerns relate to operational efficiency and user experience rather than the specific risks linked to task execution and control within an organization.