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Types of Access Control

Explanation on different types of access control methods

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36 views4 pages

Types of Access Control

Explanation on different types of access control methods

Uploaded by

rampagesins23
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Access control methods are techniques used to regulate who or what can view or use

resources in a computing environment. These methods ensure that only authorized


individuals or systems have access to sensitive data, applications, or physical
spaces. There are several types of access control methods, each with its own way of
determining permissions. Below are the most commonly used access control methods:

1. Discretionary Access Control (DAC)


Definition: In Discretionary Access Control, the owner of a resource (like a file
or a system) has the discretion to decide who can access it and what level of
access they are granted.

Key Characteristics:

The owner (user or process) has full control over their resources and can determine
access permissions for other users.
Permissions are often assigned at the file or resource level.
It's the most flexible model, but also the least secure since the owner can
accidentally give access to malicious users.
Examples:

In operating systems like Windows, the owner of a file can set permissions for
other users to read, write, or execute the file.
A shared folder on a network where the owner grants or revokes access rights.
Pros:

Simple to implement and highly flexible.


Users can easily share files or resources.
Cons:

Lack of centralized control can lead to security vulnerabilities.


Susceptible to malware attacks, as users might unintentionally give malicious users
access.
2. Mandatory Access Control (MAC)
Definition: Mandatory Access Control is a more restrictive access control model,
where access rights are regulated by a central authority based on predefined
security policies. The user cannot alter access permissions.

Key Characteristics:

Access permissions are determined by the system, not the owner, and users cannot
change these permissions.
Resources and users are assigned security labels (such as "classified," "secret,"
"top-secret").
Access is granted based on clearance levels (only users with the appropriate
clearance can access higher-classified resources).
Examples:

Military and government systems where users are classified based on security
levels, and access to sensitive information is highly regulated.
Systems that require data separation based on different security levels (e.g., top
secret, secret, confidential).
Pros:

Provides a high level of security due to strict control over access permissions.
Centralized control over access permissions ensures that users cannot accidentally
or intentionally share sensitive information.
Cons:

Rigid and difficult to implement in dynamic environments.


Inflexible for day-to-day use in commercial settings due to its complexity and
administrative overhead.
3. Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)
Definition: In Role-Based Access Control, access rights are assigned based on a
user’s role within an organization. Users are grouped by roles (such as admin,
manager, or employee), and each role has predefined access permissions to
resources.

Key Characteristics:

Access is determined by the user’s role, not by the user themselves.


Users in the same role share the same access rights.
Roles are often aligned with job functions or departments in an organization.
Examples:

In a hospital, doctors, nurses, and administrative staff have different access


rights based on their roles. Doctors may have access to patient medical records,
while administrative staff can only access billing information.
In a corporate environment, IT administrators might have access to all systems,
while regular employees have access to only their department’s resources.
Pros:

Simplifies management by grouping users into roles.


Scales well in large organizations as roles can be reused for multiple users.
Reduces the chances of errors when granting permissions.
Cons:

Can become complex to manage if there are too many roles.


Requires careful planning to ensure roles are properly defined to avoid over-
privileging.
4. Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC)
Definition: Attribute-Based Access Control grants access based on a set of
attributes, which could be related to the user, resource, environment, or action.
Decisions are made using policies that evaluate these attributes.

Key Characteristics:

Attributes can include user characteristics (e.g., job title, department), resource
characteristics (e.g., file type, sensitivity), and environmental conditions (e.g.,
time of day, location).
A central policy engine evaluates whether access should be granted based on the
attributes.
More dynamic and granular than RBAC because policies can be more complex and
consider a wide range of conditions.
Examples:

A cloud storage system where access to a sensitive file is only granted if the user
is in a specific location (e.g., the office), has the role of manager, and is
working during office hours.
A hospital system where doctors can access patient data only if they are physically
in the hospital and treating that particular patient.
Pros:

Highly flexible and adaptable to dynamic environments.


Supports fine-grained access control based on multiple attributes.
Ideal for environments where access needs to be dynamic and policy-based (e.g.,
cloud environments).
Cons:
Can be complex to manage due to the number of attributes and conditions involved.
Requires a robust infrastructure for managing and evaluating policies.
5. Rule-Based Access Control
Definition: Rule-Based Access Control grants or denies access to resources based on
specific rules or conditions set by the administrator. These rules often follow an
if-then-else format.

Key Characteristics:

The access decision is based on specific rules, independent of the user’s identity
or role.
Rules can be based on multiple conditions like time, network, or system states.
Often used in combination with other access control models like RBAC.
Examples:

An organization may have a rule that access to the corporate network is only
granted during business hours (9 AM to 5 PM) or from specific IP addresses.
A firewall rule that denies access to certain websites but allows access to others
based on predefined conditions.
Pros:

Highly customizable and flexible, as administrators can set specific rules for
different scenarios.
Can be used to fine-tune access beyond role or attribute models.
Cons:

Can become complex and difficult to manage as the number of rules increases.
Rules need constant updates to remain effective, which can be administratively
demanding.
6. Identity-Based Access Control (IBAC)
Definition: Identity-Based Access Control grants access based on the unique
identity of the user. Access rights are tied directly to the individual, not to
roles or groups they may belong to.

Key Characteristics:

Access decisions are based on the specific identity of the user.


Often used in conjunction with authentication mechanisms to verify identity (e.g.,
username/password, biometrics).
Examples:

A CEO might have specific access to certain corporate resources that no other role
or user can access, regardless of their job title.
A system that grants access to a specific individual based on their unique
credentials (e.g., biometric data).
Pros:

Provides precise control over who can access resources.


Ideal for granting special privileges to individuals.
Cons:

Difficult to scale in large organizations where many individuals need specific


permissions.
May lead to administrative burden as individual permissions need to be managed
separately.
7. Context-Based Access Control (CBAC)
Definition: Context-Based Access Control grants or denies access based on the
context of the access request. This can include factors like the time of access,
location of the user, the device being used, and other environmental conditions.
Key Characteristics:

Access control decisions are based on the current state or context of the request.
Often used in environments where security needs to be adaptive and responsive to
changing conditions.
Examples:

A banking app may allow a user to access their account from their home network but
deny access if the request comes from a foreign country.
A system might allow access to sensitive data only during work hours but deny it
outside of those hours.
Pros:

Highly dynamic and adaptable to changing circumstances.


Enhances security by considering the full context of the access request, not just
user identity or role.
Cons:

Can be complex to implement and manage due to the many potential variables involved
in access decisions.
Requires sophisticated monitoring and analysis systems.

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