Access Control Systems Security. Generally defined, an access control system is a type of electronic system that is designed to regulate approval for all authorized personnel to enter a building without a security officer otherwise needing to both review and validate said authorization of whomever will be entering the facility in order to verify their authorization.
An access control system is always considered to be an extremely important part of a security program, as it helps to prevent not only criminal behavior, but also violations of the security policies of a business as well. Keep in mind, however, that this is only a part of why they’re important.
Types of Access Control in Security
For starters, it’s important to note that access control is not an element of security itself – it’s considered to be more of a concession that is made by security programs in order to ensure daily operational necessities. Access control systems are more of an automated method to permit “presumed” individuals to enter through areas that are more restricted, secured, and controlled, with only a minimal amount of vetting at the actual access control portal. Portals are defined as being doorways through a more secure perimeter where those entering are believed to be friendly because of their employment status, contractor, or vetted visitor.
There are generally two types of access control:
*Physical
*Logical
Physical access control is designed to limit access to areas such as buildings, campuses, physical IT assets, and various rooms. Logical access control, on the other hand, limits connections to system files, data, and computer networks.
In order to help secure a building, many organizations utilize electronic access control systems which rely on factors such as the following:
*User credentials
*Access card readers
*Reports
*Auditing
Other common types of access control models include the following:
*Mandatory access control (MAC)
*Discretionary access control (DAC)
*Role-based access control (RBAC)
*Rule-based access control
*Attribute-based access control
The implementation of access control is done through the IT environment of an organization, and it can involve both access management and identity management systems. These systems are designed to offer access to access control software, enforcement, auditing, and more. Whenever an individual is added to an access management system, system administrators will then use an automated provisioning system to establish permissions based on factors such as job responsibilities, workflow, and access control frameworks.
Access Control Systems Security. There are many different types of access control technology and software, and multiple components of this are generally used together as part of a much bigger identity and access management system. These tools include the following:
*Monitoring/reporting applications
*Password management tools
*Provisioning tools
*Identity repositories
*Security policy enforcement tools