Developer Journey Week 8: Streamlining Security Access Across Complex Camera Networks

Introduction: Automating Access for Efficiency and Security

In the eighth week of my developer journey, I was tasked with a critical project by the command staff — to automate the access management of a sprawling camera system that spans several districts, jails, and even helicopters. The goal was to replace the current manual, error-prone process with a dynamic, rule-based system.

Addressing the Overload of Security Groups

The existing system suffered from bloated security groups due to manual management, which became inefficient and strained our systems during high-demand periods. The solution was to develop a method that dynamically adjusts access based on changes in roles and locations, thereby ensuring that only relevant personnel have access at any given time.

Developing the Solution: Rule Sets and Data Management

Step 1: Establishing Baseline Access Requirements

The first task was identifying a baseline of personnel who require unfettered access to the camera feeds, focusing initially on the five most critical districts and the helicopter feeds. This baseline would serve as the foundation for developing more complex rule sets.

Step 2: Simplifying Data Queries

To manage the rules efficiently, I optimized our database queries. This involved moving essential data from a table that stored historical position data (which was cumbersome to query) to a table that contained only current position data. This change significantly reduced the complexity and execution time of our queries.

Step 3: Creating Dynamic Security Groups

Using criteria such as job type codes, supervisory organizations, and business units, I developed rule sets to determine who should have access to specific camera groups. These groups were then linked to Active Directory groups, with a stored procedure set up to update group memberships based on these dynamic rule sets regularly.

Managing Exceptions and Compliance

Understanding that there will be exceptions to any rule, I created an exceptions table to manage outliers who don't fit the standard criteria but require access due to their unique roles. Any exception requires approval up to the level of the colonel responsible for the cameras, ensuring that only necessary exceptions are made.

Auditing and Preparing for Implementation

Before going live with these changes, I conducted thorough audits to ensure compliance and correctness. This included creating detailed spreadsheets for each camera group to review proposed memberships and running queries to highlight the significant number of individuals who would lose access. This preparatory work is crucial to minimize disruptions and manage the expected influx of inquiries once the changes are implemented.

Conclusion: Setting the Stage for a More Secure System

This project not only aims to enhance security and efficiency but also prepares the organization for scalable and manageable growth. By automating access based on precise, dynamically updated rules, we can ensure that our resources are used judiciously and that our security protocols are maintained without manual overhead. I am currently awaiting feedback on these proposed changes and am prepared to adjust the rule sets as necessary to accommodate any overlooked teams.