What is access control?

Access control is the practice of managing who has access to resources, such as data, files, networks, systems, or physical spaces, and what actions they can take with those resources. Access control is an important aspect of security management and is used to protect sensitive information, prevent unauthorized access, and ensure compliance with security policies and regulations.

Access control is typically implemented through a combination of technical and administrative controls. Technical controls may include the use of passwords, encryption, firewalls, access controls, and other security technologies to restrict access to resources. Administrative controls may include policies, procedures, training, and other measures to manage access, monitor usage, and enforce security rules.

Access control can be implemented at various levels, such as physical access control, network access control, system access control, and application access control. Physical access control may involve the use of physical barriers, locks, keys, biometric authentication, and security personnel to control who can enter a building or a room. Network access control may involve the use of firewalls, virtual private networks (VPNs), and other technologies to control who can access a network and what resources they can use. System access control may involve the use of user accounts, permissions, and other security measures to control who can access a computer system and what actions they can take. Application access control may involve the use of role-based access control (RBAC) and other security mechanisms to control who can access a specific application and what functions they can perform.