Controlling access to confidential data is a key challenge for many organizations. It is often linked to trust from customers and this makes it more crucial to safeguard against misuse. Any information that could identify an individual must be protected by policies that prevent identity fraud, compromise of accounts or systems, and other serious consequences. To reduce the risk and limit the potential for harm, access to sensitive data should be restricted according to role-based authorization.

There are several models that can be used to grant access to sensitive data. The simplest one, a discretionary access control (DAC) allows administrators or the owner to decide who can see the files they have and what actions authorized individuals can take on them. This is the default model for the majority of Windows, macOS, and UNIX file systems.

Role-based access control is a more robust and secure method. This model ties privileges with the person’s job requirements. It also incorporates crucial safety rules, like a separation of privileges and the principle of minimum privilege.

Fine-grained access control goes beyond RBAC by giving administrators the ability to grant access rights according to an individual’s identity. It utilizes a combination of includes something you recognize, such as my website an account number, password or device that generates codes and things you own, like keys, access cards or devices with code-generating capabilities, as well as something you’re like, such as your fingerprint, iris scan or voice print. This allows for greater control and can eliminate the majority of issues with authorization, including insecure access to former employees or access to sensitive information via third-party applications.