Learn about role-based access control (RBAC) in Data Protection 101, our series on the fundamentals of information security. Show
Definition of Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)Role-based access control (RBAC) restricts network access based on a person's role within an organization and has become one of the main methods for advanced access control. The roles in RBAC refer to the levels of access that employees have to the network. Employees are only allowed to access the information necessary to effectively perform their job duties. Access can be based on several factors, such as authority, responsibility, and job competency. In addition, access to computer resources can be limited to specific tasks such as the ability to view, create, or modify a file. As a result, lower-level employees usually do not have access to sensitive data if they do not need it to fulfill their responsibilities. This is especially helpful if you have many employees and use third-parties and contractors that make it difficult to closely monitor network access. Using RBAC will help in securing your company’s sensitive data and important applications. Examples of Role-Based Access ControlThrough RBAC, you can control what end-users can do at both broad and granular levels. You can designate whether the user is an administrator, a specialist user, or an end-user, and align roles and access permissions with your employees’ positions in the organization. Permissions are allocated only with enough access as needed for employees to do their jobs. What if an end-user's job changes? You may need to manually assign their role to another user, or you can also assign roles to a role group or use a role assignment policy to add or remove members of a role group. Some of the designations in an RBAC tool can include:
By adding a user to a role group, the user has access to all the roles in that group. If they are removed, access becomes restricted. Users may also be assigned to multiple groups in the event they need temporary access to certain data or programs and then removed once the project is complete. Other options for user access may include:
Benefits of RBACManaging and auditing network access is essential to information security. Access can and should be granted on a need-to-know basis. With hundreds or thousands of employees, security is more easily maintained by limiting unnecessary access to sensitive information based on each user’s established role within the organization. Other advantages include:
Best Practices for Implementing RBACImplementing a RBAC into your organization shouldn’t happen without a great deal of consideration. There are a series of broad steps to bring the team onboard without causing unnecessary confusion and possible workplace irritations. Here are a few things to map out first.
A core business function of any organization is protecting data. An RBAC system can ensure the company's information meets privacy and confidentiality regulations. Furthermore, it can secure key business processes, including access to IP, that affect the business from a competitive standpoint. Tags: Data Protection 101 Which of the following access control methods utilizes a set of organizational roles in which users are assigned to gain permissions and access rights?Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) –
RBAC, also known as a non-discretionary access control, is used when system administrators need to assign rights based on organizational roles instead of individual user accounts within an organization.
When using role based access control RBAC permissions are assigned to which of the following?With RBAC, permissions are associated with roles, and users or groups are assigned to appropriate roles. Roles are defined according to job competency, authority, and responsibility within the enterprise. Users and groups are easily reassigned from one role to another.
Which access control model can dynamically assign roles to subjects based on a set of defined rules?RBAC; An access control model that can dynamically assign roles to subjects based on a set of rules defined by a custodian.
Which of the access control schemes listed is the most restrictive?Mandatory access control is widely considered the most restrictive access control model in existence. This type of access control allows only the system's owner to control and manage access based on the settings laid out by the system's programmed parameters. Such parameters can't be altered or bypassed.
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