Attribute Based Access Control
Attribute Based Access Control (ABAC) is a security model that determines access permissions based on attributes of users, resources, actions, and environmental conditions. It uses policies that evaluate these attributes to grant or deny access dynamically, providing fine-grained control. This approach is more flexible than traditional role-based models, as it can incorporate multiple contextual factors into access decisions.
Developers should learn ABAC when building systems requiring complex, context-aware security policies, such as in cloud environments, healthcare applications, or financial services where access depends on multiple variables like user roles, data sensitivity, time, or location. It is particularly useful for implementing least-privilege access and compliance with regulations like GDPR or HIPAA, as it allows dynamic policy adjustments without restructuring user roles.