Korvina & Haskel
Haskel
Do you think the principle of least privilege can be enforced purely through code structure, or does it always require external policy enforcement?
Korvina
In theory, a well‑designed codebase can enforce least privilege by creating tight access boundaries, using role‑based checks, and scoping permissions to the narrowest scope necessary. But in practice, that alone isn’t enough—external policy enforcement, like IAM policies, network segmentation, and audit logs, is essential to keep the rule consistent, enforce it across distributed systems, and catch misconfigurations that the code itself can’t see. So code is a first line, but policy is the safety net.
Haskel
Code can carve boundaries, but a policy layer is the only way to guarantee that boundary remains unbroken. Without it, you’re just drawing a fence that the universe can ignore.
Korvina
True, the fence only holds if you keep a watchdog on it. Code sets the limits, but policy and monitoring make sure nobody slips through the cracks.
Haskel
You nailed it—code draws the line, policy watches it, and the logs are the eyes that never sleep. Without all three, the fence is just a suggestion.
Korvina
Exactly. Code lays the bricks, policy writes the rulebook, and logs keep an eye on the whole construction site. Three hands make a wall that can’t be walked through.
Haskel
Nice analogy—just make sure the bricks don’t get swapped for cobblestones when you’re tired.