Guide to Time-Based Access Control

Time-Based Access Control(TBAC) is a system of controlling access to information based on the time of day or week. It is an essential topic in CISSP, and understanding its importance can broaden your comprehension of Information Security as a whole.

Importance: TBAC is crucial as it can restrict access to information during certain hours, thereby minimizing the risk of unauthorized access and security breaches. Its implementation can improve the overall security posture of an organization. Understanding the time-based restrictions can help in audit logs and following incident response procedures.

What it is: TBAC is a type of access control system designed to limit the time when a user or a process can access certain data or execute certain procedures. This form of access control can be based on the time of day, day of the week, or even based on a schedule.

How it works: In TBAC, access rights and rules are based on time. The system validates the current time against the time-frame defined in the access policy. If the time matches the restrictions, it grants access; otherwise, it denies access.

Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Time-Based Access Control:

• Always relate the question scenario to the concept of access control based on time.
• Watch out for trick questions that might appear to be about other access control methods but are, in fact, related to TBAC.
• Understand the difference between TBAC and other forms of access control.
• Remember that TBAC is about access, permission, and timings – not about specific data or roles.