In the age of digital collaboration and cloud computing, access control is a critical security tool. It is crucial to ensure that only authorized users have access to the appropriate information in order to effectively manage security, adhere to privacy and industry regulations, and safeguard intellectual property (IP) for competitive advantage. There are various access control techniques, and in this guide, we’ll delve into the distinctions between fine-grained vs coarse-grained access control to help you identify the best fit for your data protection requirements.
What is Fine-Grained Access Control?
Put simply, fine-grained access control uses multiple factors to grant or deny access to data. For example, role, security clearance, and location could all be used in the access decision-making process. Additionally, conditions such as time of day, location or device can be used as a factor. Fine-grained access control can also limit how information is displayed. For example, a user can be granted read-only access to a file to prevent editing or sharing.
Fine-grained access control methodologies include:
- Attribute-based access control (ABAC) uses attributes or values to grant or deny access to data. Policies can be based on any combination of user (e.g., position, nationality), content (via discovery process rules) and environment (access point to information) attributes. ABAC enables complex access control rules that can address changing security conditions. For example, when a user’s attributes change, such as location or time of day, so can their access, depending on the policy. ABAC policies can also be used to control how an authorized user can use or share information.
- Policy-based access control (PBAC) utilizes users’ business roles combined with policies to determine what access privileges users of each role should have. PBAC uses both attributes and roles to determine access rights, but policies are broader than what can be achieved using ABAC.
What is Coarse-Grained Access Control?
Coarse-grained access control uses a single factor to grant or deny access to an object, such as role, department, location, etc. Rules are static, meaning they do not adjust to changing conditions.
Coarse-grained access control methodologies include:
- Role-based access control (RBAC) grants or denies access based on the user’s role using set privileges assigned to each role. A user can be assigned one or more roles to determine what resources they can access. RBAC rules apply broad or coarse-grained access controls.
Is fine-grained or coarse-grained access control best for my data protection needs?
The main distinction between fine-grained and coarse-grained access control is the level of validation a user must undergo in order to obtain access.
Fine-grained access offers greater flexibility and control over sensitive data access because it evaluates multiple factors and considers the context of a request in the decision-making process. It can also control what a user can do with information once access is granted. The ability to create precise, conditional policies makes it ideal for managing access to sensitive data and ensuring compliance with government and industry regulations. However, policy configuration in ABAC requires more careful planning and time to set up.
Coarse-grained access control is more rigid and based on a single factor. While simpler to configure, it often grants permissions beyond what a user needs, rendering it less secure and potentially exposing data to unauthorized users. Also, due to the static nature of the rules, both role and rules explosion are often a byproduct as more rules are required to manage more complex access requirements.
Fine-Grained Data-centric Access Control
Implementing fine-grain access control without the right tools can be challenging. archTIS solutions make it easy to implement data-centric policy-enforced attribute-based access controls and information protection. archTIS solutions enable organizations to realize PBAC through fine-grained ABAC mechanisms.
The complete portfolio of archTIS products leverages a data-centric, attribute-based access control (ABAC) methodology to ensure the highest levels of data protection. archTIS’ fine-grained ABAC policies enforce zero trust principles at the data layer to meet stringent information security and compliance requirements. archTIS dynamic ABAC policies ensure your users and partners securely access, share and collaborate on sensitive, classified and top secret information – wherever it lives or travel
archTIS products dynamically apply fine-grained attribute-based policies to grant or deny access based on various factors, such as file sensitivity or classification, security clearance, nationality, role and more. Easy-to-manage policies can also be used to implement file-level protections, such as encryption and user-specific watermarks, enforce read-only access, and more, to control how authorized users interact with and share information to which they have access.
archTIS Offers Policy-enforced ABAC Solutions Tailored to Your Needs
Whether you need a secure system to store classified information or need help securing sensitive files within your Microsoft applications, archTIS can help. Our products enable fine-grain, policy-enforced access control and data-centric security out of the box.
The Kojensi classified information collaboration platform is designed to help organizations quickly meet complex requirements for handling and sharing sensitive information, including up to TOP SECRET compartmented information. Empower information custodians to effortlessly configure security and sharing settings through a user-friendly interface.
NC Protect’s dynamic data protection safeguards sensitive information stored and shared using Microsoft applications, including Microsoft 365, GCC High, SharePoint Server, and Windows file shares. It is tightly integrated with your Microsoft applications to add ABAC capabilities and unique data protection to enhance security and meet compliance. Easily map and use attributes from Entra ID and other systems to use in access and security policies. Rules are managed using simple and intuitive Boolean logic.
For more information or a demonstration of archTIS products, contact us.
