Authorization

Preview

1. What is authorization in the context of computer security?
2. What are the key components of an effective authorization model?
3. How does authorization differ from authentication?
4. What are some common types of authorization policies used in enterprise systems?
5. What are the risks of inadequate authorization controls and how can they be mitigated?

Explain

Authorization is the process of granting access or permission to a user or entity to perform an action or access a resource.

For example, when a user logs into their online banking account, the system will verify their identity through authentication (e.g. username and password). Once the user is authenticated, the system will then check their authorization level to determine what actions they can perform within their account, such as view their account balance or transfer funds to another account. The authorization level is determined by the user’s role, which could be a standard customer, a bank teller, or an administrator. If the user tries to perform an action they are not authorized for, such as modifying another user’s account details, they will receive an error message or be denied access.

Keypoint

1. Authorization is the process of granting or denying access to a resource, system or application.

2. It involves verifying the identity of the user requesting access and determining if they have the necessary privileges to perform the requested action.

3. Authorization can be based on various factors such as role-based access control, attribute-based access control, and rule-based access control.

4. Proper authorization ensures data security and helps prevent unauthorized access, data loss or theft and other security breaches.

5. Authorization can be managed through the use of security policies, access control lists, and user authentication protocols.

6. Authorization should be implemented at different levels of a system, from the user interface to the database level, to ensure comprehensive and effective access control.

7. Regular monitoring and auditing of authorization controls can help identify and mitigate potential security risks and vulnerabilities.

Review

1. What is the purpose of Authorization in computer security?
   A: Authorization is used to control access to resources based on the user’s identity and the permissions they have been granted.

2. What is the difference between Authorization and Authentication?
   A: Authentication is the process of verifying the identity of a user, while Authorization is the process of determining what actions a user is allowed to perform.

3. What are the different levels of access control in Authorization?
   A: There are three levels of access control in Authorization: Discretionary Access Control (DAC), Mandatory Access Control (MAC), and Role-Based Access Control (RBAC).

4. What is the role of Access Control Lists (ACLs) in Authorization?
   A: ACLs are used to specify which users can access a resource and what kind of access they are allowed. ACLs can be used to grant or deny access to files, folders, or network resources.

5. What are some common Authorization vulnerabilities that hackers exploit?
   A: Common Authorization vulnerabilities include weak passwords, granting excessive privileges to users, failure to revoke access when it is no longer needed, and improperly configured ACLs.