access control

The mechanisms for limiting access to certain information based on a user's identity and membership in various predefined groups. Access control can be mandatory, discretionary, or role-based.

In computer security, the process of ensuring that users can access only those resources of a computer system for which they are authorized.

The security mechanism in Windows Server(tm) 2003 that limits access to information, objects, or controls for designated users and groups. [Exchange 2003]

A security mechanism that determines which operations a user, group, service, or computer is authorized to perform on a computer or on a particular object, such as a file, printer, registry subkey, or directory service object. [Exchange 2007]

The management of permissions for logging on to a computer or network.

The process of granting or denying specific requests: 1) for obtaining and using information and related information processing services; and 2) to enter specific physical facilities (e.g., Federal buildings, military establishments, and border crossing entrances).

1. A service feature or technique used to permit or deny use of the components of a communication system. 2. A technique used to define or restrict the rights of individuals or application programs to obtain data from, or place data onto, a storage device. 3. The definition or restriction of the rights of individuals or application programs to obtain data from, or place data into, a storage device. 4. Limiting access to information system resources only to authorized users, programs, processes, or other systems. [INFOSEC-99] 5. That function performed by the resource controller that allocates system resources to satisfy user requests. 6. Control over the flow of information between entities [CESG]. 7. The prevention of access without access rights [CESG]. 8. The prevention of use of a resource by unidentified and/or authorized entities in any other than an authorized manner [ECMATR46]. 9. The prevention of unauthorized use of a resource including the prevention of use of a resource in an unauthorized manner. [7498-2]. 10. The prevention of unauthorized access of subjects to objects [POSIX.6].