Introduction to Continuous Access Evaluation Profile (CAEP)

What is CAEP?

CAEP is an Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) standard developed to enable continuous evaluation of user access in identity and access management (IAM) systems. It ensures that access decisions are updated in real time based on changing risk signals, such as user location, device status, or security context. CAEP enables real-time access checks that adapt to potential threats as they emerge, which dramatically reduces an organization’s risk exposure.

CAEP plays a critical role in supporting Zero Trust principles by continuously reassessing a user’s access rights within a dynamic security framework. Rather than granting access based on a single check at login, CAEP upholds Zero Trust by evaluating whether access remains appropriate throughout the user’s session. This approach ensures that access rights align with current conditions, tightening access control by continuously factoring in real-time context, like location and device security, within a constantly shifting landscape.

How CAEP works

To understand how CAEP enhances security, let's break down its core functions:

Event-based evaluation

CAEP continuously monitors for high-risk events that indicate a potential security threat. These include:

• Location anomalies: A user logs in from a geographically distant location within minutes of their last session (impossible travel scenario).
• Device security changes: The user switches to an unmanaged or compromised device.
• Behavioral anomalies: Unusual authentication patterns, such as rapid logins to multiple systems or high-risk application access attempts.
• Revoked credentials or role changes: If a user’s privileges are revoked due to offboarding or a security policy update, CAEP can immediately terminate active sessions to enforce policy changes in real time.

When such triggers are detected, CAEP dynamically reassesses and adjusts the user’s access rights, which provides a robust approach for ensuring that only the right individuals maintain access under the right conditions.

For example, if a user suddenly logs in from an unfamiliar location or engages in actions that deviate from their usual behavior, CAEP will respond by either prompting for additional verification like multi-factor authentication, restricting access, or even terminating the session based on the level of risk detected. This approach helps prevent unauthorized access in real-time and delivers proactive protection against potential breaches before they escalate.

Open authorization (OAuth) integration

CAEP enhances OAuth 2.0 security by enabling real-time token revocation and introspection. Instead of relying on static access tokens that remain valid until expiration, CAEP allows identity providers and security platforms to:

• Revoke tokens dynamically: If a security event occurs (e.g., a device becomes untrusted), CAEP can immediately revoke or refresh tokens instead of waiting for their expiration.
• Perform real-time introspection: Security systems can query the OAuth introspection endpoint to validate whether an access token is still valid and to update access policies dynamically.

In practice, this means CAEP can detect and respond to risks without making users re-authenticate every time a potential threat arises, allowing organizations to achieve a high level of security without sacrificing user convenience.

Together, these components make CAEP a powerful tool for preventing identity-based attacks and maintaining secure access, even as users and environments evolve.

Key benefits of CAEP

CAEP offers a range of benefits for organizations. Here’s how each of these advantages plays out in practice:

Enhanced security

Since CAEP continuously assesses and adjusts access permissions, it minimizes the chances of outdated session information leading to security gaps. This means that as soon as any condition changes—like a login from a new location or a switch to a different device—CAEP reevaluates access in real time.

This continuous monitoring helps prevent risks like account takeovers and insider threats. If unusual patterns or behaviors are detected, CAEP can immediately adjust access permissions and circumvent a potential data breach.

Real-time enforcement

When CAEP detects anomalies or any suspicious behavior, it enforces security policies on the spot. This quick response limits the exposure of sensitive information and stops unauthorized access in its tracks, ensuring that security measures align with Zero Trust principles.

By responding to risky activity the moment it’s detected, CAEP keeps threats from lingering undetected in a system. This reduces the “dwell time” of attackers and helps contain threats before they can gain a foothold within the environment.

Dwell time refers to the amount of time an attacker remains undetected within an environment after gaining unauthorized access. CAEP minimizes dwell time by ensuring that session permissions are continuously reassessed. If an attacker gains access using stolen credentials, CAEP can detect risk signals—such as unusual device changes or privilege escalations—and immediately revoke access, cutting off attackers before they can move laterally.

Improved user experience

Unlike access systems that might require frequent logins, CAEP’s continuous evaluation approach means users don’t have to re-authenticate every time a policy check occurs. By validating tokens in real time and only requiring verification when absolutely necessary, CAEP keeps users securely connected without interrupting their work.

This approach strikes an ideal balance for upholding rigorous security standards while seamlessly delivering a high-quality, frictionless user experience.

CAEP in Zero Trust Architecture

By constantly verifying access rights based on updated information, CAEP enables IAM solutions to promptly react to shifting security conditions. For example, if a user's device suddenly shows signs of compromise or the network that they’re on becomes untrusted, CAEP can instantly limit or revoke access to sensitive resources. This real-time responsiveness is key to enforcing Zero Trust principles where access is never assumed to be safe and is only granted based on an ongoing and dynamic risk assessment.

CAEP strengthens Zero Trust security by dynamically adjusting access policies in real time based on contextual risk factors. Organizations can use CAEP to enforce:

• Just-in-time (JIT) access: Granting permissions only when necessary and revoking them immediately after use.
• Risk-based authentication (RBA): Enforcing step-up authentication (e.g., MFA) only when risk signals exceed a defined threshold.
• Session risk scoring: Continuously evaluating user and device behavior to determine whether an active session should be maintained, restricted, or terminated.

CAEP also allows organizations to enforce adaptive access policies that adjust according to the current risk context. By enabling granular, real-time policy adjustments, CAEP empowers IAM tools to promptly respond to shifting security conditions. This continuous verification and adaptability make CAEP a cornerstone in enforcing Zero Trust where access is granted based on an ongoing, dynamic risk assessment rather than static permissions.

CAEP with CrowdStrike

CrowdStrike Falcon® Identity Protection’s CAEP capabilities offer robust, real-time protection by continuously analyzing access and dynamically responding to emerging threats. Falcon Identity Protection uses CAEP to analyze access and assess risk in real time, ensuring that any signs of identity attacks or suspicious activity trigger immediate action. By dynamically revoking tokens, blocking questionable access, and stopping potential threats as they arise, Falcon Identity Protection provides robust, proactive security.

Powered by CrowdStrike’s elite threat intelligence network, Falcon Identity Protection enhances continuous access evaluation with contextual insights drawn from global intelligence on emerging threats. This extensive intelligence network supports proactive threat detection and response, allowing organizations to stay ahead of identity-based attacks. With CAEP capabilities that adapt instantly to evolving risks, Falcon Identity Protection delivers identity security that’s both resilient and responsive, maintaining trust in access controls across the digital landscape.