In this lesson,
we will learn about access control policies.
Access control policies define the rules and criteria
for granting or denying access to resources,
ensuring that only authorized users can perform actions
based on their identity and role.
Access control policy concepts include conditional access
as well as policy decision and enforcement points.
Let's learn more about these access control policies.
First, we have conditional access.
Conditional access is an advanced way
of managing access control
by enforcing policies
based on specific conditions or criteria.
Instead of relying only on a user's identity or role,
conditional access also considers factors
like the user's location, the device they are using,
or the time of day they are accessing the network.
For example, an organization might restrict access
to sensitive financial data
for users who are either on the corporate network
or using a secure managed device.
If someone tries to access that data
from a personal device or a different location,
the system might block access
or require extra security steps
like multi-factor authentication.
This makes sure access to important resources
is controlled based on real-time conditions,
which improves security.
Microsoft Azure Active Directory Conditional Access
is a popular tool that can control access
based on factors like user identity, location,
and device type.
Second, we have policy decision points.
Policy decision points are where the system decides
if a user's access request
follows a set access control policy.
When a user tries to access a resource,
the policy decision point checks the conditions,
like the user's role, location, device, or time of access
against the organization's security policies.
If everything meets the policy,
the policy decision point will allow the request,
but if it does not,
the policy decision point will deny the request.
For instance, if a user tries to access work email
outside of work hours,
the policy decision point might see this
as a violation of a policy and deny access.
Essentially, the policy decision point
is the system's decision-making tool,
making sure policies are applied correctly.
Amazon Web Services, or AWS Identity and Access Management,
is another tool that can be used as a policy decision point,
evaluating access requests
based on user roles and conditions.
Third and finally, we have policy enforcement points.
Once a policy decision point makes a decision,
the policy enforcement point acts on that decision.
The policy enforcement point is in charge of either allowing
or blocking the user's access
based on what the policy decision point has decided.
For example, after the policy decision point
checks a request
and decides that access should be denied
due to the user's location,
the policy enforcement point will block the user
from getting access to that resource.
On the other hand,
if the policy decision point allows the request,
the policy enforcement point will grant access.
In this way, the policy enforcement point
works as a gatekeeper,
ensuring that the decisions
made by the policy decision point are enforced.
Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewall
is a tool that can serve as a policy enforcement point,
enforcing security policies
based on decisions made by policy decision points.
So remember, access control policies
are the rules that determine
whether users can access certain resources
based on their identity and role.
These policies ensure that only authorized individuals
can perform specific actions within a system.
Conditional access, policy decision points,
and policy enforcement points
are key elements in enforcing these policies.
Conditional access adds extra layers of security
by evaluating additional factors
like location or device type before granting access.
Policy decision points make decisions about access requests.
Then, policy enforcement points act on those decisions
by either granting or denying access
based on established policies.