What is an Access Control?

An access control is employed to ensure that only authorized personnel are allowed to use certain systems or physical locations. The better access controls require users to present credentials that verify who they are, such as biometric scanners. Two-factor authentication is the best form of access control, where users are required to corroborate their identities in two ways. Access controls can be set up to allow varying levels of access, such as read-only access for one user and read-write capability for a different user. There are several types of access controls, as noted below.

Authentication

A system can authenticate users. This is done by establishing a user’s identify, typically with a user ID and password, and perhaps with additional forms of identification, such as a retinal scan. This is the baseline level of access control.