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Box Hardening Guide

Storage Last updated: 2025-12-14

Enterprise content security for sharing policies, app controls, and classification

Overview

Box serves 115,000+ customers including 70% of Fortune 500. Box Platform API with OAuth 2.0 and 1,500+ app integrations access enterprise documents, contracts, and financial records. Service account credentials and custom applications extend attack surface.

Intended Audience

  • Security engineers managing enterprise storage
  • IT administrators configuring Box
  • GRC professionals assessing content compliance
  • Third-party risk managers evaluating storage integrations

Table of Contents

  1. Authentication & Access Controls
  2. Sharing & External Access
  3. App 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 SSO

  1. Navigate to: Admin Console → Enterprise Settings → User Settings → SSO
  2. Configure SAML with your IdP
  3. Enable: Require SSO

Step 2: Configure 2FA

  1. Navigate to: Admin Console → Enterprise Settings → Security
  2. Enable: Require 2-step verification for all users

1.2 Role-Based Access

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

ClickOps Implementation

Role Permissions
Co-Admin Full admin (limited users)
Group Admin Manage specific groups
Content Manager Manage content, no users
User Standard access

2. Sharing & External Access

2.1 Configure Sharing Restrictions

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

ClickOps Implementation

Step 1: Configure Default Sharing

  1. Navigate to: Admin Console → Enterprise Settings → Content & Sharing
  2. Configure:
    • Default shared link access: Company only
    • External collaboration: Restricted domains
    • Password on links: Required

Step 2: Enable Box Shield

  1. Navigate to: Admin Console → Shield
  2. Configure:
    • Smart Access policies
    • Classification labels
    • Threat detection

3. App Integration Security

3.1 Manage OAuth Apps

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

ClickOps Implementation

Step 1: Review Apps

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

Step 2: Restrict App Installation

  1. Configure: App approval process
  2. Require admin approval for new apps
  3. Audit OAuth scopes

3.2 Service Account Security

Profile Level: L2 (Hardened) NIST 800-53: IA-5

Implementation

  1. Create dedicated service accounts
  2. Limit to specific folders
  3. Rotate credentials quarterly
  4. Monitor service account activity

4. Monitoring & Detection

4.1 Enable Box Shield

Profile Level: L2 (Hardened)

Features

  • ML-powered threat detection
  • Anomalous download detection
  • External sharing alerts
  • Classification enforcement

Detection Queries

-- Detect bulk downloads
SELECT user_email, COUNT(*) as download_count
FROM box_events
WHERE event_type = 'DOWNLOAD'
  AND created_at > NOW() - INTERVAL '1 hour'
GROUP BY user_email
HAVING COUNT(*) > 50;

Appendix A: Edition Compatibility

Control Business Business Plus Enterprise
SSO ✅ ✅ ✅
Device Trust ❌ ✅ ✅
Box Shield ❌ ❌ Add-on
DLP ❌ ❌ ✅

Changelog

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