Access control is a security measure that limits access to digital resources and physical buildings. It uses credentials like passwords, pins, and biometric scans to authenticate users and grant them permissions.
Network access control (NAC) bolsters network security by restricting access to devices and users that don’t meet corporate security policies. It also helps prevent viruses from infiltrating networks and other resources.
Authentication
Securing access to your network and ensuring that users are who they say they are required well-executed robust authentication methods. It means a variety of factors, from usernames and passwords to biometric verification, tokens, and mobile apps.
Authentication is the initial step in the security process that establishes a person’s identity and validates their authenticity before granting them access to a resource. It’s also the first step in the authorization process, which specifies what users can do with resources once they’re authenticated.
By allowing users to access network resources, authorization strengthens the security of the authentication process. It is a crucial part of security, as it ensures that users are only authorized to access the resources they need to do their jobs and protect sensitive data from bad actors.
Access control in networking is a common feature of most large organizations’ information systems, enabling administrators to enforce various compliance requirements and security levels. It monitors user behavior, ensures employees use appropriate resources, and avoids security risks.
The simplest form of authentication is a username and password, but as cybersecurity threats have increased in recent years, many organizations are turning to multiple authentication factors for layered security. These include two-factor authentication (often referred to as 2FA), which involves a combination of something you know or possess and something you are, like a fingerprint or voice scan.
Identification
Access control is determining who can access something, such as information, devices, physical resources, applications, or networks. It also determines how someone should access it, such as via password or biometric identification.
Identifying people is an important security feature that can protect against ransomware and other unauthorized activities. It is why many organizations use security technologies that can verify an individual’s identity using various means.
It means surveillance systems, fingerprints, and DNA samples in the real world. In the digital world, it can mean device fingerprinting and other biometrics, such as facial recognition, keystroke detection, and writing style analysis.
While identifying a person is a crucial security feature, it could be more secure. For example, if someone uses a fake name and password to get into your system, it’s much harder for the system to track them down.
Access control is a complex issue that requires multiple components to function correctly. In addition, a compelling user experience is essential so employees can easily understand and comply with the system. If the technology is challenging to use, employees may make errors that allow unauthorized access, which can expose your organization to risk. It is why it’s essential to implement an access management solution that offers robust reporting and monitoring features.
Authorization
Authorization is the ability to control access to resources and is a critical component of access control. This feature allows businesses to limit access to data and systems for security, compliance, and operational reasons.
In most cases, authorization occurs through a system administrator who establishes the policies. The system then uses these policies to determine whether or not users can access the required resources.
Several authorization methods exist, such as role-based access control, obligatory access control, and discretionary access control. DAC is the most common business model because it lets data owners decide who can access their information.
MAC, on the other hand, places strict policies on user access. These policies are enforced by the operating system or security kernel, which sets access restrictions based on sensitivity levels. This model is used in military and government environments.
Role-based access control, on the other hand, creates permissions based on groups of users and the roles they hold. These permissions are usually assigned to specific jobs, like bank employees or department managers.
Regardless of the model, authorization is essential for protecting sensitive information. It’s also a vital component of a business’s IT security strategy. It allows businesses to protect their data from unauthorized parties and terminate corporate account access when people leave the company.
Accountability
Access control is a fundamental feature of network security that limits access to computer systems, applications, and files. It assists businesses in adhering to data privacy rules and lowers the danger of unauthorized access to sensitive data.
Accountability is a crucial aspect of access control that helps identify unauthorized users and prevents data breaches. It requires a system that can detect suspicious activity and trace what data was accessed or retrieved by a particular user.
Authentication is verifying an individual’s identity using something they know, have, or are (a password, PIN, answers to security questions, or biometrics like fingerprints or iris scans). The next step in the access control process is authorization, which confirms the requesting user has the appropriate access rights and permissions to a resource.
Several access models are available to determine the appropriate access controls for your organization. They include discretionary access control, mandatory access control, role-based access control, and rules-based access control.
For example, with discretionary access control, the data owner decides who can access an object or resource based on the rules they define. This model is easy to implement and provides a high level of flexibility.
