Access Control Advice

Access Control is the ability to permit or deny the use of something by someone. Access control models used by current computer systems tend to fall into one of two classes: those based on capabilities and those based on access control lists (ACLs). These systems provide the essential services of identification and authentication as well as authorization, and accountability. While identification and authentication determines who can log on to a system, what the user can do within a system is controlled by authorization. Accountability identifies what a user did while in the system.

Controlling access may sound like a simple problem, however it is often difficult to implement correctly. Installing systems to control access into your business environment is a way of protecting your property, physical (buildings and furnishings) and essential (systems, data, software etc), your personnel and your visitors. It is vital to providing a safe and secure environment.

Controlling access can be placed in three distinct pockets; physical control can be achieved by a people such as guards, mechanical means such as locks and keys and through technological means such as a card access control system or biometric identification.