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Asana Hardening Guide

Productivity Last updated: 2025-12-14

Project management security for guest access, app controls, and division settings

Overview

Asana manages project and task management with team collaboration features. REST API, OAuth apps, and integrations access project data, task assignments, and workflow automation. Compromised access exposes project timelines, resource allocation, and strategic initiatives.

Intended Audience

  • Security engineers managing productivity tools
  • Asana administrators
  • GRC professionals assessing project management security
  • Third-party risk managers evaluating workflow integrations

Table of Contents

  1. Authentication & Access Controls
  2. Workspace & Project Security
  3. Integration Security
  4. Monitoring & Detection

1. Authentication & Access Controls

1.1 Enforce SSO with MFA

Profile Level: L1 (Baseline) NIST 800-53: IA-2(1)

ClickOps Implementation

Step 1: Configure SAML SSO (Enterprise)

  1. Navigate to: Admin Console → Security → Authentication
  2. Configure SAML IdP
  3. Enable: Require SAML

Step 2: Enable 2FA (Non-SSO)

  1. Navigate to: Admin Console → Security
  2. Enable: Require 2FA

1.2 Division-Based Access

Profile Level: L1 (Baseline) NIST 800-53: AC-3, AC-6

ClickOps Implementation

Step 1: Configure Divisions (Enterprise)

  1. Navigate to: Admin Console → Divisions
  2. Create organizational divisions
  3. Configure cross-division access

Step 2: Team Permissions

  1. Create teams for departments
  2. Set project permissions by team
  3. Limit cross-team visibility

2. Workspace & Project Security

2.1 Configure Sharing Defaults

Profile Level: L1 (Baseline) NIST 800-53: AC-21

Description

Control project and workspace sharing.

Rationale

Attack Scenario: Guest access to sensitive projects exposes strategic initiatives; public links to projects leak timeline information.

ClickOps Implementation

Step 1: Guest Access Controls

  1. Navigate to: Admin Console → Security → Guest settings
  2. Configure:
    • Domain restrictions for guests
    • Guest invitation policies
    • Guest access expiration

Step 2: Project Defaults

  1. Set default project visibility
  2. Restrict public project creation
  3. Configure comment-only access

2.2 Data Controls

Profile Level: L2 (Hardened) NIST 800-53: SC-28

ClickOps Implementation

Step 1: Configure Export Restrictions

  1. Navigate to: Admin Console → Security
  2. Limit export capabilities
  3. Audit bulk exports

3. Integration Security

3.1 Manage Apps

Profile Level: L1 (Baseline) NIST 800-53: CM-7

ClickOps Implementation

Step 1: Audit Connected Apps

  1. Navigate to: Admin Console → Apps
  2. Review all connected apps
  3. Remove unused apps

Step 2: App Installation Policy

  1. Configure: App approval settings
  2. Require admin approval
  3. Review OAuth scopes

3.2 Personal Access Tokens

Profile Level: L1 (Baseline) NIST 800-53: IA-5

Implementation

Step 1: Token Management

  1. Navigate to: My Profile Settings → Apps → Developer apps
  2. Audit personal access tokens
  3. Revoke unused tokens

Step 2: Service Account Tokens

  1. Create dedicated service accounts
  2. Limit token permissions
  3. Document integrations

4. Monitoring & Detection

4.1 Admin Audit Log

Profile Level: L1 (Baseline) NIST 800-53: AU-2, AU-3

ClickOps Implementation

Step 1: Access Audit Logs

  1. Navigate to: Admin Console → Settings → Admin audit log
  2. Review activity events
  3. Export for SIEM

Detection Focus

-- Detect bulk project access
SELECT user_email, project_count
FROM asana_audit_log
WHERE action = 'project_view'
  AND timestamp > NOW() - INTERVAL '1 hour'
GROUP BY user_email
HAVING project_count > 50;

-- Detect guest additions
SELECT admin_email, guest_email, project_name
FROM asana_audit_log
WHERE action = 'guest_added'
  AND timestamp > NOW() - INTERVAL '7 days';

Appendix A: Edition Compatibility

Control Premium Business Enterprise
SAML SSO ❌ ❌ ✅
SCIM ❌ ❌ ✅
Audit Logs ❌ ❌ ✅
Divisions ❌ ❌ ✅

Changelog

Date Version Maturity Changes Author
2025-12-14 0.1.0 draft Initial Asana hardening guide Claude Code (Opus 4.5)