Certified: The Security+ Prepcast

In this second installment on access control models, we focus on more adaptive and scalable approaches: Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), Rule-Based Access Control, and Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC). RBAC assigns access based on predefined job roles, simplifying management in structured environments by aligning permissions with functions like HR, finance, or IT. Rule-Based Access Control allows for context-driven policies based on logic—for example, restricting access during certain times or from certain locations. ABAC is the most flexible, combining user attributes, environmental conditions, and resource metadata to make real-time access decisions—ideal for large, dynamic, or cloud-based systems. We examine the pros and cons of each model, including their complexity, administrative overhead, and use cases. These models offer more nuanced enforcement, helping organizations enforce least privilege while supporting business agility and zero trust strategies.