Access control is the process of verifying the identity of a person’s or their credentials and then granting them the permissions they require to access certain resources. This is an essential aspect of security, no matter if the assets are physical or logical.
A lot of access control systems have photos for security. The cards are scanned by the reader or displayed in front of it, which then sends an invitation to unlock the system to the control panel. The panel examines the credential and determines whether it’s authorized and allows or denies access to the door. The system gives real-time reports on traffic and other details to track the flow of people in the facility.
The role-based access control system (RBAC) allows some flexibility. However, administrators can further enhance this by using precise controls that take into consideration factors like the location, device type, and more. These are referred to as contextual access controls and are utilized in the larger identity and access management (IAM) frameworks.
It is crucial to check and align access control policies regularly with the current roles and responsibility. This helps avoid unnecessary risk and ensures that the principle of least privilege is observed. It’s also necessary to audit access logs frequently and detect suspicious activities.
Additional resilience can be achieved by creating strong password policies requiring multiple-factor authentication and providing education on safe remote work and password hygiene. Automating the provisioning and deprovisioning process for users will make it easier to add and removal of access to users. This helps reduce human error and helps to avoid data breaches. Reviewing user profiles regularly and re-establishing them can help reduce the impact that new hires and changes in staff can affect your business.
