In the field of physical security and information security, access control is the limitation of selective access to a place or other resources while access management represents the process. The act of access can be interpreted as consuming, entering, or using. Permission to access resources is called authorization.

The way the access works itself is to secure facilities, the company uses an electronic access system that relies on user credentials, access card readers, audits, and reports to track employee access to limited business locations and ownership areas, such as data centers. Some of these systems incorporate access control panels to restrict entry to rooms and buildings as well as alarms and the ability to lock to prevent unauthorized access or operation.

Use of Access Control

The purpose of access control is to minimize the risk of unauthorized access to physical and logic systems. Access is a fundamental component of a security program that ensures security technology and acces control policies are available to protect confidential information, such as customer data. Most organizations have infrastructure and procedures that limit access to networks, computer systems, applications, files, and sensitive data, such as personally identifiable information and revenue for the company.

Acces control systems are complex and can be a challenge to manage in an IT environment. But to make it dynamic will require an internal system and cloud services. After several high profile violations, technology vendors have shifted from a single access system to integrated access management, which offers acces control for cloud and local cloud environments.

Implementation of Access Control

Access control is a process that is integrated into an organized IT environment. This involves an identity and access management system. This system provides access control software, user databases, and management tools for acces control, audit and law enforcement policies.

When users are added to an access management system, the system administrator uses an automated provisioning system to set permissions based on an access control framework, job responsibilities and workflows.

The best practices of "most privilege" restrict access to resources only needed by employees to carry out their direct work functions.

A common security problem is failure to revoke credentials and access to systems and data when someone moves to a different job internally or leaves the company.