Mandatory Access Control
Mandatory Access Control (MAC) is a security model that enforces access control by classification levels and labels. In MAC, an administrator or security policy assigns a sensitivity label to each object (such as a file, folder, or application) and a clearance level to each user. Users can only access objects that have sensitivity labels within their clearance level. This way, security administrators can ensure that only authorized users have access to certain information. MAC is more rigid than Discretionary Access Control (DAC) because users cannot modify the access control attributes of resources. This helps prevent unauthorized access, leakage, or sharing of sensitive information. Examples of MAC include Bell-LaPadula (confidentiality-focused) and Biba (integrity-focused) models.
Guide to Mandatory Access Control (MAC)
Mandatory Access Control (MAC) is an important concept in the realm of information security, specifically in the CISSP exam. It plays a vital role in protecting sensitive information. Understanding MAC is critical for passing this exam.
What is Mandatory Access Control?
MAC is a type of access control in which the operating system constrains the ability of a subject or initiator to access or generally perform some sort of operation on an object or target. In other words, it's a policy where access rights are assigned based on rules specified by a central authority.
How Does MAC Work?
The MAC policy determines access based on the classification or labeling of information and the clearances of users. The policy is centrally enforced and users cannot change the access control of a resource.
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Mandatory Access Control
The key to answering questions on MAC in the exam is understanding that it is a policy-driven, centrally administered access control system. You should remember that in the MAC model, users do not have much freedom to determine who has access to their files - this is determined by the system. Also, note that the MAC model is based on security labels and clearance levels, which are used to determine access.
Practice questions that pit MAC against discretionary access control, or require understanding of how MAC handles access to classified information will be particularly helpful.
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