Access Control

5 minutes 5 Questions

Access control is a fundamental practice in protecting information and systems, playing a vital role in ensuring the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of the organization's assets. The principle of least privilege and role-based access control (RBAC) guide the implementation of access control policies, which define the appropriate access levels for users, systems, or processes. Authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) models aid in identifying and preventing unauthorized access, while also enabling monitoring and auditability. Access control helps inhibit unauthorized access, data breaches, and the abuse of privileges by both internal users and external actors.

Guide: Understanding Access Control

What is Access Control?
Access Control is a security measure that regulates access to resources in a network. It is a fundamental aspect of security, incorporating the combination of hardware and software to create a balanced system of user permission levels.

Why is it important?
The importance of Access Control can't be overstated. It prevents unauthorized access, securing data from potential compromises. It dictates who or what can view or utilize networked resources.

How does it work?
Access Control works using a system of permissions and credentials. When a user or device tries to access a resource, the control system verifies their credentials. If the credentials match the correct permissions, access is granted.

Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Access Control
Understand key concepts about Access Control like Discretionary Access Control (DAC), Mandatory Access Control (MAC), and Role-Based Access Control (RBAC). Be aware of how and where they're used. Expect scenarios related to management of permissions and response to potential security threats. To answer correctly, focus on the central principle of granting the least privilege necessary.

And finally, remember that it’s not just about blocking unauthorized users but also managing authorized users and their access.

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Question 1

A streaming company is hosting a highly popular global event. They need to ensure that only authenticated users who have purchased the event can access the live stream. What AWS feature would you use to achieve this?

Amazon CloudFront with signed URLs or signed cookies AWS Web Application Firewall (WAF) Amazon S3 bucket policy AWS Shield

Correct Answer: Amazon CloudFront with signed URLs or signed cookies

Amazon CloudFront with signed URLs or signed cookies is the best option, as it permits access only to authenticated users. An S3 bucket policy is limited to AWS resources. AWS WAF and Shield are used for threat protection, not authentication. Static IP with Elastic Load Balancer does not address user authentication, and IAM roles are limited to controlling AWS service access.

Question 2

A company is developing a healthcare application, and they want to restrict access to specific users based on their roles such as doctors, nurses, and administrators. What access control mechanism should you use?

AWS Resource Groups AWS Service Control Policy IAM Policy with Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) IAM Policy with Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)

Correct Answer: IAM Policy with Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC)

Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) allows you to assign permissions based on attributes like user roles, while Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) is based on only user roles. Service Control Policy (SCP) is for controlling access to AWS services across accounts. AWS Resource Groups is used for organizing resources, not access control. Custom Lambda triggers and NACLs are unsuitable for this scenario.

Question 3

A company wants to implement an access control system for their network that grants permissions based on a user's job role, department, and security clearance level. Which access control model is most appropriate?

Mandatory Access Control (MAC) Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) Rule-Based Access Control Discretionary Access Control (DAC)

Correct Answer: Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)

Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) is the most appropriate access control model for this scenario. Here's why: RBAC allows permissions to be assigned based on job roles and responsibilities, which aligns perfectly with the company's requirement to grant access based on a user's job role and department. It provides a structured and scalable approach to managing access rights. Additionally, RBAC can be easily combined with other access control mechanisms to incorporate security clearance levels, further meeting the company's needs. Other options are less suitable: Discretionary Access Control (DAC) allows resource owners to determine access rights, which doesn't align with the structured approach needed for a company-wide system based on roles and departments. Mandatory Access Control (MAC) is typically used in highly secure environments and relies on security labels, which is more rigid and complex than necessary for this scenario. Rule-Based Access Control, while similar to RBAC, is typically more complex to manage and less flexible when dealing with role-based permissions across departments.

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